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Boston Celtics: Good news and bad news ahead of postseason run

By Gio Rivera

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 12: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics smiles during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on December 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 12: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics smiles during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on December 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics Kemba Walker (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics Kemba Walker (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

Upside- below 25 emergence + veteran efficiency 

Now let’s wrap it all up with the good news.

The Boston Celtics have got just the amount of below age 25 emergence along with a sweet mix of veteran efficiency.

That emergence being Jayson Tatum (22) and Jaylen Brown (23) along with said veteran efficiency being Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward.

On Tuesday night, Jayson Tatum became the first Celtic since 2000-01 Paul Pierce to score at least 10+ points in 50 straight games in his first three NBA seasons. He’s averaging career numbers in the points (23.4), rebounds (7.1), and assists (3.0) column. His below 25 on the rise partner in crime, Jaylen Brown is also having himself a career year fresh off signing a $107 million contract extension prior to the season, back in October of 2019.

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Brown is averaging a career-high 20.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and shooting 49 percent from the field. All coming with 34 minutes on the floor on average. A duo we’ve already since come short on the big stage, now coming fresh off their respective career seasons.

As for the veterans, we’ve already seen the superbly efficient shooting all season long from post-injury Gordon Hayward.

Concerns regarding his aggressiveness, strength, and overall ability to get back in Utah-like form have all been dismissed months ago. Hayward is shooting a career-high 50.2 percent from the field while averaging a career-high in rebounds (6.5) and assists (4.1), on a 17.1 point per game scoring average. This coming on a Boston Celtics team that early in the season, had four 20+ point per game scorers, including Hayward himself. A safe bet to say he’s been back for quite some time now.

Then last but far from least the first year Celtic and former UConn hero, Kemba Walker.

Aside from his short-term injury stints lowest career field-goal percentage since 2015, Walker has shown one of the biggest upsides in upgrading this Boston Celtics team. That being his inability to get fazed on inefficient nights, yet still finding a way to get enough involvement to somehow remain efficient. We’ve seen it on countless nights.

A low scoring night from Walker yet tremendous utilization of Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Smart, and others, in order to find scoring through them and create a hot hand when he isn’t.

That very fight within Kemba hasn’t existed from a point guard in a Celtics uniform since the good-old Isaiah Thomas days.

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With that being said, don’t let the standings thus far guide you.

The Boston Celtics are in next set to face the Eastern-Conference leading Milwaukee Bucks at 8:00 p.m. eastern, Thursday night.

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