3 ways in which the Boston Celtics can run their offense in the 2021-22 NBA season

As the start of the 2021-22 NBA season approaches, the Boston Celtics are turning up to be a popular "sleeper" in the Eastern Conference. It's not hard to buy into the hype, as this Celtics team still has plenty of intriguing firepower on their roster. One of the main reasons there's so much excitement about the Celtics is because of a major overhaul of the roster. After former head coach Brad Stevens was promoted to the front office, the Celtics were aggressive in reshaping the identity of the team. There was a clear point of emphasis with the front office, which brought in a number of defensive minded pieces to improve the teams ability. One of those pieces that was brought in included new head coach Ime Udoka, who has pointed out that he wants the team to be one of the stronger defensive teams in the league.

But defense isn't the only thing that fans are excited about. Udoka has also stated again and again that he wants the Celtics to become a much different team on the offensive side of the ball. For a roster that features the talents of two rising stars in the league in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, it's no surprise that the Celtics offense could be dangerous on a nightly basis. Still, it seems as if there's another level that this duo could reach. If you consider the number of intriguing additions from the offseason as well, there's some serious belief that the Celtics could become a real contender this year. Let's take a look at a couple of ways the Boston Celtics could run their offense for the 2021-22 NBA season.

#3 Five Out

Can Jaylen Brown take another step forward for the Boston Celtics?

This Celtics team is going to lean heavily on the star power that both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have. The duo combine to be one of the most dangerous young wing tandems in the NBA. Each year, both players have seen noticeable strides in their game. Tatum and Brown have turned into dangerous isolation players. The Celtics have made it a point over the years to space the floor and create potential driving lanes for some of their athletic wings. If Boston continues to space the floor this year, it should lead to a number of drive-and-kick opportunities for some of the most talented creators on the team.

#2 Pick and Roll

Marcus Smart will be running the show for the Boston Celtics offense

This is an area in which the Boston Celtics could see an intriguing upgrade in terms of offensive sets that use pick-and-rolls. It's one of the most popular actions in the NBA today, but this team now has the versatility to use a number of different players that have a history of success. Veteran big man Al Horford was brought back, and he could be a welcome addition to this Celtics rotation with his ability to space the floor. Keep an eye on free agent signing Dennis Schroder as well. His ability as a creator in the pick-and-roll game should pair well with the likes of Al Horford, as both players have experience as teammates from their days with the Atlanta Hawks. Another interesting duo for the Celtics will be Marcus Smart and Robert Williams. Smart has been playing off the ball over the years, but is now expected to take over as the team's starting point guard. After the Celtics invested an extension in both players this offseason, it could be a potential career year for Robert Williams, who is at his best as a lob threat in the pick-and-roll game.

#1 Ball Movement

Ime Udoka wants the Celtics to move the ball this year

This will be the most important part of the Celtics' offense, as they look to create a new identity offensively. Throughout training camp, new head coach Ime Udoka has talked a number of times about the realization that the Celtics need to prioritize ball movement. In recent years, the Celtics have become a bit of an isolation team, which has led to the offense struggling over stretches of time. So far it looks as if the team is agreeing as well, as the Celtics ball movement has been notable throughout the preseason.

"It did pop around the gym a little bit more (tonight),” he said of his offense. “We want guys to shoot the open shot but also get off of it quickly if you don't have something. ... In general tonight, as in the last two days of practice after the Orlando game, the ball has been moving great."

With the Celtics having the likes of Tatum and Brown, it's easy for the team to just feed them the ball and let their talented wings try to create offense. The truth is, this Celtics team has been dangerous when they play unselfish. If the Celtics want to have a chance of becoming a "surprise" contender in the Eastern Conference, they are going to need to trust each other and allow the offense to create efficient looks for everyone. There's a serious chance that could lead to the Celtics becoming a dangerous team in the NBA if Ime Udoka can get this team to buy in over the course of the season.