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The Boston Celtics have been looking for an 18th championship since their last triumph in the 2007-08 NBA season. Although they've missed only one postseason appearance in the last 14 years, an NBA Finals appearance has always been a challenging proposition.
The 2020-21 NBA season was underwhelming for the Boston Celtics. The team had to secure a playoff berth through the play-in tournament after finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference.
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It has been a busy offseason for the Boston Celtics. They are still trying to find the right blend of youth and experience, and surround their franchise player with the right support cast. Their first move of the summer saw them bring in Al Horford while giving away Kemba Walker.
Many might question the Boston Celtics' decisions in the offseason, as they traded three of their best five players from last season's playoffs. Nevertheless, they have made notable additions that could result in a successful 2021-22 campaign.
On that note, here are three strengths of the Boston Celtics that could be key to their success in the upcoming season.
#1 The Boston Celtics have decent perimeter defenders
The Boston Celtics have always had a defensive identity. They look as formidable as ever in that regard heading into the 2021-22 NBA season. Although their interior defense is not as impressive, their perimeter defenders are on top of their games.
Marcus Smart has been excellent for the Boston Celtics in defense, making things extremely difficult for opposing guards. His speed and persistence are qualities that make him one of the best defenders in the point-guard position.
In the playoffs, the Boston Celtics missed Jaylen Brown, who is clutch at both ends of the court. While he is a high-level scorer, he also does a decent job at the defensive end.
In the offseason, the Boston Celtics strengthened their backcourt defense with the acquisitions of Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson. Richardson is one of the best in the business when it comes to defending the perimeter, which is one of the reasons the Cs traded for him.
Schroder, meanwhile, did a decent job fighting through screens and staying in front of his men last season. He ended the campaign with a defensive rating of 109.2. The duo's arrival combined with exceptional performances from Smart and Brown should make the Boston Celtics one of the best teams in perimeter defense next season.
#2 Jayson Tatum
The Boston Celtics have stayed competitive in the Eastern Conference, thanks to Jayson Tatum. The 23-year-old has been the standout performer for the Cs for a few years now, and is expected to lead the team to greater heights.
Tatum was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 2017 NBA draft with the third overall pick, behind Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball. He has since plied his trade with the Cs, leading them to four consecutive postseason appearances.
The Duke product will look for another successful run in the 2021-22 season. Tatum is up for the challenge, and has proven himself to be an elite scorer in the NBA.
Tatum's 50 points against the Washington Wizards guaranteed the Boston Celtics' place in the playoffs last season. He recorded their only win in the postseason against the Brooklyn Nets' super team, scoring 50 points in the Game-3 win.
The two-time All-Star is a game-changer, and could be the source of many good things for the Boston Celtics. He bulked up in the offseason, which means he might have added another facet to his game, perhaps post-up play.
In the 2021-22 NBA season, Tatum averaged a career-best 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. He led the Celtics to the third-biggest comeback in NBA history - a 32-point deficit - dropping 60 points on the night.
#3 The Boston Celtics have many scoring options
Although Tatum is the primary scorer for the Boston Celtics, they have built their squad such that the team can also operate without him on the floor. Brown is the second-best scorer in the team, and has just returned from a wrist injury.
Last season, Brown was almost as effective as Tatum in scoring baskets. He averaged 24.7 points compared to Tatum's 26.4. Walker was ridiculously close to crossing the 20-point mark, but fell short.
Smart has improved as a scorer, which was apparent during the playoffs. He averaged 17.8 points while shooting 43.9% from the field.
Although they lost two decent scorers in the offseason, the Celtics have brought in worthy replacements that could impact the game at both ends of the court. Dennis Schroder averaged 15.4 points, while Richardson averaged 12.1 points. Horford is also an effective scorer, averaging 14.2 points in 28 games for the OKC Thunder last season.
