The Celtics were leading the Warriors 2-1 in the NBA Finals and had a healthy lead midway through the fourth quarter of Game Four when the dream ended. The Celtics had been playing extended basketball for five months at that point. After a sluggish start, they turned their season around, seeing Jason Tatum emerge as a real star and NBA first-team player, defeating the reigning champion Bucks in the semifinals, and surviving a seven-game skid against Miami in the Eastern Finals. The debut of head coach and general manager Ime Udoka and Brad Stevens was a success, as was Marcus Smart, who became the first goalie since Gary Payton to clinch the Kia Defensive Player of the Year award. The outcome was a runner-up finish in the Warriors Championship, which fell short of lifting another flag in Boston.
Stevens deserves praise, even though he was only at work for roughly five minutes. He took over from Danny Ang last summer, a difficult job for someone who has never served in a front-facing position, and everything he’s touched since has gone well. Expectations are high, and Ohio online sportsbooks will be a buzz with a breathtaking betting ride for the upcoming season as Celtics will want to put their disappointments behind.
Al Horford’s return was one of his first moves. At the time, Horford’s career was on the verge of taking off, and with his leadership and some standout postseason play, notably the Milwaukee run, Horford became one of the league’s unexpected finds.
While the former Tottenham goalie initially struggled with his shooting, he finally calmed down. He played a crucial part throughout the pre-season leading up to the Finals when he activated a mid-season deal to bring him in.
Oh, and Stevens recruited Odoka to take his position on the bench; in January, Odoka adjusted the ship’s schedule as needed, and the Celtics took off.
In his first year of business, Stevens has become one of the top general managers in basketball. Is it too soon to give him this kind of crown? Not so, considering that Boston largely advanced to the championship game due to his strategic choices.
What is Stevens doing on the big chair during his second summer there? He fills Boston’s primary need, a playmaker at the lookout point, and acquires Brogdon from the Pacers without displacing any crucial members of the Celtics rotation.
In his six years, he has just once, as a rookie, played at least 75 games in a season. He only played in more than 60 matches once in the remaining five years. The lowest was last year, with 36.
He makes wise selections with the ball, attacks the edge skillfully, and hits good outside balls at 29. Last season, he played just a little bit, averaging 19 points. Either he will spell Smart at the guard point, or he will start at the point and Smart will go to the guard’s position.
This is not meant to be harsh on Smart, who winces anytime his ability to create games is mentioned; rather, Brogdon is a superior distributor. Tatum and Jaylene Brown worked hard to try and arrive at their choices, and the Celtics were unveiled in the NBA Finals. After several unexpected developments, Boston was evaluated in that series.
Tatum and Brown might replace the inexperienced players with Brogdon as the best players to play. Less anxiety means the Celtics will be more effective and dangerous – assuming that Brogdon can avoid being injured.
In addition, when Gallinari was traded from the Hawks to the Spurs in exchange for Dejounte Murray, the Celtics were able to sign him on the cheap. However, after knee surgery due to his injury in the summer, Gallo might not even wear a uniform this season.
Additionally, Stevens could not, or refused to force Kevin Durant to leave Brooklyn this summer.
Before the KD and Nets modifications, the Celtics were among the most well-known teams considered a probable transfer destination for the disgruntled player. Logically, Boston had the resources to send Brown and the rest of the crew to Brooklyn. There is strong evidence that the two teams talked about it.
This is a paid guest post.