Before the Celtics’ season even ended final spring, the highest of their management was already fascinated by making some modifications.
Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck was sitting courtside at TD Garden as he watched his group getting blown out by the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. His ideas in regards to the future shortly started operating by his thoughts.
“I sat there probably the whole second half of that game starting to think about it,” Grousbeck stated Wednesday in an look on WEEI’s ‘The Greg Hill Show.’ “And then I took two days to let the whole lot cool down after which went and met with Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla, and we formulated a plan. …
I simply stated, ‘We’re not bringing again the identical group.’ It’s been two seasons in a row of actually good play however inconsistencies and so they confirmed within the Finals two years in the past after which within the convention finals final yr. It simply felt inconsistent and I stated, I simply need to change the combo in order that there’s only a freshness, a contemporary strategy, so we made some modifications this summer time.”
About three weeks later, the Celtics did simply that. They shockingly traded beloved level guard Marcus Smart and landed Kristaps Porzingis. Then, on the eve of coaching camp, they swung a deal for Jrue Holiday.
The combine was efficiently modified as they assembled arguably probably the most proficient roster within the league. The Celtics entered the season Wednesday as co-favorites with the Bucks to win the championship. Expectations, as traditional, are excessive in Boston. But Grousbeck cautioned towards it being championship or bust.
“It’s the ‘or bust’ part because I don’t think it’s a one and done, like it’s now or never,” Grousbeck stated. “I stated in one other press convention earlier, I feel we would have a six-year run right here. I simply pulled that quantity out of the air, however our two actually marquee gamers, now we’ve 4 or 5 – 6 actually high gamers. We have a high six that’s unbelievable. But Jaylen (Brown) and Jayson (Tatum) are of their mid-20s. Jaylen simply re-upped for an extended contract and we’ve the chance to speak to Jayson subsequent summer time and hopefully lengthen him. Having them of their mid-20s signifies that I’m this as a interval the place we will be good each single yr. …
“I’ll be so disappointed if we don’t do really well this year and give it a good try, give it a good fight, but I don’t think it’s now or never.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com