Boston Celtics 2017 Season Preview
Avery Bradley and Isaiah Austin form a deadly guard tandem. Boston also has Marcus Smart for depth as well as a top pick from the Brooklyn Nets as well.
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on 3/6/2016.
Head coach Brad Stevens got 40 wins in his second year in the NBA after getting only 25 wins in his first season with the Celtics back in 2013-2014. Avery Bradley seems like the only consistent starter. The rest of their starters Marcus Smart, Evan Turner, David Lee, and Amir Johnson all averaged under 10 points per game in 2014-2015. Lee averaged over 10 points per game in 2013-2014 with Golden State and was an excellent role player behind Draymond Greene.
Boston has Isaiah Thomas who averaged 11.5 points per game as a backup and Terry Rozier, a 2015 first round draft pick as a third string point guard. Boston also drafted shooting guard R.J. Hunter and power forward Jordan Mickey. Neither one of those players is in the NBA right now.
Power forward Jared Sullinger, center Tyler Zeller, and center Kelly Olynyk all averaged more than 10 points per game. Which really makes me wonder why all of the Celtics' best scorers are on the bench.
Boston probably has enough depth to take the Atlantic Division from the Toronto Raptors. Until Hunter and Mickey arrive and until the Celtics put Sullinger, Zeller, and Olynyk in as the starters that see constant minutes, this will be a 3 seed division winner that gets swept by other NBA Teams.
Boston Celtics Prediction
Our starting 5 predictions segment will feature a brief one paragraph prediction from 5 of our basketball analysts at Draft Utopia.
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