Additions:
Al Horford :NasWinsAgain:
Amir Johnson (re-signed)
Tyler Zeller (re-signed)
Gerald Green
Jaylen Brown
Ante Zizic
Demetrius Jackson
Lost Players:
Evan Turner
Jared Sullinger
Ben Bentil (drafted and waived)
R.J. Hunter (cut)
Projected 2016-17 starting five:
(Statistics from 2015-16 season)
- Isaiah Thomas - 22.2 ppg, 6.2 apg, 3 rpg, 1.1 spg, 43.7% from the field
- Avery Bradley - 15.2 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.1 rpg, 1.5,spg, 44.7% from the field
- Jae Crowder - 14.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.7 spg, 44.3% from the field
- Amir Johnson - 7.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.1 bpg, 58.5% from the field
- Al Horford (with Atlanta) - 15.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.5 bpg, 50.5% from the field
Last season, the Celtics won 48 games and tied for the 3rd best record in the East at 48-34. And expectations soared. The Cs played a thrilling and hard-fought series against the favored Atlanta Hawks (led by Horford) and stretched that series to 6 games, before ultimately being eliminated on Atlanta's court. Brad won his first 2 playoff games in his professional coaching career.
The Celtics should be a serious force to be reckoned with as Horford fills an enormous void in the middle that's existed.
If the Cs can reach the #2 seed at whatever record, the max deal for Horford will be a phenomenal success. The #2 seed would mean that a potential second-round matchup with the Toronto Raptors would begin in the TD Garden, where the playoff atmosphere was strong enough last year to help sway Horford into a Celtics uniform this offseason. It would give the Celtics their best chance to reach the Eastern Conference Finals since 2012, when Derrick Rose's injury helped clear the path for Boston's final matchup with LeBron James in the Celtics' most recent Big Three era. That would be a big accomplishment, and it would presumably be an enormous help in recruiting free agents this offseason.
Isaiah Thomas was given the starting PG role last season and in his second season with the Cs, he THRIVED.
He truly flourished for Boston. IT4 had a career year, averaging a career-high 22.2 points per game and 6.2 assists while shooting 42.8% from the field. He played all 82 games for the first time in his career and proved that he can be a key piece of the Celtics moving forward. He proved to be a threat off the pick and roll, scoring 0.86 points per possession and placing in the 73rd percentile among ball handlers coming off the pick and roll. He can use his size to get behind the screen man and lose his defender, which is a big man if a switch happens. He can pull up from anywhere and his shooting ability, especially over bigger defenders, is very impressive. His handles and low gravity help him change direction quickly and lose his defender. If you give him space on a jump shot, he will make you pay. His defense is getting better and if he continues to be an elite offensive threat, people will be calling him elite as early as this season.
This past June, Brad Stevens received a contract extension despite being only halfway through his original 6-year, $22 million contract. Stevens has many admirers around the NBA. He's a brilliant tactician and one of the NBA's brightest stars, on-court talent included. Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr rave about him when the Spurs and Warriors play the Celtics.
Stevens was tasked with the post-Doc Rivers “rebuild” in Boston, but has been among the strongest driving forces in removing that oft-stigmatized term from any Celtics lexicon in a big hurry. A 25-57 rookie campaign quickly gave way to a 15-win jump in his sophomore season, a 40-42 finish that took those expecting Boston to pick in the high lottery by surprise. And last year the team won 8 more games to finish 48-34. And he eked remarkable showings out of a Celtics team that was devoid of any superstar talent. Stevens has instantly established himself as one of the strongest Xs and Os minds in the league. His play calling out of timeouts, particularly in end-of-game situations, is already compared in some circles to savants like Pop and Carlisle.
Dude has been jerked for the Coach of the Year award for 2 years straight.
Maybe this season will see him FINALLY get his just due.:Plotting:
The Celtics are poised to be 2nd in the East with at least 50 wins this season. With Horford here, the rise of Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley fresh off a First Team All-Defense selection
, and an ingenious and gifted Coach Stevens, we're trending in the right direction and we have a real shot at taking the crown from Bron and the Cavs. 
Moreover, we are ticketed for 22 national TV appearances, including a return to the NBA's Christmas Day slate.
Our time is coming. Let's enjoy the ride as it unfolds this season.
#celtsgang
@Jutt @Ill @R.E.N. Spells Ren @VMR @vbamz @Raquinotj @KevJ @SchoolboyC @Bernie Madoff @JBone4eva @Stress Welker @Sub Kr4zy @unit321 @UpAndComing @Miggs @Suiken @JLR Steez @craigsagersuit @insidious @Listen @fact @Codeine Fiend Dream Team @JarrodG @William Heavy @yamomzb @YeLovesBoston @Shamrock32 @coose @GrindtooFilthy @jimihendrixheadband @34TheTruth @JJ_ALL_DAY @patscorpio @chief_keef_stan @The Situation @Grano-Grano @Chef Mello @TyThePoet
And it's STILL Brad Stevens for Coach of the Year! :GladBrad:
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