addByline("Marc D'Amico", "Celtics.com", "Marc_DAmico");
BOSTON – As with any NBA team, there are a ton of questions surrounding the Boston Celtics as they inch closer to training camp. What better time to analyze those questions than now, a week before camp begins?
This is the first installment of a new series, Burning Questions, which will feature my take on some of the topics surrounding the Celtics throughout the season. Please keep in mind that these are solely my opinions and do not reflect those of the Celtics front office.
With that said, let’s jump right in…
Who’s the odd man out?
I touched on this a couple of weeks ago in my last Mailbag installment. Boston currently has 16 players with guaranteed contracts for this upcoming season. Each NBA team must trim its roster to 15 players, at a maximum, by Oct. 26, when rosters must be set for Opening Night. The balance of talent on Boston’s roster will make this battle one to watch during training camp. A guy like Perry Jones III, who is entering his first season with the Celtics, knows that he must prove his worth to the franchise. Likewise, a guy like James Young, who saw more playing time in the D-League last season than he did with the C’s, knows that he must put his best foot forward. As I said a few weeks ago, I think the most likely scenario is that Boston outright waives a player who is unlikely to crack the rotation to get down to 15 players. However, I don’t think that is Danny Ainge’s preferred method. I personally believe that he’d rather swing some sort of trade, maybe a 2-for-1, a 3-for-2, or even a 3-for-1, to acquire a potential impact player all while dropping below that 15-player threshold. If he opts to make a deal, I don't think Ainge would view anyone on his current roster as untouchable.
Does Isaiah Thomas start?
There’s no doubt that Thomas has the talent to start for the Celtics. In fact, I believe he’s going to lead this team in scoring for the second consecutive season. However, my gut tells me that he still comes off the bench. Why, you might ask? Well, I think Brad Stevens loves having Thomas and his offensive firepower enter the game off the bench. It’s a bona fide spark plug. There is certainly a chance that Thomas could convince Stevens during training camp to change his mind, but I think the coach is comfortable with and excited by the notion of bringing Thomas’ electric scoring abilities off the bench.
Who improves the most this season?
You could interpret this question two different ways. First, who improves his raw statistics (scoring average, rebounding average, assist average, etc.) the most this season? Second, who becomes more of an impact player and plays with more efficiency? I’m diving into this question with a view from the latter angle. I believe this is Avery Bradley’s year. Bradley is entering his third season as one of the team’s top scoring threats. That’s a big adjustment compared to his previous role with the team. I think he's going to grab a hold of it this season. Of all of the C’s who spent the majority of last season in green and white, Bradley led them all in scoring with an average of 13.9 points per game. I believe he’s going to hover between 13 and 16 PPG this season, but I think he’s going to do so in a much more efficient manner. He shot only 42.8 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range last season. I believe both of those numbers are going to increase this season. I think strong target numbers for him are 46.0 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from long range. If he reaches those numbers, we may wind up viewing him as the most improved player on the team when it comes to efficiency and impact.
What is this team’s strength?
Take a second to think about that question. Is there any aspect of this Celtics team that truly strikes fear into opponents? I think the easiest answer is the team’s energy and effort. From a consistency standpoint, it probably plays harder than any team in the league. But let’s talk about tangible aspects of the game. I think Boston’s greatest strength is its depth. Stevens could realistically go 10 or 12 players deep every night and not see much of a drop-off in terms of production. This is very important for the C’s, because Stevens wants to play with a ton of pace. Not only does he want his team to get out on the break, but he also wants them to play with pace in the half court, making opposing defenses scramble around for 48 minutes as they defend an offense that is constantly moving. In order to for this to be an advantage throughout an entire game, the Celtics need depth. Boston may lack superstar talent, but it does have plenty of quality players who will be able to help the C’s play with pace and space.
Where do the Celtics stand in the Eastern Conference landscape?
Boston entered last postseason as the seventh seed in the East after going 20-9 over the final seven weeks of the regular season. It’s probably unrealistic to expect them to maintain that type of pace throughout this season (such would lead to a 56-win campaign, which is three wins more than the Cavs logged last season). Heading into 2015-16, the top five teams in the East are probably the Cavs, Bulls, Raptors, Hawks and Bucks, in no particular order. I think the Celtics are right behind them. Boston could certainly slide into the top five, but as of now, the safe bet is to slot them into that sixth- through eighth-seed location. Keep this in mind: I think most of the East will be improved this season, save for a couple of teams. With that being said, wins are going to be much harder to come by on a nightly basis.