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NBA Power Rankings, Week 1: Tatum, Brown and the Celtics on a mission

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 10: Jaylen Brown #7 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics react during team introductions prior to Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on June 10, 2022 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 10: Jaylen Brown #7 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics react during team introductions prior to Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on June 10, 2022 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics fans are you ready to rock and roll?

A short offseason seemed like the longest one ever as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics stewed for months after losing in the NBA Finals to Steph Curry and those Golden State Warriors.

Two emerging young stars got a taste of what it’s like to compete for a championship and it has only made them even more motivated and hungry to bring Banner 18 to Boston.  But the path this offseason hasn’t been a drama free one for the boys in green.

After trading for Malcolm Brogdon and signing Danilo Gallinari, a string of bad luck put a dark cloud over the team.  It started with Gallinari suffering a torn ACL and then it was learned that Robert Williams will miss some time to start the season, and then there was the Ime Udoka drama that has led to young interim coach Joe Mazzula taking over the head coaching duties.

NBA Power Rankings has Boston Celtics in the top 3

Through it all, at least heading into the season, the Celtics have appeared to come together at least that’s how it looked in the preseason.  Although just the preseason, the Boston Celtics looked in peak form.  They looked like a team focused, hungry and deep even without Gallinari and Williams.  That’s why NBA.com’s John Schuhmann has them ranked No. 3 in the Week 1 NBA power rankings to start the season.

He writes:

"“Despite all the turmoil that the prior two weeks had brought, the Celtics looked ready for the season in their first preseason game, a 41-point win over Charlotte. Heck, the Celtics looked ready on their first defensive possession of the night, switching seamlessly, rotating well and forcing a tough shot late in the clock. It’s possible they got bored (or tired from playing two overtime games) by the end of the preseason slate, when they allowed the Raptors to score 137 points on 112 possessions (1.22 per) in Montreal.”"

With the Warriors coming in at No. 1 and the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 2, it is hard to argue with the ranking except the Celtics did take out the Bucks in the playoffs and one could make the claim that adding a healthy Brogdon to the mix is just as impactful as a healthy Khris Middleton returning to the Bucks.  There is the Giannis Antetokounmpo factor, but Tatum has proven to be just as much as a nightmare to the Bucks.

Any gap that is there is made up with Jaylen Brown vs Middleton.  This season will prove that.

Boston Celtics opens the season with a challenge

After a rather interesting few months off, the Celtics will begin their mission to return to the finals as they face Joel Embiid, James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA season opener.

With the absence of Robert Williams, this will be an interesting game to start the season because of the force known as Embiid.  To the Celtics credit, they usually have success against the 76ers’ big man with Horford defending him well, but will the lack of depth in the front court get exposed right away? Or will the Celtics have too much in other areas to cover up that one perceived flaw.

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Another game to watch in the first week of the season is an Eastern Conference Finals rematch with Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.  The Heat didn’t do much to improve their team, but they always present a challenge for the Celtics.  In facing two of the top 10 teams in this week’s NBA Power Rankings, Boston will be out to prove they are the real deal as favorites to win the title.

Celtics players to watch to start the 2022-23 NBA season

Obviously, it’s Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Both players are motivated, hungry and appear extremely focused on getting back to the Finals.  Although Tatum didn’t shoot particularly well in the preseason, he did start to come on before being thrown out of the final preseason game against the Toronto Raptors.  On the flip side, Brown has been on fire in the preseason.  With hunger in his eyes, he appears to be destined to make the next step in his level of superstardom.

dark. Next. Kevin Garnett keeps it real, doesn’t believe Boston Celtics are contenders

As both players have established and proved to the NBA world that they can play together and look like world beaters when they are both at the top of their game, how they start this season will be under a microscope.  Will they further morph into playmakers and leaders?  Can they make players around them better?

Celtics fans have seen what they can be, now it’s time to show the consistency in dominance.

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