The Celtics and their fans have to be pleased with the way last season went. It was supposed to be a reset year in the absence of Jayson Tatum, but instead turned into a surprise playoff run as the two-seed. They lost in seven games to Philadelphia, but the confirmation that they had a rock-solid group around their superstar was enough to feel good about an otherwise lost year.
Trade rumors started circulating as soon as the Celtics walked off the floor after game seven. These eventually led to the biggest trade of the last few seasons, sending Jaylen Brown, the Finals MVP just three seasons ago, to the 76ers for Paul George. It was cited as a financially driven move, but with Jayson Tatum in his prime, there is still pressure to compete for championships every season. With a revamped roster, Boston is seeking their sixth straight 50-win season, and they’re looking to do it without the guy who carried them to 56 wins last year.
Boston Celtics: Over/Under 50.5 wins (-115/-110)
Last Season: 56-26, lost E. Conf first round
Key Additions: Paul George, Mike Conley, Mitchell Robinson
Key Losses: Jaylen Brown, Anfernee Simons
Championship Odds: +1500
If you ask 100 NBA fans who won the swap of Jaylen Brown and Paul George, 90 or more are going to tell you the 76ers. Sometimes, when the crowd is so resolved in an opinion like that, the opposite is true. That is how I feel about Boston’s outlook this year. Getting rid of Brown certainly has some addition by subtraction, allowing Jayson Tatum to once again be the alpha lead for this squad. But people are writing George off as some old bag of bones that is going to play five games a month. George averaged over 17 points a game over 37 minutes while shooting almost 50 percent from the floor against this very Celtics team in the playoffs five months ago. He is still a good player, and arguably a better fit with what the Celtics want to do.
The most important thing for Boston is that Jayson Tatum is going to be fully healthy again. He is one of the best players in the league, and they still have a core around him similar to the one that won the NBA Finals in 2024. With Joe Mazzulla at the helm and plenty of talent to go around, this team can be penciled in for 51 wins at the very least every year.
Prediction: Over 50.5 wins (-115)
Read the full article here