USA TODAY International Edition
Healthy Celtics set sights on Warriors
Boston’s Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward played 5 minutes and 15 seconds together last season. Hayward’s season-ending ankle injury in the first game hit pause on what was supposed to be the start of a beautiful partnership between NBA All-Stars in their first season together. Then, Irving’s late-season injury sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign, playoffs included. Hayward and Irving had to watch from the sideline wondering what could have been as the Celtics lost to the Cavaliers in seven games in the Eastern Conference finals. Hayward, Irving and the Celtics are hoping they don’t have to wonder this season. If healthy, the Celtics are favored to win the Eastern Conference and play in the NBA Finals for the first time since losing to the Lakers in 2010. That was the last time a non-LeBron James team represented the East in the Finals. James is a Laker now, and whether it’s the Celtics, Raptors or Pacers, they don’t have him in their path. “I think we have the talent to compete with them,” Irving said of the two-time defending champion Warriors. “Obviously the quote of me saying I feel we can beat them in a seven-game series ... I really do feel like that. But we won’t know until we put in the work, sacrifice the amount of time, and we commit ourselves to being a quality team before we can be even echoed a championship team. It’s going to take time. I’m willing to be patient, willing to put in the work and help all of our guys.” The Celtics have the talent to reach the Finals. With Hayward and Irving out last season, it gave Jaylen Brown, entering his third season, and Jayson Tatum, entering his second season, considerable playing time. They proved they are difference-makers. Low-maintenance Al Horford is one of the best and most versatile two-way centers in the league, and Boston features a deep bench with Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Marcus Morris, Aron Baynes, Daniel Theis and Semi Ojeleye. The Celtics also drafted Robert Williams in the first round in June. In Brad Stevens, the Celtics have one of the best coaches in the league. His X’s and O’s acumen is superb, and since his first season with Boston in 2013-14, he has developed a reputation as an excellent communicator and strategist. The Celtics have improved their win total in each of Stevens’ five seasons, from 25 to 40 to 48 to 53 to 55. Given the talent, don’t be surprised if they surpass 55 this season. “We have a lot of really good players,” Stevens said at the start of camp. But he’s not satisfied. The Celtics had the top-rated defense last season, allowing 101.5 points per 100 possessions. As long as they maintain a top-five defense, they’ll win a significant number of games. “It (defense) really was the driver of our success last year,” Stevens said. But to take that jump from conference finalist to championship contender, Boston must become better offensively. Last season, the Celtics were 18th in offensive efficiency, scoring 105.3 points per 100 possessions. While they were among the best three-point shooting teams, they struggled at times inside the three-point line (ranked 21st in two-point field goal percentage), points in the paint (29th) and fast-break points (26th). The spotlight was on those offensive issues in Game 7 of the conference finals against Cleveland when the Celtics scored just 79 points. “Offensively, we just weren’t good enough,” Stevens said. “That’s something we’ve all worked on, but we have some specific areas that we will really hone into. We have some real areas to improve there, otherwise we’re not at the level we want to be at.” How good were Boston’s young players last season? Celtics players 23 or younger scored 46% of their points. “One thing I’ve noticed is that they’re definitely more confident,” Hayward said of Brown and Tatum. “Not only confident in themselves, but as a teammate, you’re confident when you pass it to them that they’re going to get you a good look or make something happen.” Yet Irving and Hayward hold the keys to Boston’s offensive improvement. As point guard, Irving will have the ball in his hands. Before his knee problems late in the season, Irving was putting together one of his best, most efficient campaigns. He averaged 24.4 points and 5.1 assists and shot 49.1 percent from the field and 40.8 percent on three-pointers. He also is one of the game’s best ballhandlers and creative finishers at the rim. Early on, discerning eyes will be on Hayward, who started playing full-court, contact 5-on-5 before training camp and has received praise for his performances. Though it’s been a while since he’s played in a game, don’t forget Hayward was an All-Star in his last season with the Jazz, averaging 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 39.8 percent on three-pointers. He is versatile, able to play point guard, shooting guard or small forward, and the Celtics look forward to using Hayward and Irving in pick-and-roll situations. “He’s a guy that can play a lot of different roles,” Stevens said. “He’ll have games this year where he scores the ball at a high level, and he’ll have games that he doesn’t but does other things to add value to winning.” President of basketball operations Danny Ainge was patient as he rebuilt the Celtics following the breakup of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Now, the Celtics are back in position to do what the franchise wants: compete for an 18th NBA championship.