Where do the Celtics finish in the East this season?

[bisme37]

I think about this team a lot and I really don't know the answer.

NBA.com thinks they are the 12th best team in the East. We had a poll on the Celtics board and at first the most popular answer was 6th, but then I'm pretty sure fans of other teams came in and voted 15th haha.

Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Pritchard, Hauser are good. I'm excited about new guys Simons and Boucher. Queta remains large. The other bigs are a hodgepodge of Luka Garza and I don't even know at this point. Mazzulla is still his psycho self and most of the roster has a ton of experience.

Can Brown handle the Tatum point-forward duties with the opposing defense locked in on him as the #1 option?

Can White and/or Pritchard get even better with more responsibilities on their plates?

Can the bigs step up and not be a massive liability?

Are all the good players going to be shut down midseason for tanking purposes? Or on the flip side, could Tatum come back late in the season and the team makes a playoff run? Probably not but maybe...

I have questions you guys.

[JM00n69]

The team plan is clearly to tank because of Tatums injury and they see it as a lost year. Unloaded players that would've helped next year to max their options year after and get assets back in picks and young/cheap contracts.

East is pretty weak though and Brown/White will ball out I feel like because they're competitors. As will the young guys and 1yr contracts. So a playin team I feel like. For good or worse.

[cgf]

I felt like they could be a play-in team before the offseason, but really don't like the Simons fit, or their lack of bigs. All comes down to Brown IMO, if he goes off he can drag them into a playoff spot...if he tunes out, they could struggle to stay ahead of Chicago...whether their kids sink or swim.

The east's midtier isn't as deep as the west, but the top tier is going to steamroll them either way. Indiana interests me a lot more and I think they still have a great shot at a play-in spot. There's a coherent 5-man lineup still, and nice depth that could keep them exhausting to play against.

[chilluminati]

I agree with the Celtics board on the ceiling for the 25-26 C's. A 6th seed would make sense if they figure out the holes left by Tatum/horford etc.

But they also have just as good a chance to straight up miss the playoffs. It all hinges on whether they can figure it out. We know that the front office moves indicate a lost year. To the Celtics, a lost year probably just means they aren't expecting a ring. But a well coached veteran team with solid defensive philosophies can still go far. Especially in a regular season which often witnesses multiple injuries derailing teams we all expected to contend.

I'm sort of fence sitting, but the Celtics 25-26 season is very unpredictable. All signs point toward mediocrity, but I'd never straight up doubt that core/coach/team.

[Celts17Pride]

Pretty solid 9th-10th seed.

[JujitsuFlip]

I could see them as high as 6. Brown is an All-Star, if healthy. White can probably make his first All-Star team. Pritchard just won 6MOY. Hauser can still stroke it.

I voted 7-8 just because there may be bumps and bruises along the way.

It really depends what the franchise wants. They can shut guys down and go for a top 3 pick or could push hard for HCA, it's really up to them.

[whitehops]

yeah they have a huge hole at the 4/5 spots. i think they're going to be a play-in team, i voted 7-8th.

cleveland, new york, atlanta, detroit and orlando are better and then there's a bunch of wildcard teams with the bucks, raps, etc.

that said they're one serious jaylen brown injury away from being in real rough shape.

[jeeph]

Voted 9-10 because of respect for the coaches and they still have 3 really good players. But would have preferred a 10-11 option because of the bigs and I feel as though play-in borderline team would be my description. I think the two teams that get into the play-in from the east are going to be the two healthiest season teams of the bunch.

[PierceFan4ever]

Hopefully last so they can get a high lottery pick lol

[strokerace]

I think that if Brown or even less likely, DWhite gets any moderate injury, the C's brass pulls the plug and they finish towards the bottom. The roster looks pretty shaky but Brad Stevens has made moves in the past with unknown players that turned into pretty serviceable talent. If no real injuries to our top 3 guys, I say play in at best.
Some of you Celtics homers voting 3-4 are crazy.

[brackdan70]

High variance. Between 5-10.
Injuries to Brown or White that lead to lots of missed time could possibly make them worse.

[Bobbymcgee]

.500 at best.

[Triple M]

There is a thin line between good and bad in the NBA. Im more optimistic than most and see them around 6th but accept that play in or worst is a likely outcome as well. My reason for optimism is because they still have a competive culture so i could see them overachieve.

In the East there are rising teams with young stars, borderline top 10 players, like Cade and Paulo but they arent established teams yet. The Celtics could be the Clippers of the past few years as a mid seed.

The weak frontcourt is heard to ignore. If you cant rebound and protect the rim then you are behind the sticks. possession by possession you will constantly fall behind and .500 ball will be a very difficult task.

[JimmyPlopper]

I voted 9-10. I think that is sort of where they may hope to end up as well. I don't think they are trying to tank, but I think they are wisely using Tatum's injury as a cap management opportunity.

[Cricket23]

Besides the loss in talent, other teams will be looking for a little payback.

[cgf]

I could see them as high as 6. Brown is an All-Star, if healthy. White can probably make his first All-Star team. Pritchard just won 6MOY. Hauser can still stroke it.

I voted 7-8 just because there may be bumps and bruises along the way.

It really depends what the franchise wants. They can shut guys down and go for a top 3 pick or could push hard for HCA, it's really up to them.

I’d have them clearly behind NY, CLE, ORL, DET, & ATL. And lower in that next tier than Toronto, & Indiana.

[Karate Diop]

I think they're going to pull a lot of Shenanigans in the second half of the season as they shamelessly tank.

[JujitsuFlip]

I could see them as high as 6. Brown is an All-Star, if healthy. White can probably make his first All-Star team. Pritchard just won 6MOY. Hauser can still stroke it.

I voted 7-8 just because there may be bumps and bruises along the way.

It really depends what the franchise wants. They can shut guys down and go for a top 3 pick or could push hard for HCA, it's really up to them.

I’d have them clearly behind NY, CLE, ORL, DET, & ATL. And lower in that next tier than Toronto, & Indiana.

That's why i said maybe 6th but stranger things have happened, so idk if 4th is 100% not reachable. Bucks will be somewhere in there too.

I don't rate the Raps very high and the Pacers lost their starting 1 and starting 5. Their starting 2 will probably have to take on a new role, I'd say they have just as many question marks as the Cs.

[Clav]

7-8 -- I think Brown and White have the chance to be really good as a duo and improve more as both will have the reins on the offense. There's shooting on the roster currently, so that will give some wins, and it will cost some wins, but at least Boston can continue their high 3-pt gameplan with White/Simons*[see below]/Pritchard/Brown/Boucher on the court, and add Hauser in the mix, he shoots it also. A long term injury to any of the top-3 guys would indicate to me a throw in the development towel season, but that's true for most NBA teams anyway, so it's minutiae.

The deeper bench I'm less confident on as they are a pretty mixed-bag of experience and talent. The post guys - Queta, Tillman, Garza, Amari Williams. Mazzula needs to get these guys touches in the paint, and not rely on them stretching the floor like Horford, Porzingis did, and Kornet too...

That's the biggest challenge for this team is locking in a style that helps the Centers have easier looks and be engaged, and use post play to survive shooting slumps. Tillman, Queta, Garza all have solid mid-post, low-post moves, and they all set screens pretty well -- none are accomplished shooters. (though Garza and Tillman both have the potential to hit a 3 here and there)

I like Jordan Walsh's game, and he needs PT this year with the big club. Savvy defender, can make shots, they will need him. Rookie Hugo Gonzalez will basically be thrown into the fire, that's great. Josh Minott is a rangy wing but was really inconsistent, he has to make it work this year. All should fit in the C's style of play.




I had to write about one guy on this roster:
*Simons is a 27.5M expiring and I don't think he's a player Boston will tenure long-term. If he is traded, and Celtics have a playoff appearance + those beneath apron savings, + internal development, that's a great year.

Simons is on a contract year, currently has PT apparently right in front of him. He can redefine his career and secure an even more lucrative future. He should be VERY motivated to play in Boston and show out and play well.

He is also my most likely player to be traded from BOS before the season even begins lol.

[levon]

They're above .500. The East is dreadful.