We’re not right here to brag, however this author would possibly actually be clairvoyant. We would simply put the Chris in crystal ball. On the subject of preseason predictions, we’re principally extra profitable than a Jrue Vacation nook 3-pointer and everybody is aware of Vacation principally can’t miss from that spot.
Want proof? We knew you had been going to ask (see, clairvoyant). So right here’s a fast recap on our seven bold predictions from before the 2023-24 season:
1. Kristaps Porzingis shall be an All-Star
A uncommon miss, however simply barely. Porzingis sitting out 10 of Boston’s first 37 video games made it powerful to muscle him onto the All-Star roster because the third Celtic after Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. However his stat line via these first 27 video games was All-Star worthy: 19.8 factors, 7 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.9 assists over half-hour per sport.
2. Celtics lead the NBA in offensive score … and set new league file
Nailed it. Boston’s 122.2 offensive score was 1.7 factors higher than second-place Indiana, who additionally would have set a brand new NBA file (Kings, 118.6 in 2022-23).
3. Celtics commerce for a 3rd massive … in early January
The Celtics traded for Xavier Tillman in early February. No want to separate hairs.
4. Brad Stevens wins Government of the 12 months
5. Derrick White leads the NBA in web score
Technically, we nailed this one for high-volume gamers. White’s +12.5 web score was the most effective amongst any participant who logged at the very least 24 minutes per sport with at the very least 40 appearances. However technically teammates Sam Hauser (+14.2) and Payton Pritchard (+13.6) each completed forward of him total.
6. Celtics win inaugural NBA Cup in Las Vegas
Whoops, our crystal ball meant this season. Extra on that later.
7. Al Horford retires after profitable an NBA title
One other slight crystal ball malfunction. We meant to say he’d retire after profitable one other title this season. Or perhaps the crystal ball meant after the 2028-29 season, given the way in which Horford retains stiff-arming Father Time.
In that very same article, we picked the Celtics to complete first within the East and win the NBA title. So principally we informed you every part that was going to occur final season earlier than it did. Did we get some minor particulars mistaken? Positive. Once more, let’s not break up hairs.
As a substitute, let me inform you seven extra issues that can most likely, undoubtedly occur for Boston through the 2024-25 season. A touch: One 12 months after the Celtics obtained denied some fancy award {hardware}, the NBA makes up for its missteps this time round.
1. Jaylen Brown lands on All-NBA, All-Protection groups
Brown already used lacking out on these honors final season as motivation to gasoline his runs to Japanese Convention and NBA Finals MVP. As a substitute of taking a second to rejoice this offseason, he jumped right into a pool with 60-pound weights and, as he told us in our Media Day sit-down, added muscle mass in locations he didn’t know he may add muscle.
Good luck, NBA. The Brown revenge tour has simply begun.
2. Celtics increase the NBA Cup in Las Vegas
The Celtics ought to need to ship an early-season message to the remainder of the league, and the NBA Cup video games will provide the right alternative to crank up the depth on sleepy November and December nights.
What’s extra, after guys like Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman agreed to come back again to the Celtics on bargain-basement minimum-contract offers, the well-compensated members of the Celtics will help put just a little more money of their pockets by profitable the Cup.
3. Celtics set an NBA file for many 3-pointers made in a season
Boston completed 12 shy of the 2022-23 Warriors’ file whereas making 1,351 3-pointers final 12 months. That’s 16.5 makes per sport. It doesn’t really feel outrageous to marvel in the event that they’ll be the primary staff to cross the 1,400 makes mark this 12 months.
Is 1,500 out of the query? They made 19.4 3-pointers per sport within the five-game preseason slate, a tempo of almost 1,600 3-pointers.
4. Payton Pritchard wins Sixth Man of the 12 months
You understand the saying that generally the most effective strikes {that a} GM makes are the one he would not make? That’s how we should always really feel about Brad Stevens holding onto Payton Pritchard even when Pritchard was annoyed about his enjoying time and overtly yearned for a brand new scenario two years in the past. Stevens thinned out the guard depth chart final summer season and Pritchard was spectacular as a part of the title run.
With Porzingis out to start out the 12 months and the Celtics poised to tempo their extra veteran gamers, there’s an actual alternative for Pritchard to log massive minutes and depart his Optimistic P stamp on every part.
5. Joe Mazzulla wins Coach of the 12 months
Not often does this award go to a staff that merely meets ridiculously lofty expectations. However the Celtics shall be such a regular-season steamroller, even in a beefed-up East, that voters will look again on his fourth-place end final season and proper their wrongs.
6. Celtics don’t lose greater than two video games in a row … for second straight season
Of all of the unimaginable issues the Celtics did final season, avoiding any type of extended shedding streak was one of many extra outstanding. It didn’t matter in the event that they had been slumping or if there have been accidents; the Celtics all the time discovered a option to mud themselves off after a few of these uncommon disappointing efforts and get again to profitable basketball.
They’ll want that very same psychological toughness this season in a league the place everybody goes to come back in trying to land a haymaker in opposition to the champs.
7. Celtics win 62 video games and repeat as NBA champions
Recent history suggests that profitable in consecutive years is not any straightforward feat within the trendy NBA. The Celtics are no average NBA team, although. There’s an actual probability for this group to fit itself alongside a few of the most historic groups in league historical past with one other dominant marketing campaign.
The win complete slips ever so barely, however Boston nonetheless dominates the league. And, after two titles and three Finals appearances in 4 years, the “dynasty” phrase will get thrown round subsequent June.
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