Boston Celtics – A fan’s take on the main talking points
My affinity for the Celtics began in secondary school, thanks to a close buddy. After returning from a road trip across America, he gave me a Celtics hat and proceeded to show me an extremely pixelated video from a Boston Celtics game he had attended as we were sitting in a Geography lecture! “It was love at first sight.” My friend’s interest in the game waned, although mine increased.
As a Celtics fan, I’ve seen it all: good, horrible, and ugly. The highlight was Championship 17 in 2007-08. Seeing grandeur before my eyes was incredibly wonderful.
You may find me on Instagram and Twitter: @TheBostonBrit.
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Your memory is amazing if you can name ten of these.Over the years, the Celtics have had a plethora of talent grace the TD Garden court. With such a diverse variety of players from various eras, picking a favourite is nearly impossible.
First, consider the late, great Bill Russell. He was the ultimate champion both on and off the court, laying the path for the players who came after him.
Next, Larry Bird. His CV speaks for itself. Bird represented hustle, and with his unwavering desire to win and ability to control both ends of the court, he is an all-time NBA great.
Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce rose to prominence in the early 2000s. Growing up, I watched Celtics greats such as KG and the Truth. Both had distinct skill sets that worked well together to help the team win banner 17 in 2007-08. KG’s famed trash talk, hustle, and feisty
Before the beginning of the year, the hunt for an 18th championship appeared unlikely. The loss to the Knicks, in which the Celtics lost a 25-point lead, was just one of several terrible performances that left supporters thoroughly demoralized.
But January 31 arrived. Jaylen Brown tweeted the now-iconic message to Celtics fans: “The energy is about to shift.” He was correct. Following Brown’s prescient post, the Celtics went on a seven-game winning streak, including a statement victory over the Miami Heat. They would dominate opponents from then on, finishing second in the Eastern Conference by the end of the regular season.
With one of the most impressive season turnarounds in history, it’s tough to give the 21-22 season anything less than an A-. The Celtics also faced a difficult path to the NBA Finals, sweeping the Brooklyn Nets 4-0, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 4-3, and the Miami Heat 4-3. Although the season ended in disappointment, the Celtics re-captured the hearts of their fans, something they haven’t done since 2007-08.
evaluating the offseason for the Celtics
The 2021-22 season, while presenting a good outlook for the team’s future, also revealed what the Celtics had been lacking. The bench depth and scoring were the most important issues to address.
The Celtics’ bench ranked 26th in the league for points and 17th in field goal percentage. The Finals showed the team’s lack of depth, as the bench scored only 124 of the 605 total points. To put it in perspective, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 270 of the 605 points. This caused the front staff to consider a strategy to alleviate the scoring load on Tatum and Brown. The arrival of Danilo Gallinari from the Atlanta Hawks was intended to aid with bench scoring, but his ruptured MCL, sustained in a FIBA World Cup qualifier with Italy, is a blow.
Providing he recovers in time for the playoffs, the 13-year veteran provides not just size to the Celtics frontcourt at
Moving for Malcom Brogdon was definitely a necessary deal for the Celtics heading into next season, but it was also shocking. The Celtics traded a 2023 first-round pick, Aaron Nesmith, Daniel Theis, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts, and Juwan Morgan to the Indiana Pacers. If Brogdon can stay healthy, this move is without a doubt the best deal in the NBA this summer, and it will provide the Celtics with a legitimate bench weapon.
The 2021-22 starting lineup of Tatum, Brown, Smart, Al Horford, and Robert Williams was perhaps the best in the NBA, and with all five returning next season, as well as the additions of Brogdon and Gallinari on the bench, it will compete with most NBA clubs.
