6 Bold Celtics Predictions

The Celtics enter the new season ready to prove themselves. After an offseason filled with questions about health, depth, and strategy, Boston looks set to focus on fast, physical basketball. Expect some early challenges, but the team has strong potential to develop into something fans can be proud of. With Derrick White’s ongoing rise and Jayson Tatum’s expected return, here are six predictions for the Celtics' upcoming season.

Prediction 1: Celtics’ Aggressive Style Will Thrill Fans

Since Mazzulla took over the Celtics, the team entered the season with numerous questions about their roster, both large and small. They lack size, experience, depth, and more, prompting the question: how will Mazzulla rotate his players and adapt his style to conceal weaknesses and highlight strengths?

The answer is that they are going to try and turbocharge everything. As I mentioned in this article, the Celtics plan to play with a much faster pace on offense than they have in the past. The Celtics ranked 10th in pace this preseason, which is a significant improvement from 29th in the NBA last season. The faster style was evident, and Mazzulla seemed to rely on utilizing his roster to the fullest—subbing players in and out regularly to keep legs fresh and encouraging his players to give full effort. The Celtics also appeared to hunt less for matchups and seemed comfortable letting their talented players take open shots whenever they had the opportunity.

The change in style isn’t just an offensive philosophy - they have completely revamped their style of play on defense. The Celtics are transitioning from a switch-everything-and-guard-your-yard defense to an ultra-aggressive, ball-hawking strategy. For the first time in recent memory, the C’s seem more focused on taking away the paint and wreaking havoc through creating turnovers—rather than limiting the opposition’s three-point attack.

The Celtics' new play approach isn’t foolproof, as skilled opponents can exploit their aggressive style to create open 3s and easy scoring opportunities. Still, Mazzulla’s strategy offers the team the best chance for success by boosting their intensity on both offense and defense. Fans are likely to enjoy this energetic style, which could result in a few more wins than initially anticipated for this Celtics team.

Prediction 2: Derrick White Breaks Out as an All-Star

When Larry Bird was lost for the season in 1988, the widespread belief was that Kevin McHale would benefit the most from increased opportunities with the league’s top player sidelined. McHale was very good, as he always had been; it was Robert Parish’s game that reached new heights. “Chief” averaged 18.6 ppg and a career-high 12.5 rebounds—while earning 3rd team All-NBA honors. He was outstanding that season.

The prevailing view this season is that Jaylen Brown will benefit greatly from Jayson Tatum’s absence. I expect Brown to perform well, but that’s true regardless of Tatum's presence on the court. Brown may make an All-NBA team, but that’s nothing new for him—he’s achieved that before. The player expected to see an increase across the board is Derrick White. His shot attempts will go up, and for the first time since joining the Celtics, he will become a focal point of the offense instead of just a complementary piece. I foresee him thriving and setting career highs in multiple statistical categories.

Derrick White is going to be an All-Star this season, and no one should be the least bit surprised when it happens.

Prediction 3: A Tough Start Awaits the Celtics

Predicting a slow start for the Celtics after expecting a turbocharged playstyle might seem contradictory, but I believe it’s accurate. Their schedule over the first 10 games is tough! They face the 76ers twice, along with the Knicks, Cavs, Pistons, Rockets, and Magic. By December 1st, 15 of their first 20 games will be against likely playoff teams, many of which are expected to be in the top half of their conferences.

Hopefully, the Celtics' style of play and relentless effort earn them an unexpected win or two early in the season. I predict the Celtics will be a little below .500 by December, but that should put them in good shape as the schedule eases up quite a bit in December.

Prediction 4: Jayson Tatum Will Return This Season, Close to Form

It’s been well documented by now—Jayson Tatum appears to be well ahead of schedule in his rehab from a torn Achilles. I had predicted during a podcast last month that Tatum would return in February, but now I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s back even sooner. I also believe the buzz around Tatum in April will be about how quickly he's regained much of his form. Many of us (including the Celtics) may need to reevaluate the team’s ceiling at that point.

Prediction 5: Joe Mazzulla Will Get Coach of the Year Consideration

The Coach of the Year award isn’t always given to the best coach of the season. Head coaches with talented teams are often penalized because they have strong players on their roster. The award usually goes to a coach with a roster that isn’t filled with stars and gives the impression of achieving more with less. The truth is that Mazzulla should have received the Coach of the Year (COY) award during the Celtics' championship run. He skillfully managed the roster throughout the season and the playoffs, and always seemed to press the right buttons during the team’s championship journey. That was excellent coaching, yet he was overlooked because his roster was loaded with talent. Now that Mazzulla has a less talented roster, I fully expect him to maximize this team’s potential and potentially earn more consideration for COY this season than he did when he won a championship.

Prediction 6: Hugo González Will Be a Rotational Player Before Season Ends

Hugo González is a rookie and just 19 years old, but he doesn’t play like a kid, or at least didn’t in the preseason. González has looked like a veteran on both ends of the court—having a feel for positioning on both ends and a steadiness beyond his years. The jury is still out on exactly how high his ceiling is, but it feels pretty clear that he is already one of the Celtics’ top nine reliable players. Hugo is going to get minutes, and he will get them often.

Bonus Bold Prediction: Celtics Finish 6th in the East at 44-38