The Boston Celtics have a pretty interesting year ahead of them and here are three not so bold predictions for second half of 2019-20 NBA season.
What we know about the Boston Celtics going into the All-Star break is that they are a team that can beat some of the top teams in the league.
With impressive wins over the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers and recently the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics have proven they have the depth and firepower to play with those teams, but do they have enough to out duel Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in a seven-game playoff series?
Well, with two All-Stars in Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum, as well as two guys who are capable of playing at an All-Star level like Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown, scoring shouldn’t be a problem.
As well as Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter have been holding down the center position, battling against elite big men like Joel Embiid has exposed the team’s weakness of not having an adequate big man who can be a force on the defensive end of the court.
That’s why the trade deadline will be interesting, and it will also be interesting how the team plays when health is no longer a factor as there has been minimal games in which they had all their top players on the floor at the same time.
Currently battling for the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference standings, here are three not-so-bold predictions for the Boston Celtics for the second half of the 2019-20 NBA season.
Jaylen Brown continues to ascend
Not being named to the 2019-20 NBA All-Star team will only further motivate Jaylen Brown.
In averaging 20.1 points per game this season and really elevating his all-around game to an All-Star level, the Boston Celtics wing certainly presented a strong case to make the team this season.
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While he is not the most notable snub from the 2019-20 NBA All-Star selections, expect Brown to play with a chip on his shoulder going forward, a chip that will help the Boston Celtics make a very deep playoff run.
Following the team’s 119-104 victory over the Golden State Warriors, Brown said all the right things in reacting to being left off the All-Star team.
"“Not disappointed,” Brown said, as transcribed by NESN. “I think there’s a lot of guys they have to choose from, a lot of guys having a good year, it is what it is. Just start gearing up your mind, getting ready for the playoffs and stuff like that, building good habits.”"
Definitely the words of a more mature player. In fact, you better believe the 23-year-old ascending star will use the snub as motivation, as he should.
With teammate Jayson Tatum getting the nod, Brown’s competitive nature and continued growth will be on display as the regular season continues and into the playoffs.
Jayson Tatum will have another 40-point game
Speaking of All-Stars, Jayson Tatum was named an All-Star reserve, thus becoming the youngest Boston Celtics player to make the All-Star Game since Antoine Walker in the early 2000s.
In just his third year in the NBA, becoming an All-Star was the ultimate goal this season for Tatum, who of course was very joyful when he learned he earned his first All-Star nod.
Sources: 2020 NBA All-Star reserves:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 30, 2020
East: Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Ben Simmons, Khris Middleton, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, Domas Sabonis
West: Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, Brandon Ingram, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul
"“I was surprised,” Tatum said following the game, via Celtics.com. “I wanted to cry. I didn’t cry. I might cry later, though. But I’m just so grateful. It’s something I’m not going to take for granted. There’s only 24 guys who make the All-Star team, so I’m super thankful and I’m going to enjoy the opportunity of the moment.”"
Those tears of joy are much welcome after Tatum, along with all current and former NBA player, had to mourn the loss of his mentor Kobe Bryant. Both circumstances will certainly carry the Celtics first-time All-Star through the rest of his career, and you can count on him just getting better.
In fact, expect Tatum to put up another 40-point performance this season as he did when he torched the New Orleans Pelicans for 41 points back in early January.
With a more aggressive approach to the game offensively, Jayson Tatum has elevated his game and grasped his value to the team as a solid No. 2 option, if not No. 1 on most nights. With a 39-point game on his resume this season as well, the only question is which team and when he will go for 40 again.
Danny Ainge gets his big man
The Boston Celtics won’t make a splash at the NBA Trade Deadline, but Danny Ainge will do something to help his team in the second half of the NBA season and into the playoffs without disrupting the team’s chemistry.
That means rumored targets like Kevin Love, Andre Drummond and Steven Adams won’t be walking through that door.
Why?
Because it will take a player like Gordon Hayward and other assets to get those deals done. With the way Hayward has been playing of late, Ainge will have some indication as to whether or not he will opt-in next season. With all signs pointing yes, Ainge will make an intermediate move that will end up being a big move for the team.
Names to watch will be Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas, New Orleans Pelicans power forward Derrick Favors, Sacramento Kings power forward Nemanja Bjelica, Los Angeles Clippers power forward Montrezl Harrell and San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl.
With the way Enes Kanter and Daniel Theis has been playing, the Boston Celtics won’t be desperate to obtain a big man, but something will get done that will make sense for the Celtics and the team they trade with.