Following a year of turmoil, the Celtics entered the 2019-20 season with lowe

Posted by seestyle on August 8th, 2022

Following a year of turmoil, the Celtics entered the 2019-20 season with lowered expectations. In an Eastern Conference with the reigning MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo and a 76ers team with a championship-or-bust mentality, Boston was no longer considered a contender.

But theCeltics haven't taken a step back after losingKyrieIrving and AlHorfordthis past offseason. In fact, they're on pace to be better without them, and the Bucks and Sixers should realize this isn'ta two-horse race.

With an 18-7 record, Boston sits right behind Milwaukeein the East standings. Rico Gafford Jersey While there are some concerns namely the weakne s of the frontcourtwith Horford gone the Celtics are back to playing Brad Stevens basketball.

How have the Celtics gone from second-round flameout to legitimate threat in the East so quickly? There are a few reasons for their quick turnaround.

The Celtics changed the Eric Saubert Jersey culture.

It sounds ridiculousto say about a 49-win team, but last year's group was a disaster. Boston was coming off a 2018 Eastern Conference finals series in whichthe Celtics took LeBron James and the Cavs to seven games. Jayson Tatum looked primed for an All-Star season, and Irving and Gordon Hayward were returning from injuries. The skill level was perhaps the closest thing to the mighty Warriors, but the chemistry was terrible.

What a difference a year makes.

Kemba Walker may not po ses Irving's raw talent, but his fit in the locker room is a ma sive improvement. The grumblings about minutes and shot selection are no more. Coaches and teammates aren't forced to walk on eggshells and wonder if their point guard will randomly before a film se sion. The joy is back.

Walker, Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart playing together over the summer for Team USA helped kickstart thatchemistry, and it's translated over to the regular season.

"It feels good, just to build Terrell Davis Jersey our camaraderie right now early on, before the season even starts," Smart told back in August. "So when we do finally get on the court, when it's time to strap it on for the season, we kind of already got a hint of what everybodywants to do and a feel for everybody."

The Celtics are happier this time around, and it's showing in the win column.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are back on track.

After struggling with their roles for much of last season, Brown and Tatum have regained their swagger.

Tatum received the me sage on his shot selection and cut out the . He's taking 7.03-pointers per game (up from 3.9) while also attempting 4.0free throws per game (up from 2.9), resulting in a notable increase in points (15.7 to 20.8).

Brown seems to be the player that has most benefited from astable workplace. He's on pace to average career highs in points (19.6), rebounds (7.0) and a sists (2.1). Brown hasrecaptured his outside Patrick Surtain II Jersey shot (49.7percent from the field, 36.5percent from 3-point range) while playing solid defense on the wing.

The development of Brown and Tatum is important not only as it pertains tothe current season, but also the future succe s of the franchise. They are taking huge strides in the right direction.

Gordon Hayward could be a gamechanger.

When fully healthy, Hayward is Natrez Patrick Jersey an All-Star, capable of operating on or off ball offensively and switching acro s multiple positions defensively. Before mi sing one monthwith a broken hand, Hayward was averaging 18.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 a sists per game while shooting a blazing 55.5 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from beyond the arc.

The Celtics' most dynamic five-man unit Walker, Smart, Hayward, Brown and Tatum has been limited by injuries this season. What happens when Stevens can unleash that group all at once with ballhandlers and defenders at every position?

Boston still has a long way to go. The Celtics' lack of size is glaring, particularly when it comes to one-on-one matchups with Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter and Robert Williams aren't going to scare anyone. Team president Danny Ainge will be scouring the trade market for a big man ahead Bradley Chubb Jersey of the Feb. 6 deadline.

Despite that gapin the paint, the Celtics are firmly in the mix. That wasn't the case when preseason predictions were made.

Don't plan those late May trips to Milwaukee and Philly just yet. The East has another horse in the race.