3 strengths of the Boston Celtics that could be key to their success in the 2021-22 NBA season

#2 Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum (#0) of the Boston Celtic

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.

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#3 The Boston Celtics have many scoring options

Jaylen Brown (#7) of the Boston Celtics

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.