The Boston Celtics open their preseason schedule with more questions than answers going into the 2018-19 NBA season. Here are three players to keep an eye on.
Coming off a disappointing 2017-18 NBA season, the Boston Celtics are ready for life without the drama of Kyrie Irving.
With key exits like Irving, Al Horford, Terry Rozier, Aron Baynes and Marcus Morris, the Celtics are looking to re-establish team chemistry and get back to playing the type of basketball that had the team just a game away from the NBA Finals in the 2016-2017 campaign.
Adding a player like Kemba Walker is definitely a step in the right direction. His leadership should rub off nicely on the team’s young core of players that include Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart.
There are also some other key additions like Enes Kanter along with some younger players looking to add to that team concept and chemistry. Speaking to the media at the Shamrock Foundation’s annual Teeing Up For Kids in late September, Stevens talked about forming chemistry and moving on from last season’s failures.
"“My care is that we play with great effort and togetherness,” Stevens said, via Boston.com. “That’s is it. That’s what we’re looking for, that’s what we want to be. All the technical basketball plays and system, all that stuff, that stuff will figure itself out. I feel like we’re in a good foundation there, but we’ve got to play like a Boston team should.”"
With the preseason kicking off on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets, all eyes will be on the core of Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Enes Kanter. But, here are three players Boston Celtics fans should keep their eye on during the preseason.
Tacko Fall
Already a fan favorite, 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall will be hard to miss when he is on the court given his size.
Given an Exhibit 10 contract by the Boston Celtics following Las Vegas Summer League, Fall will have to make the 15-man roster outright or there is a possibility the team could lose him unless he clears waivers.
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If he does not make the team and does clears waivers, he would be eligible to play for the Celtics affiliate Maine Red Claws as a rookie.
That would be another way the team could maintain the big fella and keep him affiliated with the team.
So, basically Tacko Fall will be competing with Javonte Green for that 15th spot. It could be an uphill battle given the big men the team already has on the team. Along with Enes Kanter and second-year man Robert Williams, the Celtics also have big men Daniel Theis, and French big man Vincent Poirier battling for playing time.
Fall making the 15-man roster could give the team even more depth. His rebounding and rim-protecting ability obviously would be a welcome.
In all, Tacko Fall will continue to gain the fan support, but he will really have to show more of his potential on the court to break the 15-man roster. At the very least, his story makes for a very interesting preseason.
Carsen Edwards
After leading the team in shooting in the Summer League, Boston Celtics second-round pick Carsen Edwards is already slotted as a potential steal of the 2019 NBA draft.
Drawing comparisons to Kemba Walker, Edwards will have an opportunity to provide some quick scoring off the bench. Although just a rookie, it will be interesting to see how Edwards play with the team.
His ability to shoot the rock and also play some defense will make him a favorite with fans. I guess some would even call him the perfect mix of Walker and former Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas as far as his skillset goes.
As far as making an impact on the team in his rookie season?
Carsen Edwards just wants to continue working on his game and make the most of the opportunity ahead of him. Asked about his Summer League performance, the Boston Celtics rookie shook it off, understanding he still has some learning to do.
"“Honestly, just coming in, first off, I have so much to work on, so much to learn,” Edwards said during the team’s media day, via Masslive.com. “So I really don’t take so much from Summer League.”"
Playing on a team with guards like Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart will certainly help the mental determination of a player who probably should’ve been drafted higher than he was.
His play during the preseason is definitely something to watch.
Romeo Langford
The Boston Celtics did have a lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and his name is Romeo Langford.
Due to his thumb injury, Langford did not participate in Summer League. Because of that, he has kind of become the forgotten man even though he is the team’s highest draft pick.
With Grant William, Carsen Edwards and Tacko Fall taking much of the headlines throughout the summer, is time for Celtics fans to see what they have in Romeo Langford.
For that reason alone, he is a player to watch. But he is also a player to watch because of the current contract situation brewing between the team and Jaylen Brown. There is some speculation that Romeo Langford was drafted as insurance in case the team loses Brown either through free agency or via trade.
As another wing, Langford will have to earn some time and trust from Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, and that is something he is focused on doing. All the other stuff will play its way out.
"“My approach is to get out there every day and be the best version of me,” Langford said, via MassLive.com. “Just help my team win games, and whatever coach Stevens needs me to do I’ll do.”"
While he has yet to play a game in a Boston Celtics uniform, the Indiana Hoosiers alum already sounds like the type of team player Stevens loves.