The Boston Celtics were 2 wins away from a NBA Championship, they led the series 2-1 and led game 4 with under 5 minutes to go. Then, it slipped away, Steph Curry ensured Golden State tied the series in game 4 before Boston fell apart in games 5 and 6, leading to a Warriors championship. They were so close, they could taste the champagne in the locker room with the Larry O’Brien Trophy. This offseason the team traded for Malcolm Brogdan to help their turnover issues, which reared its ugly head throughout the playoffs. They also signed Danilo Gallinari to help with shooting, though he tore his ACL so he likely will not play this season. It was looking like the Boston Celtics were going to be the favorites to go back to the Finals and even win the whole thing. Then, on September 21st, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that head coach Ime Udoka has violated Celtics team policy and was facing ‘significant suspension’, we later learned this was for the whole season. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Udoka was being suspended for having a consensual affair with a team employee. However, later reporting by a couple of people said that Udoka had done some other things we do not know. It is a complicated situation, so let’s dissect it to the best of our ability.
I find it hard to believe the Celtics would suspend Udoka for the entire season for just having a consensual relationship, granted this is just speculation, but this team was 2 wins away from a championship and changing it up for just this reason seems unreasonable to me. Again I do not want to accuse Udoka of anything but the Celtics first learned of this scandal in July, according to reports, and immediately hired an outside law firm to do an investigation that took 2 months to complete. They were thorough throughout the process and clearly made sure they got every single story from everyone who was involved in and was around the situation. Again, I am not sure I believe this is how they handle a consensual affair between 2 employees. There is clearly more to the story that we do not know and I do not believe Udoka will ever coach the Celtics again. As a result, Boston moves forward with Joe Mazzulla as the interim coach for this season and potentially beyond.
I do not know much about Mazzulla but what I can tell you is that he has been with the Celtics for 3 seasons and seemed like he was ready for the opportunity in his press conference at media day. However, he will be without his starting center for the start of the season, as the team announced that Robert Williams will miss 8-12 weeks with a knee injury that will keep him out until Thanksgiving at the earliest. So not only is Mazzulla being tossed into the fire a month before the season starts, he is missing one of his four best players for potentially the first 2 months of the season. However, even without Williams, he has one of the best rosters in the NBA at his disposal.
The Boston Celtics will go as far as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will take them, which, as proven last season, can be very far. Tatum and Brown are 2 of the best players in the sport at its most important position, they can score at any level, have both improved as passers, and are both elite defensive players. I can not stress enough how good those guys are defensively, as it is the most underrated part of their game, especially Tatum who has developed into one of the best perimeter defenders in the sport, if not the best. At guard they are loaded. Marcus Smart is the starting point guard and is a really good point guard. The 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year, which I projected he would win in the preseason, moves the ball well and can hit 3 pointers to go along with his elite defensive prowess. Derrick White, acquired at last season’s trade deadline, fit like a glove in Boston coming off the bench, as the Celtics became not only the league’s best defense after the trade but also had the best offense in the sport post acquiring White from San Antonio. They acquired Malcolm Brogdan from the Pacers this summer as a third option at guard as well. All 3 of these guys can handle the ball, all 3 are not good but elite defensive players, and all 3 can play with one another. They also have Payton Pritchard who can hit 3 pointers from all over the court as well. They are loaded at the guard spot. Boston is also loaded with big men, Al Horford is still playing extremely well at 36 years old, they’ll get the Timelord, Robert Williams, back by Christmas, who has blossomed into one of the best centers in the NBA, and they have Grant Williams who has become an awesome 3&D player. They’ll need players like Luke Kornet, Mfiondu Kabengele, and Noah Vonleh (should he make the roster) to step up and play well before Robert Williams gets back. This roster is loaded and should be one of the top contenders to win the East.
The Boston Celtics won the Eastern Conference last season and enter this season with, in my opinion, the best roster in the Conference. Their duo of Tatum and Brown is up there with the best duo’s in the Conference and the guys behind them are as good as anyone in the Conference. This team should be better than the Nets, better than the 76ers, and better than the Heat as all 3 have concerns with their rosters that the Celtics can exploit. The team that the Celtics have to be ready for is the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks have the best player in the league in Giannis Antetokounmpo, with 2 other guys who make up one of the league's best big 3, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, and really good depth of guys who can hit open 3’s and defend, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, Wesley Matthews, and Joe Ingles are some examples of these players. After Milwaukee took Boston 7 games last season without Khris Middleton and with the Celtics having Udoka, I think the Bucks are better in the present moment. However, the Celtics should still be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference next season.
The Boston Celtics were 2 wins away from the ultimate prize, then coach Ime Udoka got a tad bit too lustful and the whole team is now paying for it (he also cheated on his famous and rich wife, Nia Long… that man fumbled a fantastic bag). Now, the Celtics have to turn to Joe Mazzula to try and lead them back to a place they have not been since 2008, atop the mountain as NBA champions.
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