Celtics Basketball is Starting Up Soon: Here are Three Things to Look Forward To

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The last time the Celtics played basketball, they took a one-point loss to a team with the second worst record in the entire league, the Detroit Pistons. Jaylen Brown’s 31 points were not enough to secure the W. Even though Boston was missing both Marcus Smart and Robert Williams, it was an unexpected end to a long 9 game win-streak.. However, it’s not all for naught. Some worried that downgrading both Smart and Williams meant trouble. Yet, fortunately, with plenty of rest through the all star break, they are both healed and looking forward to playing their next game against the Brooklyn Nets. Here are three things to look forward to when the Celtics begin playing basketball again. 



1. THE CELTICS HOLD THE TITLE AS THE BEST DEFENSE IN THE NBA


After the new year, the Celtics transformed themselves as a team, and now seem to move as one cohesive unit. They boast the highest defensive rating in the NBA, at around 96. Over the past month, the difference between the Celtic’s and the second place team’s defensive rating is the same gap between the second and the 25th team on the list. 

Multiple players on the team, such as Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Robert Williams III all find themselves on top defensive lists. One look at the league’s efficiency landscape, created by Kirks Goldsberry, displays just how good the Celtic’s defense is compared to every other.


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With fully-rested players, and a full-strength lineup it seems that the team will again jump out to deny their opponents the opportunity to score the basketball. Hopefully, plays like the one Marcus Smart did will be all but a commonality for the Boston Celtics.



2. Derrick White is On the Team


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(ESPN)


Shortly before the all star break, the Celtics traded Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, and two picks for Derrick White. He made a significant impact immediately, finishing a win with 15, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, against the Denver Nuggets. Two more wins followed, against the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers. In the game against Philly, White had  +41. He has obviously been a great addition to the team, and it is clear that he has immediately gelled with them as well. 



Before he began his tenure for the Boston Celtics, White played for the Spurs since his rookie season, 2017-18. Although he only averaged 3.2 points per game in 17 games that season, by the 2020-21 season, he was averaging a career best 15.4 points per game, 3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1 block. However, injuries cut the season short. A toe fracture followed by an ankle injury caused his shutdown by the Spurs’ coaching staff.


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(Nick Wass/ AP)


Fortunately, this season he seems totally healthy, and is back to averaging near career bests

yet again. It’s time for ‘Maximum’ Derrick.


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3. The Future Is BRIGHT


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(getty images)


Back in 2010, the average age of the Celtics was 29. The main stars, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, were 34, 34 and 32 years old, respectively. In 2022, the average of the Celtics is only one year younger at 28, but the situation is much different. Our main stars, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Robert Williams, are 23, 25, and 24 years old, respectively. Our main supporting cast, Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White, are 27, 23, 24, and 27 years old respectively. The only outlier, Al Horford, who is 35 years old, has reportedly said that he has never felt younger. Evidently so, as he has averaged 10 points, 7.6 rebounds and almost 4 assists per game,  while providing good defense. 



This Celtics team is very young, and with the main cast’s oldest player being 25, it seems that Boston is in good hands, at least for the near future. Paired with statements from players that signal their great team chemistry, such as Jayson Tatum saying, “I think it's really picked up this year, especially at the beginning of the season, and we asked each other, like, 'Do you want to be here?' And we was both like, 'Yeah.'", the team looks as if they have finally found an identity. 


Basketballs back, and so are the Celtics. 


Want more Celtics content?! Check these out:

Today's' Celtics' Game is a Must-Win, Here's Why:

Another Celtics Win, 12-6 to Start New Year (Highlights)

Top 10 Celtics Play since the New Year

Why Rob Williams is the big the Celtics needed

New Year, New Celtics?


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Celtics fanatic. Basketball lover. All things sports.

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