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Celtics Season Ends IN Disappointment

The 2020 Celtics season came to a close, in disappointment on Sunday, at the hands of The Miami Heat. Many fans are upset at head coach Brad Stevens for the way he handled the team. Other factors such as 3 point shooting hurt the team. Several questions need to be addressed this offseason. In this post, we will review three areas of the team to improve upon to get to the 2121 NBA finals.                                                                                                                                                 Celtics 2020 Season Ends In Disappointment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Inconsistent Play In Conference Finals  Inconsistency is the reason the Celtics lost to the Heat. The team blew two large leads in games one and two. In their two wins, the Celtics dominated in every category.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Even in_ game six, they had a six_ point lead in the fourth quarter, only to let Miami come back and win the game. This was the story throughout the series, Miami wanted it more.                                                                                                                        The Heat got big contributions from Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo/32 points,14 rebounds. Overall, the Celtics were led by Jaylen Brown/26, Jayson Tatum 24/12 rebounds. Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker each poured in 20.

 

The storyline of the series was the Celtics couldn’t hold their leads. Turnovers cost the club penalties, and the Heat’s ability to come back. In all honesty, the Celtics should have won in five games.

 

Turnovers Cost The Celtics  Head coach Brad Stevens had to go to his bench early. Boston Terrible passing cost the Celtics critical turnovers. Right when the team needed a big basket, Miami would pick off a pass. Early foul trouble cost the organization a chance to go to the finals.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Boston received significant contributions from Brad Wannamaker and Grant Williams. Williams provided much_ needed muscle under the boards In game six the Celtics had a 20-8 run but saw it collapse. Miami played smarter and won the series.

In Conclusion, The Celtics wrapped up another successful season under Brad Stevens. Going forward the team needs to play smarter in critical moments. They need to stay with what makes them successful instead of unsuccessful.

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Celtics Need To Control The Boards If They Want To Reach The Finals

Since returning from the Pandemic, the Celtics defense has been questionable. Despite a blow out win over Brooklyn and a win over Toronto, the team has struggled in the bubble. If the team gets to the finals,it will be won by defense and rebounding. In this post, we will examine three reasons why the Celtics Need to Control The Boards if they want to reach the finals.                        Celtics Need To Control The Boards If they Want To  Reach The Finals                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Defensive Struggles  Since returning from the pandemic layoff, the defense has been questionable at best. Overall, the club ranks fourth out of all the bubble teams. Before the pandemic, the Celtics were one of the best defensive teams in the league                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               With a 3-2 bubble record, the team struggled severely against Maimi and Milwaukee. The Bucks are much better on the boards than the Celtics. In my opinion, Miami and Milwaukee are the two teams to watch out for.                                                                                                                                                                                                              Better Physically than Last Year.  As a team, the Celtics are much better physically this year than last. Center Robert Williams is earning more minutes. The signing of Enes Kantor has been significant. Rookie Grant Williams has been improving each game. Marcus Smart, Daniel Theis is two of the toughest players in the game. Free _agent Kemba Walker is healthy and is averaging 3.9 boards a game.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   For the past couple of years, rebounding has hurt the Celtics in the postseason.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Depth Issues  Outside of the starting five, the Celtics will need contributions from the bench. Semi Ojeleye, Javonte Green, Grant Williams, and Brad Wannamaker need to carry the starters. Center Robert Williams continues to impress, controlling the boards.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As any NBA fan knows the defense needs to set the tone. With a 47-23 record, the Celtics are healthy. It’s been twelve years since a banner was raised.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Remaining Games   At 47-23 the Celtics are coming together. Sunday the team beat Orlando in overtime. Gordon Hayward his offensive contributions. Rebounding and defense will be the deciding factors in the next couple of weeks.

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Why The Celtics Are Good Enough To Reach The NBA Finals

The 2019/20 Boston Celtics currently sit 4th in the NBA East. With a young roster and speed, the Celtics are good enough to reach the NBA Finals in June. With the additions of Kemba Walker, Enes Kanter, and Vincent Poirier the Celtics are more physical and healthier than last year. In this post, we will review three areas of why the Celtics can reach the Finals this season.                                                                                                                                                                                                     Why The Celtics Are Good Enough To Reach The NBA Finals This Year.                                                                                                                                                                                         Strong Physical Presence   Compared to last season, the Celtics are playing more physical and aggressive. With the addition of Enes Kanter and  Grant Williams, the rebounding department has improved significantly. Williams drafted out of Tennessee gives the team a boost off the bench.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Overall,  Enes Kanter and Daniel Theis average over 7 rebounds per game Center Robert Williams and Grant Williams average over 6.1 off the bench. Williams should be a huge factor come playoff time if he stays healthy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Balanced Scoring  With the addition of Kemba Walker the Celtics are shooting much better from the field this year. Walker is averaging 23 points per game. As a team, the Celtics are putting up 112 points per game 11th overall in the league.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Rookies Carson Edwards, Romeo Langford, Javonte Green, and  Tremont Waters contribute with their speed. Veteran Gordon Hayward has been a big factor when healthy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Guard Marcus Smart shooting has improved tremendously. In a recent game. Smart set a team record for consecutive three throws with twelve. He also had a career_ high of 39 points in a game.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Leadership And chemistry  The biggest difference this year, compared to last  is chemistry. There is no in_house fighting amongst teammates. Kyrie Irving and Marcus Morris were impatient with the young players. Head coach, Brad Stevens has led the team better. The bench led by Bill Wannamaker is deeper.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The  Second Half  The Celtics need to play tough in order to win. The Bucks have the deepest bench in the league. In two meetings this year the Celtics won one and the Bucks won one. The east will be determined by defense and rebounding.

 

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Unity Best Describes 2019/20 Boston Celtics

What a difference a year makes. A year ago at this time, the Celtics were struggling to find their identity. Now, a year later the Celtics are competing with Philadelphia for first place in the  NBA East. In this post, we will identify three reasons why the Celtics are different this year.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Unity Best Describes 2019/20 Boston Celtics                                                                    Depth   The first reason the Celtics are so exciting this year is their bench. Head coach, Brad Stevens has been  going to his bench early in games and resting the starting five.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Bill Wannamaker, Carson Edwards, Daniel Theis, Semi Ojeleye, and Robert Edwards spark the bench. Offensively Kemba walker,Jaylen Brown,and Jayson Tatum lead the team in scoring. Injury _riddled Gordon Hayward has returned from a hand injury and has contributed. Guard Marcus Smart continues to play stellar defense and has improved from three_ point land.                                                                                                                                                                                                          Chemistry  Unlike last year, the chemistry of the team has changed dramatically. Kyrie Irving departing for the Nets has benefited the Celtics. The locker room is tranquil and Marcus Smart provides the leadership.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Head coach Brad Stevens does not have Kyrie Irving to deal with every night. Last season the team was in disarray and controlled by controversy. The current roster is a team that play’s like Celtics and not prima donnas.

Second _year center Robert Edwards continues to grow as a player in each game. Rookie Carson Edwards has shown flashes of brilliance off the bench. Edwards has been impressive from the three_ point area plus his defense excellent.

Strong Defensively   One area that the club has shined in is defense. Overall. the club ranks 4th out of 30  in the defensive department. The Celtics have been closing out games much better this year than last season. Veteran Marcus Smart continues to be the best shut down guards in the NBA.                                                                                                                                                                                                 The starting five has been one of the best defensive units in the first half of the season. This year the bench is much more effective than the previous Brad Stens team. Newly acquired Kemba Walker has contributed significantly to his defensive style of play.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Season Ahead  So far this season the Celtics have been one of the surprises in the NBA. The addition of Kemba Walker and the maturation of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum the team continues to get better. If Gordon Hayward can stay healthy, then this team has a legitimate chance to contend in the East

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Why 2020 Will Be A Make Or Break Year For Celtics Coach Brad Stevens

In six seasons, Celtics coach Brad Stevens has bought the team back to respectability. Playoff wise the Celtics have reached the third round twice losing to Cleveland two years in a row After a turbulent 2018/19, the upcoming season is a key year for Brad Stevens. The team cut loose Kyrie Irving and Marcus Morris. Center Al Horford departed for Philadelphia. In this post, we will cover three reasons why 2020 will be a make or break year for the Celtics coach.                                                                                                                                                            2020 Will Be A Breakout  Year For Celtics Coach Brad Stevens                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             A Disgruntled Kyrie In just two short seasons, the club said goodbye to Kyrie Irving. Irving left after a year of frustration and controversy amongst players and coach Brad stevens.  Irving’s new home will be in Brooklyn. The Celtics also lost Marcus Morris and Al Horford. All three players played a significant factor in their tenure, but have no championship to show for it.                                                                                                                                                                                                           Younger Roster;   In the offseason , the club went in a different direction .On draft night, GM Danny Ainge, drafted Romeo Lanford, Indiana, Grant Williams, Tennessee, Tremont Waters LSU, and Carson Edwards Purdue. All had successful college careers and are expected to be on the roster opening night.

Out of the four picks, the interesting pick to watch is Carson Edwards. Known for his three_ point shooting Edwards has been talked about as a possible

starter. Grant Williams brings a physical presence to the team’s front line. Number one pick Romeo Langford is weak at shooting three’s but has a reputation for taking to the hole.

Despite the roster being younger, many fans feel that this movement will set the team back two or three years. If this is the case 2020 will prove how valuable Stevens is to the organization.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Organization Signs Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter   With the departures of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford the club signed ex Hornet Kemba Walker and  Trailblazer Enes Kanter. Kanter will fill the void left by Horford and Walker will be the starting point guard. Walker has a reputation has a great locker room teammate. Kanter provides inside scoring and rebounding. He is expected to split the time with second _year man Robert Williams.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Future; With a disappointing offseason the Celtics are moving ahead. With an infusion of youth and Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward fans are optimistic Any hopes of a deep playoff run is slim. If Stevens can develop the young players with the current  roster then Steven’s future with the Celtics is safe.

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Celtics Need To Focus On Winning

As the second half of the 2019 NBA season approaches, the Boston Celtics need to focus on winning. With, rumors of Kyrie Irving leaving and Pelicans star Anthony Davis demanding to be traded winning is secondary. In this post, we will review three areas why the team needs to focus on winning rather than trade talk.

Celtics Need To Focus On Winning

Less Finger pointing; Since the start of the season, the Celtics have been at the center of finger _pointing.  Guard Terry Rozier was complaining frequently regarding his lack of playing time. Forwards Marcus Morris and Jaylen Brown were having a heated argument in a game just before the All_Star break                                                                                                                                                                                            Head coach, Brad Stevens has been criticized by the media for not being tough enough on his players. Last season at this time the Celtics were in first place without Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving. Fans have been waiting patiently for Hayward to play at his full potential.

Team Lacks Leadership; At the midway point of the season, the Celtics find themselves tied in fourth place with Philadelphia in the NBA East. So far this season, it has all been Kyrie Irving. Irving has been averaging 25 30 points a game regularly forward Gordon Hayward has been mediocre since coming off a season _ending 2018 injury. If the Celtics expect to reach the finals, it will be done with teamwork and leadership rather than finger pointing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Balanced Attack; With the second half of the season about to start, the Celtics find themselves tied for fourth place in the NBA East with Philadelphia. Considering all the drama, the team has a well balanced_ attack. Outside of Kyrie Irving’s  25 points a game, the club has been getting valuable performances from Jayson Tatum and Marcus Morris. Jaylen Brown is improving while playing on the second unit. Overall, the club ranks ninth on offense and fifth on defense. Playing together is the only way they can reach the NBA finals.

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Celtics Need To Avoid Any Potential Identity Crisis

  The 2018/19 Boston Celtics have been a victim of inconsistency. Poor shooting from the field has the Celtics hovering in third place in the NBA East. Despite coming off an eight winning streak the team can’t find an identity. In this post, we will examine three reasons why the Celtics Need to Avoid any potential identity crisis.                                                                                                                                                                      

Celtics Need To  Avoid Any Potential Identity Crisis                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Dominant Kyrie Irving; Considering the fact that the Celtics rank 10th in the league the offensive category they still lack a balanced attack from both the first and second units. Irving has been averaging 16 points per game followed by Jayson Tatum 16points and Marcus Morris 15 points per game.                                                                                                                                                                                                        Recently, head coach Brad Stevens announced that Jaylen Brown has been demoted to the second unit. Brown has also suffered injuries sustained from an early season concussion. Brown has been criticized heavily by the Boston media for not playing up to his potential. If the club expects to move ahead of Philadelphia and Toronto then Brown needs to step up his game.                                                                                                                                                                                                         Inconsistency from the field;  Anybody who has been watching the Celtics knows that they’ve been terribly inconsistent from the field. Some nights their either hot and other nights their ice cold. Especially from the three_ point area the Celtics have struggled and lost games due to poor shooting.  Terry Rozier the team’s leader off the bench has only been averaging 10 points per game  and has been complaining about his lack of minutes. Last season for, example Rozier took over for the injured Kyrie Irving and was a major factor in the teams post _ season success.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       A Rash of Injuries; One of the reasons that Brad Stevens is one of the leagues best coaches is how he utilizes his players. Injuries are part of every sport. This season the Celtics have seen their share. Injuries to Aron Baynes,  Al Horford, and Jaylen Brown. Gordon Hayward is still working his way back into form,   from season_ ending last season. If the organization hopes to reach the finals a healthy Celtics team is a must.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Looking Ahead; If the Celtics expect to make a run for the Finals they need to make a statement now. Third place in the East is a far cry from last seasons first_place finish. Before they have any hopes of the Finals they need to overcome Philadelphia and Toronto, first.                                                                                                                                                                              

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Why The Celtics Should Not Pursue LeBron James Or Kawhi Leonard

With, the 2018 NBA Draft just hours away rumours are thriving around Causeway St. in Boston Since the Celtics went down in defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals against Cleveland the rumour mill is in full swing. In this post, we will cover three reasons why the team should stay pat at pick number27.

Why The Celtics Should Not Pursue LeBron James Or Kawhi Leonard

Brad Stevens Has Full Control                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Unlike the Cavaliers or a LeBron dream team the coach runs the Celtics. In five years Stevens has guided the club from a lottery team to a Finals contender. The squad has averaged 50 plus wins for three years in a row. Last season, for instance, the Celtics were without star players Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving. The result was a 55 win team and a trip to the Eastern Conference finals for the second year in a row.

This year’s Cavaliers club was mostly dysfunctional all season and was accused of quitting against the Warriors. For LeBron, this means the superstar is looking for his third new home. For the Stevens led Celtics the club can either stay at 27 or move up to acquire more assets.

Rumors Of Kawhi Leonard Coming To Boston

If General Manager Danny Ainge signs Kawhi Leonard the club will be getting one of the top five players in the NBA. Leonard who was Indiana’s number one pick in 2011 would give the Green a great two _way_ game.

 

In order to acquire  Leonard, from San Antonio the Celtics would have to break up the team’s nucleus of young players. At this point, it would not seem logical to give up Marcus Smart or Jaylen Brown plus others. With Gordon Hayward almost at 100% along with Kyrie Irving healthy getting Leonard is basically a fabrication.

Only Getting Better

Fora team that lost in the Conference finals two year’s in a row the team is only getting better. Not only will Hayward and Irving almost be fully healthy Ainge will most likely stay at number 27. With rumours of LeBron leaving Cleveland a healthy Celtics team can only get better in 2019. Unless LeBron signs with Philadelphia the Celtics should be a strong contender to with the Eastern Conference.                               _                                                  .

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Why The Cetics Still Have A Chance At The 2018 Finals

Head Coach Brad Stevens leads his 55-27  Celtics to the opening round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs. All things considered, Stevens did a masterful job guiding the Celtics to a second seed despite a quarter of a roster injured. In this post, well examine three areas the Celtics need to focus on beating the Bucks and still have a chance at 2018 NBA Finals.

Why The Celtics Still Have A Chance At The NBA Finals

Containing Antetokounmpo,

When discussing the Milwaukee Bucks the first name that comes to mind is    24 _year old power forward,   Giannis Antetokounmpo Otherwise known as the Greek Freak.  Aside from Antetokounmpo, the 44-38 Bucks are stocked with talent.   With a surrounding cast of Eric Bledsoe, Sterling Brown, Khris Middleton, Shabazz Muhammad, Milwaukee will be a handful for the Celtics.

Regarding coaching Milwaukee head coach Joe Prunty has transformed the Bucks into a serious playoff contender.

Celtics Injury Issues;

Overall, the Celtics had a very successful 2018 season. With injuries to key players, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and Daniel Theis the Celtics are will rely on a strong performance from their bench to beat Milwaukee.  The group of Greg Monroe, Marcus Morris, Shane Larkin and Semi Ojeleye will have to play tough against Bledsoe, Middleton Antetokounmpo.  If they can contain the Freak, then they should have a decent shot at beating the Bucks. If the Celtics can get past Milwaukee guard Marcus Smart received clearance to play in round two. Smart has been for a month with a fractured thumb.

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Bucks  Have the edge;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Although Milwaukee are  healthier than the Celtics, the series should go seven games Considering, the Celtic are physically beaten up don’t count them out just yet.If they can a balanced production from their first and second units Boston could give the Bucks fits. On the whole, it should be a very exciting series.

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Three Attributes Kyrie Irving Brings To The Celtics

In just three short seasons Celtics General manager Danny Ainge has put together a Celtic team ready to challenge Golden Stae for The World Title. This past summer Ainge took one step to get him even closer to the World title. Ainge went out and signed free agent Gordon Heyward and acquired disgruntled Cavalier Kyrie Irving. In this post, we’ll look at three attributes Irving brings to the Celtics.                                                                                                                                                                                      First and foremost Irving brings a championship ring to the parquet. In his six years in Cleveland Irving won a world championship in 2015/16 against the Warriors. Also to his credit, Irving is a four_ time All_ star. But after a disastrous opening night, Irving witnessed new teammate Gordon Heyward go down with a broken ankle. To make matters worse it was determined that Heyward will be out for the remainder of the season and playoffs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Despite the turmoil, Irving and the Celtics overcame adversity and enjoyed a sixteen game winning streak and a respectable first place standing with a 17-3 record at Thanksgiving.                                                                                                                                                                                                              After twenty games Irving is averaging 25 points per game and some games as many as 30. After six years of playing opposite LeBron,  he can finally be himself in Boston.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Coming to such a young team as the Celtics Irving brings leadership and experience to the Celtics young nucleus. Irving serves as a role model for youngsters Jaylen Brown and first _year player Jason Tatum. Despite the injury to Heyward, the Celtics still have enough to be the first seed in the East                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  With sixty games left Boston will still need contributions from all twelve bodies. In the off seasonAinge also added veteran swingman,  Marcus Morris for depth. Ainge paid dearly for it by trading longtime favorite Avery Bradley. Bradley a long time Celtic is one of the top three defensive players in the game.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Being such a long season anything can happen such as the Celtics witnessed opening night to Gordon Heyward. But with Irving playing at such a high level and injury issues in Cleveland, things are looking good for Boston.  Despite being a great player Irving has many other attributes to offer the Celtics.