There are nonetheless far too many days earlier than coaching camp, however the busiest transaction days of the summer time are within the rear view mirror. So it solely is sensible to peek forward on the 12 months forward.
How you are feeling the Celtics will end relies upon loads upon your outlook. Do you assume the aim of the workforce is to tank and seize as many lottery balls as attainable? Do you assume they’ll play for delight and construct for a fast bounce-back as soon as Tatum is again? Or are you someplace within the center?
The place the Celtics truly land within the seedings will rely much more on how the remainder of the East shakes out. Proper now it seems to be just like the Knicks and Cavs might be favored to complete within the prime 2. After that it’s anybody’s guess. Did the Magic, Hawks, or Pistons do sufficient to maneuver from the “promising younger workforce” label to legit contender standing?
Then there’s a gaggle that is likely to be getting into the other way. Did the Bucks do sufficient to place a successful workforce round Giannis? Are the Sixers ever going to get wholesome sufficient to compete with this core group? Will the Warmth hold hanging across the Play-In vary? Simply what precisely are the Raptors and Bulls doing?
I feel the Pacers get their very own gap-year cross. The Wizards, Hornets, and Nets look like poised to maximise their lottery odds as soon as once more.
So the place do the Celtics match into that panorama? Are they nonetheless proficient sufficient to complete within the prime 6? Do you assume they’ll be firmly within the play-in vary? Or do you assume they’ll discover a method to lose sufficient to hit the lottery?
