The Boston Celtics were expected to be serious title contenders last year, boasting a roster full of stars and upcoming talent, as well as one of the best point guards in the game. However, locker room issues and chemistry problems marred the team throughout the season, and it soon translated to their play on the court.
Boston never came close to living up to its potential, finishing with a record of 49-33 for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs, but they eventually bowed down to the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the postseason.
Nonetheless, while some ridiculed the team for failing to even make the Conference Finals, one Celtics executive claimed that the season was actually more positive than it looked.
“It was never as bad as some make it out to be, but it was never as good as some of the reports either. Look, we had a lot of egos to manage and it didn’t work the way we hoped for. The young guys earned everything the prior year. The vets came back expecting to step right back in. We’ll have better balance and fit this year.”
With Kyrie Irving and Al Horford gone, the team is firmly in the hands of newcomer Kemba Walker. It looks like the team expects Jayson Tatum to take a big step and Gordon Hayward to return to his All-Star form.
If all these cards fall into place, the Celtics have a shot at making noise in the East for yet another season, and possibly even advancing further than last year.
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