The National Basketball Association is just over a month away, and it is once again time to preview every NBA franchise. I will be covering the teams in the Eastern Conference and my colleague, Joel Beatton, will feature teams in the Western Conference. Today we are featuring the Boston Celtics, the reigning champions of the NBA Finals.
Key Acquisition
The new Celtics player on the roster this year is shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV of Reading, Pennsylvania. Last season, Walker IV averaged 9.7 points per game with the Brooklyn Nets. He only signed with the Celtics on August 29.
Fantasy Star
Jayson Tatum of St. Louis, Missouri is ranked first among small forwards in the entire NBA, and second among power forwards. The only power forward he is behind of is Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2023-24, Tatum averaged 26.9 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game, 4.9 assists per game, and one steal per game. He also had a field goal percentage of .471, a three-point percentage of .376, and a free throw percentage of .833.
Projected Finish
The Celtics were the best team in the NBA last year, not only in the playoffs, but the regular season too. Their record of 64 wins and 18 losses for a winning percentage of .780, was seven games better than the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder, who were tied for the best record in the Western Conference and second best record in the NBA at 57 wins and 25 losses.
But Boston is not just about Tatum. Small forward Jaylen Brown of Marietta, Georgia is a three-time All-Star and 2024 NBA Finals MVP. Derrick White, Jrue Holliday and Al Horford are also catalysts on a Celtics franchise set to repeat. Boston will win the Atlantic Division again this season, and will be in contention in defending the NBA Finals.
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