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Boston Celtics: ESPN high on Jayson Tatum, Cs heading into 2020-21

By Mark Nilon

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 11: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics leaves the game after scoring a career-high 41-points after a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at TD Garden on January 11, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 11: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics leaves the game after scoring a career-high 41-points after a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at TD Garden on January 11, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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Heading into the 2020-21 campaign, fans are anticipating big things from the Boston Celtics. Apparently, so too are the folks at ESPN.

After a 2019-20 season filled with excitement and success, the Boston Celtics come into 2020-21 with high expectations and a thirst for more than just an Eastern Conference Finals exit — they want banner No. 18.

However, before they can get to the final round of the season, they’ll need to play through the league’s regular season.

Last year, the Cs absolutely dominated in this department, as they finished with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and the sixth-best record in the entire association (48-24). Heading into this year’s campaign, top-media outlets are still under the impression that the team will finish within the top-5 within their respective conference, as analyst Kevin Pelton has the C’s averaging 39.3 wins after running his highly-touted simulations.

His reasonings read as follows:

"“The Celtics surely will miss Gordon Hayward, whose departure leaves the team with just one reserve (young center Robert Williams III) with an RPM projection better than league average. Still, Boston’s starting five is strong enough to lift the Celtics to the top of a crowded second tier in the East projections.“Update: The news that Kemba Walker won’t return to game action until January at the earliest cost Boston a little more than a projected win and dropped the Celtics behind Miami and Philadelphia on average.”"

Subsequently, ESPN is also extremely high on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum heading into his fourth season in the league, as they’ve gone and listed him 11th overall in their power rankings — ahead of the likes of fellow All-Stars Jimmy Butler (12), Devin Booker (17), Paul George (20), and teammate Kemba Walker (48 — just disrespectful).

Heading into this year’s camp, we expect many storylines to come out in regard to key position battles and, if we’re lucky, some roster shakeups as well — say, a trade for a legitimate power forward, for instance?

Regardless of these areas on Boston’s roster that still must be addressed, fans should be excited about their favorite team’s prospects heading into the new season.

ESPN certainly is.

Next. 3 players to monitor during first half of schedule. dark

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