Last season, the Celtics had “Unfin18hed Business.”
This season, it’s “Banner 18 . . . Or Else.”
“Wait Until Next Year?”
Not this time.
The 2023-24 Celtics are the Tom Brady-in-his-prime Patriots.
The expectation shared by everybody inside the attain of Mike Gorman’s voice is common: Anything lower than a title equates to failure, disgrace and humiliation.
Doc Rivers had “ubuntu.”
Atmospheric anticipation has carried Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics towards “seppuku.”
Metaphorically, anyway.
If the Celtics aren’t going to win 16 video games this postseason, they could as properly transfer the franchise to Las Vegas through the All-Star Break and spare us one other stress-filled springtime.
The Celtics have achieved every thing this offseason inside their authority to construct a staff they imagine will, er should, snag Banner 18.
Wyc Grousbeck gave Brad Stevens the Green Team’s American Express Black card. Stevens spent lavishly on Jaylen Brown’s max contract, an extension for Kristaps Porziņģis, and Jrue Holiday’s transferring bills.
Stevens went full “Extreme Makeover” on the roster. Among the departed: Malcolm Brogdon, Marcus Smart, Grant Williams and Robert Williams.
Celtics followers are going to overlook Grant Williams’ toughness, the within play of Robert Williams, and the wide-open 24-foot bricks launched by Smart.
But how is the view from 35,000 toes? Or from the within emails and DMs from the NBA interior sanctum?
NBA insider Shams Charania, the chief scoops competitor to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, has additionally earned one-name standing.
Shams bio on X practically maxes the character rely. “Senior lead NBA Insider for The Athletic and Stadium. FanDuel Partner and co-host of Run It Back on FanDuel TV.” He boasts 2.2 million followers on Elon Musk’s social platform. And one other 629,000 on Instagram.
The Herald chatted with Charania for quarter-hour the opposite day. His perspective is unbiased, if not really knowledgeable.
Does he imagine the Celtics have achieved sufficient to win a championship?
“They’re right on that doorstep,” Charania stated. “Getting Kristaps Porziņģis, obviously they went for more offense getting another big man, but losing Marcus Smart, that was a major dent to that team. What Marcus provided for them from an intangible’s perspective, leadership perspective, his presence was beyond stats. That was a very tough loss. It could be seen as a step back, but then you see the Damian Lillard trade happened, and they end up getting Jrue Holiday. That was something that they did not expect. Getting Jrue Holiday makes up for the Smart loss, at least a little bit, at least on the court. Now I think they’re right up there. They should go into the year with championship expectations, no question.”
Charania believes the notion across the league was that the Holiday acquisition was pivotal in closing the circle on the defensive finish.
“Holiday, that’s a guy that’s been a multi-time defensive, all defensive team, the contender for Defensive Player of the Year (an award that Smart has won.) Holiday is up there for top defenders. He obviously brings some offense as well, so I don’t think it’s as big of a loss. But from the perspective of being and embodying Celtics leadership, that voice and that toughness that they have in the locker room, we’re only going to see how that plays out. Because if there’s one guy that can have those real conversations with Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, it is Smart,” he stated.
Are the Jays feared and/or revered across the league? Underrated? Overrated?
“Everyone has their opinions, but I think they’re among the two elite wing players that we have in this league,” Charania stated. “Optionality is so important to the league today and having star power at that position. But again, you’ve got to win in the playoffs. That’s what builds a championship legacy. That’s what those guys are lacking, is that. Every year is going to be, are they going to be able to break through and get that ring?”
Just 29, Shams has texted, known as, emailed and posted his method into the inner machinations of the NBA in only a decade. He broke information of a possible deal for Porziņģis by the Celtics on June 21.
Charania is diligent about separating church and state by way of playing in lieu of his ties to FanDuel. His Tweets have moved betting markets. He says he doesn’t wager. Given the a number of interruptions throughout our chat, it’s unlikely he has time to take action.
When requested for a 2024 NBA Finals winner, Charania deferred by saying, “I don’t make predictions.”
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Shams makes a distinction between the deal that introduced in Porziņģis and the one which resulted in Holiday changing into a Celtic.
“They had targeted Porzingis for sure for several weeks. That was on their board,” Charania stated. “I don’t think trading Marcus Smart was on their board. After the Brogdon deal fell apart with the Clippers, they had to move Smart. I don’t think that that was totally in the cards, but then they had to go that route because they wanted to extend Porziņģis. There was a sense around the league that the Celtics would have some level of retooling because that was a disappointing end for that team,” he stated.
Retooling is one solution to put it.
“Even on Joe Mazzulla’s staff, getting Charles Lee, getting Sam Cassell, those are big time additions to what was a younger coaching staff,” Charania stated. “Anytime you don’t live up to expectations, there’s going to be changes.”
Bill Speros (@RealOBF and @BillSperos on X) is a senior betting analyst for Bookies.com when he’s not writing right here. He might be reached at [email protected])
Source: www.bostonherald.com