Boston Celtics enter 2022-23 NBA season edge, attitude and purpose
Coming off an NBA Finals loss, the Boston Celtics are loaded and primed for another run at an NBA title.
Despite Danilo Gallinari going down with a season-ending injury and young big man Robert Williams undergoing surgery that will force him to miss a couple of weeks to start the season, the attitude, edge as well as the addition of Malcolm Brogdon will make this team a force in 2022-23.
In fact, injuries seem to be the only thing in the way of a deep run through the Eastern Conference. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and them boys will also have teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and perhaps the Cleveland Cavaliers in their way but losing a chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy to end the 2021-22 NBA season seems to be all the motivation the team needs to get back to the promise land.
Expectations are high on the 2022-23 Boston Celtics and they have the right attitude
With expectations high and the Celtics entering the 2022-23 NBA season as favorites to win the title, there will be a bullseye on their back and added pressure to live up to those expectations. This could easily be a spot where the team underachieves, but with the young core of Tatum, Brown, Williams and Marcus Smart getting a taste of the NBA Finals, that experience and what it takes should be the firepower they need.
That is exactly why Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix is high on this team. During an appearance on NBC Sports’ Early Edition, the Celtics insider injects further optimism and excitement into a fanbase starving for Banner 18.
"“I am wildly bullish on this team,” Mannix said, as transcribed by NBC Sports Boston. “I’ve spent the last couple of weeks talking to members of the team for a story we’re working on at Sports Illustrated, and everything I hear from people around the players and the players themselves, it is really, good things. Things that you want to hear.”"
Some to those things Mannix went on to mention included Tatum’s attitude and focus on winning, Al Horford and his dip in the fountain of youth, the team’s focus on getting off to a good start and the depth the team has even without Gallinari.
The obvious mention here is Tatum. Can the young superstar future mature into a player who can lead a team to a championship? With the way he disappeared in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, he will be out to prove that poor performance was just a mirage. As young players learn through experience, both Tatum and Brown will have a chip on their shoulders that should be fun to watch.
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As for Jaylen Brown, his mission will be to prove the Boston Celtics made the right choice sticking with him over Kevin Durant. While those rumors could still drive a wedge between the player and the team, it may come to benefit the Celtics.
But the added piece to the puzzle could impact the big picture positively or negatively. As Mannix goes on to explain as his one concern, will Brogdon buy and accept his role on the team?
"“If there’s one concern, it’s will these guys be willing to sacrifice? Malcolm Brogdon comes in, will he be willing to sacrifice? Well, I talked to Horford, and Horford worked out with Brogdon this summer,” Mannix said. “He said the one thing Brogdon kept saying to him was, ‘What can I do to fit in? What can I do to help us win?’ So right now, all the signs are positive for this Celtics team.”"
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Boston Celtics fans have heard this all before, but the key with this team is to see how they respond or bounce back if they don’t get off to that good start or if injuries further hamper the team. Their response to adversity will show that this team is different. There’s a purpose in front of them and as of now it feels like they have the right attitude and edge to capture the 2022-23 NBA season.