As the Celtics have already kicked off a busy offseason with Brad Stevens replacing Danny Ainge in the front office and Ime Udoka becoming the Celtics new head coach and trading former All-Star Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return reuniting with Al Horford, it’s clear a new regime has began in Boston.
The Celtics 2020-21 season ended as a disappointment, losing in the first round to the Brooklyn Nets in five games. Injuries, COVID-19, and flat performances landed the Celtics in the play-in tournament, ultimately making the playoffs as the No. 7 seed.
With a new regime in charge for Boston, next season ought to look different with less pressure and a somewhat lowered sense or urgency.
Evan Valenti of CLNS Media spoke about just that recently on an episode of the Celtics Beat. Looking at the landscape of the Eastern Conference, the Celtics makeup looks different than those the Brooklyn Nets or Milwaukee Bucks, whose stars, outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo, are older and have dealt with injury issues, specifically for the Nets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zph71vQoaX0
The Celtics find themselves with a rookie head coach in Udoka and rookie president of basketball operations in Stevens leading a team with two All-Stars under the age of 25 with Jaylen Brown signed through 2023-24 and Tatum under contract through 2025-26.
Compared to teams like the Nets or the Los Angeles Lakers, the Celtics have time to build out their roster as their star players aren’t facing a lengthy injury history or father time pulling into their driveway.
So, championship or bust next season? It doesn’t look that way for Boston, but that doesn’t mean TD Garden won’t be itching to celebrate No. 18.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!