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Boston Celtics Fandom: The 3 biggest New Year wishes for 2021

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 30: A general view of the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 30, 2020 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 Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 30: A general view of the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 30, 2020 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 Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics Robert Williams. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Here are three New Year wishes for the Boston Celtics in the 2020-21 NBA season.

The Boston Celtics took fans on quite a ride during the 2019-2020 NBA season.  From the departure of Kyrie Irving to the rise to stardom of Jayson Tatum, the team reached the Eastern Conference Finals in an interrupted season.

Fast forward to the start of the 2020-21 and the team has watched another star walk away as Gordon Hayward took his talents to the Charlotte Hornets.  While depth will be challenged, Tatum continues to emerge, and Jaylen Brown is showing all the reason why he should be an NBA All-Star.

With Kemba Walker sidelined, the team is getting some inspired play out of veteran point guard and newcomer Jeff Teague as well as surprising rookie Payton Pritchard, but they will need more if they hope to make an NBA Finals run.

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The Milwaukee Bucks led by Giannis Antetokounmpo is still at team to be reckoned with, especially with the addition of Jrue Holiday, the Philadelphia 76ers will be a problem now that Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are being coached by Doc Rivers and the Brooklyn Nets with Kyrie, Kevin Durant and all that depth is already proving to be a roadblock in the Boston Celtics road to competing for a championship.

And then there are teams like the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers and a Russell Westbrook led Washington Wizards that will challenge the team for playoff position.

So, it’s obvious the Celtics will need a lot more than the maturation of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to compete with these teams.

Here are three New Year wishes for the rest of the 2020-21 NBA season.

Boston Celtics needs to see growth in Robert Williams

Can Robert Williams take the next step as an NBA basketball player?

In his third NBA season, he is certainly trending in that direction with his energetic play off the bench.

In hoping that testing positive for COVID-19 doesn’t halt his growth, the display of athleticism, along with his activeness around the rim on both ends of the court is turning Robert Williams into a reliable NBA player.

Averaging 6.8 points and 6.4 rebounds, you can just see the confidence emerging in Williams as he is seeing more meaningful playing time and making plays to help his team win.

The wish is for that growth to continue.  If he develops a jump shot, which he is showing signs of doing, Robert Williams will find himself on that list of draft picks Danny Ainge has actually hit on.

Playing behind players like Daniel Theis and Tristian Thompson will only help his game once he fully recovers from COVID.  Again, hopefully that doesn’t have long-term effects on the 23-year-old athletic big man.

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