Bobby Marks: Don't Sleep on the Celtics

[footey]

In a recent Instagram post, Bobby Marks spoke high praise for the job Brad Stevens has done this off season, giving him an A-, and particularly extolling the Robert Williams extension as a win/win for team and player. He went on to say that the Celtics are much better than their projected finish, and predicts they are a top 4 team in the East, without saying in which order.  He listed the Bucks, Nets, Heat and Celtics in the top 4. He feels that Philly is in trouble (alluding to, without mentioning, the Ben Simmons saga).

Marks has a reputation for kind of bashing on the Celtics, so this came out of left field somewhat for me. Obviously in a very good way.

Do you think the Celtics are a top 4 team in the East?  I originally ranked them 6th.  But I'm starting to warm up to them.  I'm particularly loving the Ime Udoka quotes I've come across lately, in terms of team ball and defensive toughness.  How one on one isolation ball is too easy to defend.  I'm eating that up. 

[Celtics2021]

Marks forever hated Danny Ainge, as he was on the losing end of the Brooklyn deal, and hasn’t been in an NBA front office since.

[Donoghus]

FWIW, DraftKings currently has the Celtics win total O/U at 45.5

[Who]

Yeah, I reckon they are flying below the radar.

(1) Schroder signing was huge. They needed another scorer and they got him.
(2) Horford is better than he is getting credit for.
(3) Last year's health crisis & bad bench has made many too low on the talent that was already here.

I have them 3rd in the East ahead of Miami, Philly & Atlanta.

[LilRip]

I’m more inclined to believe your prediction of 6th than Marks’ 4th. That said, PBS had a pretty good offseason though, all things considered. I think Smart/TL/JR extensions were good financial deals for the C’s, the Schroder signing was a steal, and moving Kemba for a lower usage, ball movement-oriented player in Horford helps the team.

[Rosco917]

I realistically worried about what's left in the tank of Al Horford. How many games and how many quality minutes are we getting from him? He was showing age when he was in Boston last time. He didn't do well in Philly when teamed with Embiid.

We need his BBIQ, that's for sure.

[JBcat]

Yeah, I reckon they are flying below the radar.

(1) Schroder signing was huge. They needed another scorer and they got him.
(2) Horford is better than he is getting credit for.
(3) Last year's health crisis & bad bench has made many too low on the talent that was already here.

I have them 3rd in the East ahead of Miami, Philly & Atlanta.

I hope you’re right regarding Horford as he is in his mid 30’s now and you never know when someone will fall off a cliff, but his game is a lot more based on skill than athletism.  His minutes should be kept down anyway to keep him fresh.

[gift]

FWIW, DraftKings currently has the Celtics win total O/U at 45.5

Easy over.

[Who]

FWIW, DraftKings currently has the Celtics win total O/U at 45.5

Easy over.

Mid 50s is most likely in my estimation

[slamtheking]

I think they're in a 'gotta prove it' situation before they get that high a consideration.

they're down to only 2 guys that have shown they can get 20 points on a given night.  one sits out or has an off night and this team's offense is even further in the toilet.  Richardson may help but that's only if he bounces back to who he was a couple of years ago.

Smart or Schroeder as the starting PG is not ideal in any circumstance -- neither is a high assist guy nor a knock down shooter that can space the floor.

We have no natural PF.   Tatum will get a lot of time at that spot but we don't have that Morris-type of PF we had a couple of years ago that could provide some beef in that spot and not be useless on offense.

we could very well end up top 4 but I suspect 6-7 is a lot more likely.  would love to be pleasantly surprised if they exceed those expectations.

[tstorey_97]

I'm sticking with top 4 and 49 wins.

They get to be underdogs this year instead of that "we made it to the finals in the bubble" junk we had to endure last season.

Stevens has added a bench now which is useful for a playoff team.

[jpotter33]

Yeah, I reckon they are flying below the radar.

(1) Schroder signing was huge. They needed another scorer and they got him.
(2) Horford is better than he is getting credit for.
(3) Last year's health crisis & bad bench has made many too low on the talent that was already here.

I have them 3rd in the East ahead of Miami, Philly & Atlanta.

I think this is a very reasonable take. I’m not really high on Atlanta despite their success last year, but I think it’s definitely fair to put Boston, Miami, and Philly (dependent upon the Simmons situation) competing for that third seed spot, slightly below the first tier of Brooklyn and Milwaukee.

[tonydelk]

I'd say their Ceiling is 2 and their floor is 6.  Too many factors.  Health, Age, Youth.  I don't think anyone can touch a healthy Brooklyn no matter how well they play.

Let's say to reach their ceiling they need to do the below.  To me none of these are out of reach but you never have the perfect season.  this is also if no deals are made with our current team as constructed.

No major injuries and no one misses more then a handful of games
Richardson needs to be the player he was in Miami
PP and Nesmith need to be 40% 3pt shooters to spread the floor
Romeo needs to stay healthy and play lockdown D off the bench
Al Needs to look like 80% of the Al we had here a few years back
Brown and Tatum need to make another leap in their playmaking
Shroeder needs to look like the player from OKC off the bench

Floor - 6  seed if the below happens
same JT, JB, PP, AN from last year
Richardson still can't shoot
Romeo is Hurt
Al needs rested like Kemba

[Redz]

FWIW, DraftKings currently has the Celtics win total O/U at 45.5

Easy over.

Mid 50s is most likely in my estimation

Yeh

I'd take the over too.  New coach will have them playing hard and winning all of the games against inferior opponents.

[colincb]

FWIW, DraftKings currently has the Celtics win total O/U at 45.5

Easy over.

Mid 50s is most likely in my estimation

Yeh

I'd take the over too.  New coach will have them playing hard and winning all of the games against inferior opponents.

I don't know about about mid-50s, but I'd take the over without a doubt. Cs were harder hit than most teams by Covid, internal growth, better defensive pieces, problems with Kemba's availability all season, deeper bench, etc.