Because the NBA season nears, it’s essential to keep in mind that each issues will be true:
1) The Celtics are the most effective workforce within the league and have a good chance to repeat.
2) There are 29 different groups (OK, possibly like 10) trying to dethrone them. Elevating Banner 19 is doable, however it would seemingly be even tougher than final 12 months.
The Celtics have gotten the place they’re largely due to participant improvement. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard have come a good distance because the Celtics drafted them.
Derrick White, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis have blossomed into the most effective variations of themselves in inexperienced. Jrue Vacation was principally an ideal basketball participant earlier than the Celtics and remains to be principally an ideal basketball participant, so he doesn’t depend.
As they attempt to repeat, it’s crucial that they keep away from complacency. Continued particular person progress in particular areas will go a good distance.
Needless to say each participant on the roster excels of their position, and that is all nitpicking. With that mentioned, right here’s one space of enchancment for every Celtics participant this season:
Jayson Tatum – 3-point taking pictures
Let’s begin by saying that Tatum did, in reality, enhance his 3-point taking pictures. He went from 35 p.c in 2022-23 to 37.6 p.c final 12 months.
Having mentioned that, he’s absolutely able to getting that share even increased. Tatum shot 43.4 p.c from 3 his rookie 12 months and 40.3 p.c in 2019-20.
When his 3-point shot is simply OK, he’s nonetheless an incredible participant. When his shot is on, he’s principally unguardable and arguably the second-best participant on the earth after Nikola Jokic.
Jaylen Brown – free throw quantity and share
Brown will get to the road 4.3 instances per sport. It’s not unhealthy, however when you think about his driving means, it needs to be much more.
As soon as he will get there, Brown is a profession 72 p.c shooter. That quantity received as excessive as 76.5 p.c two years in the past, then dipped to 70.3 p.c final 12 months. It didn’t burn the Celtics of their championship run, nevertheless it might sooner or later.
He was considered one of solely two gamers within the league to common 23 factors or extra and shoot 71 p.c or decrease from the road, becoming a member of Giannis Antetokounmpo. He was considered one of three gamers to common 23 or extra and get to the road 4.3 instances or fewer, becoming a member of Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard. Brown takes the whole lot personally (in a great way), so take that personally as nicely.
He can up these numbers to 6 free throws per sport and 75 p.c from the road no downside, and doubtlessly to eight and 80 if he retains working at it.
Kristaps Porzingis – defend with out fouling
Offensively, Porzingis is principally a cheat code when wholesome (typically even when injured). No notes.
Defensively, he can nonetheless enhance his versatility and skill to defend with out fouling. It may possibly’t be simple guarding pesky guards as a 7-foot-2 rim protector, however he’s able to rising in that space. A few of it stems from an absence of mobility as a result of damage, however a few of it’s merely positioning and method.
Porzingis dedicated 2.7 fouls per sport in simply 29.6 minutes per sport final 12 months. That was a team-high, and he performed considerably fewer minutes per sport than the opposite starters.
Derrick White – assault the basket
Truthfully, he’s fairly darn good at basketball. He lets the sport come to him, takes good pictures, guards taller gamers insanely nicely and makes his teammates higher.
There’s nothing to actually tweak right here, however one thought is that White might assault the basket much more. Simply 31.3 p.c of his factors got here within the paint. He’s a wonderful driver, and including a gentle stream of drives to his arsenal might take his sport even additional.
Jrue Vacation – take extra pictures
Once more, actually, actually good at basketball and an ideal match. That is only a enjoyable train.
However, it’s secure to say it could profit Vacation to take extra pictures. He tried simply 10 per sport final 12 months – by far his lowest since his rookie season. The Celtics clearly don’t want him to take 20 an evening, however there’s no purpose that quantity can’t be round 13 to fifteen.
Vacation tends to perk up offensively when the Celtics really want him, which is a wonderful trait. Nobody would fault him if he perks up offensively even after they don’t. Take some pictures, Jrue. Let free a little bit.
Al Horford – exhibit the submit strikes
Almost 69 p.c of Horford’s pictures final 12 months got here from past the arc. Whereas his spacing and 3-point accuracy are essential, it could behoove Horford to play a bit extra aggressively on the rim.
When 4 guys are on the perimeter, and the ball is shifting with precision, the paint is commonly broad open. Groups don’t have any alternative however to select their poison, and Horford is commonly the beneficiary. Along with burning them from the skin, he ought to burn them from the within.
Payton Pritchard – maintain his personal in opposition to bigs
Pritchard’s assist-to-turnover ratio was a reasonably spectacular 4.6 final 12 months. He improved as a scorer, facilitator and defender and, in fact, was there when the Celtics wanted him to hit a half-court shot.
Defensively, he fights like loopy and is scrappy. He’s inherently at an obstacle in opposition to taller gamers due to his peak, besides, there’s nonetheless room to develop in that space.
When groups are sensible, they get Pritchard or Hauser to modify onto submit gamers and provides them area to function. They each maintain their very own, however Pritchard might nonetheless take one other step in that regard.
Sam Hauser – add some strikes off the dribble
Hauser has already come a good distance on this space, however he can nonetheless enhance as a driver. Tatum and Brown love enjoying with Hauser as a result of after they’re doubled, he’s typically left alone on the wing.
When the assistance comes late, Hauser is aware of find out how to let the defender whiz by. He’s gotten higher at taking one pull-up or side-step dribble and letting it fly. The subsequent step is a go-to crossover or behind-the-back transfer to attract defenders to him so he can discover the even-more-open man.
His taking pictures is his finest ability, so carry on taking pictures. However Hauser has already confirmed he’s extra versatile than most thought, so there’s no purpose he can’t add much more playmaking to his steadily rising arsenal.
Luke Kornet – take extra 3’s
Precedence No. 1 for Kornet is to up his 3-point share. Solely one hundred pc? Come on, man.
However severely, there’s no purpose he can’t take extra 3-pointers. Joe Mazzulla loves spacing and math, and Kornet will seemingly get extra enjoying time if he can persistently knock down 3’s.
This stat might blow your thoughts, however Kornet took 193 3’s in 2018-19. One-hundred-ninety-three! Oh, and he shot 36.3 p.c. That’s so much. He shouldn’t be wherever near there (if he’s, the Celtics have an even bigger downside), however he ought to completely try greater than 1 subsequent season.
Someplace round 40 might be a pleasant candy spot. Sufficient to let the defender know you’re a risk, however not too typically that it takes pictures away from different guys. Plus, nothing will hearth up the bench like a well-timed Kornet 3.
Xavier Tillman – turn into a pressure on the glass
Tillman slot in seamlessly final 12 months, excelling as a defender and contributing offensively when the Celtics want him.
One space to enhance is rebounding. He averaged 2.7 per sport final 12 months (sure, in simply 13.7 minutes, which isn’t unhealthy). He’s “solely” 6’7, however he performs like he’s 6’10 in some methods. There’s no purpose he can’t rebound like he’s 6’10 as nicely.
Neemias Queta – do sufficient to crack the rotation
Queta is a brilliant intriguing participant. He’s performed nicely when he’s gotten his likelihood, however he hasn’t fairly earned a spot within the rotation.
This might be the 12 months, particularly with Porzingis out. Earn your home in order that Mazzulla has no alternative however to play you even when Porzingis returns.
Jaden Springer – be aggressive
Springer is expert. It’s onerous to discover a rhythm once you play sparingly, however he must be aggressive when he’s on the market. The Celtics might use one other guard off the bench, and it’s his for the taking.
Different gamers
Baylor Scheierman: belief what labored in faculty
Lonnie Walker IV: remind everybody who you might be;
Drew Peterson: defensive versatility
Jordan Walsh: taking pictures
JD Davison: deal with the ball
Anton Watson: do the little issues nicely