The Sixers will be extremely short-handed to start the season.
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When Brad Stevens fielded questions about the benefits of continuity last season as if three weeks with a static roster should give him a decade’s worth of comfort, stifling laughter could be hard. Sure, they’re in a shallower pool than someone like the Hornets, but everyone’s in the East, which is the kiddie pool in this overlong analogy. That stretch propelled them into a gritty series with the Cavs, but it is likely what we can expect from this team in the beginning portion of this season.
And that’s where Ainge and Co. now sit. They’re waiting on Ainge to pilfer someone else’s star the way Houston commandeered James Harden-or, for that matter, how Ainge first acquired Garnett eight years ago.
Six months from now, we may have a better idea of how Sam Hinkie’s process is moving forward, but probably only by a small amount. “They have really committed physical defenders”. Still, last season they were last in offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) and averaged just 92 points a game (29th).
Based on Ainge’s relentless pursuit of a superstar alone, it would be easy to assume his team was at a crossroads.
After failing to send a single player to last season’s All-Star Game, the Celtics send two to Toronto in 2016. Most of these athletes are either rookies and young players, but that is not always the case, according to Bleacher Report.
Marcus Smart was the next to come to mind. Avery Bradley is an older, more consistent, less potentially dynamic player than his backcourt partner. Jae Crowder can capably check multiple positions, and is a reliable three-point jumper away from proving his new contract a steal.
With such a deep roster filled with so many exciting players, I simply can not figure out who to pick.
Also Read: National Basketball Association TRADE RUMORS: MARCUS SMART OR ISAIAH THOMAS – WHO WILL BE THE STARTER OF BOSTON CELTICS? He has begun to succeed where so many former college coaches have failed by understanding that there is still far more for him to learn at this level.
Further establishing their burgeoning culture with more on-court success is vital for the Celtics. There was the nagging understanding that more losses added up to a better chance at a high draft pick and quicker opportunity for the club to be truly good again.
On the eve of his third season on the Celtics’ bench, Stevens reflected Tuesday on whether this is where he thought his team would be at this point. And the Celtics have a lot of good defensive players that’d excel regardless of the system. But more is required when April turns to May.
Still, Stevens hopes to build on the strengths that pushed Boston to a 24-11 finish last season. They started training camp off knowing that they would have four players unavailable to them: Joel Embiid (foot), Tony Wroten (knee), Kendall Marshall (knee), and Carl Landry (wrist). His preseason injury is what forced Draymond Green into the starting lineup.
But now he’s among a ragtag group of Celtics who have won nothing. The most glaring problem is shooting 27.7% from three point range.
But, in a recent interview with ESPN, Jared Sullinger said that he couldn’t care less about the rumors as he is more focused on winning instead of his minutes. Rest assured, Ainge is working on it. Amir Johnson is your favorite analytics writer’s favorite help defender-that’s a compliment!-while Lee remains a scavenger so adept at rebounding and finishing that he’s relevant even as players of his ilk are slowly grandfathered out. Primarily, he’s a wealth of valuable experience.
That sounds wonderful, but it’s a rather radical notion in a league where there’s an nearly cynical acceptance that stars dominate and talent wins. It is even worse considering the kind of shots that Turner was taking.
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If there’s one thing Isaiah Thomas isn’t lacking, it’s confidence.
