SQ2016-5 Celtics' Magic This Year

This upcoming season promises to be an exciting year with Celtics' Magic in plentiful supply. Some of it is knowns such as Al Horford as a steady All-Star who does all the little things that make a team, and his teammates, better. Some are known unknows like the rookie Brown or the potential leap of Smart or Roier. Some are unknown unknowns like additions before or during the season. Behind this all is Danny Ainge poised to grab an opportunity to upgrade the roster and Brad Stevens drawing out the best of individuals and of the group.

The last of these is a natural progression as the team improves. Ainge, while he will still move minor parts around for picks or exceptions or better supporting cast, has a team and city that is alluring and will now most benefit from bringing in a star (although another day I will discuss just how few of today's stars I find appealing for my Celtics). Stevens finally has the horsepower to exercise strengths rather than conceal weaknesses. Both of our Rumplestiltskin twins have a better grade of straw to spin into gold.

Additional knows would include perimeter defense, Isaiah Thomas' offensive wizardry, Avery Bradley's solid shooting, and Jae Crowder's jolts of energy and stifling defense. Each of these players has distinctive flaws (a column for another time). However, each of these players might also may make a leap of improvement, although none are on their rookie contract and as players mature, what you see is likely what you get. Perhaps the most reasonable expectation is that they don't regress or get hurt, and that each makes some incremental improvement.  As for that perimeter defense, the addition of Horford and return of Johnson promises to lessen the need to protect the inside, and hence, the whole defense stronger.

It might be the most promising possibility that one of our non-rookie young guys makes the leap to spark some magic for this season. Smart and Rozier come to mind because the most likely time for a player to break out is between their first and second, or their second and third, seasons. Rozier looked out-of-place in Summer League, able to impose his will at will. Now that is only Summer League but it was similar to Smart last year who looked dominant in the summer before the horrific break and dislocation in his hand that stretched into the season to overlap his bad ankle sprain. Smart has been so hampered by wheel damage that you might consider him a second-year player also. Of course you could say the same thing about Olynyk and the injury bug, so let's be hopeful for his progress also. Keep in mind Avery Bradley who missed most summers and large portions of the season during his first few years but has come on as not only the longest tenured (at age 25??) veteran but also the steadiest player at both ends of the court. There are valid reasons to be hopefully optimistic about this group.

As for potential additions during (or before) camp or the season, it seems that Philly's urgency to thin their front court makes Noel's price dwindle by the day. There are also a number of hopeful contenders who are thin enough that a bad start or a key injury might prompt slapping the reset button in a resigned panic. Picture Danny on a huge spider web covering the entire NBA landscape, poised to wrap up an unfortunate prey at the quiver of any strand of silk.

Did I tell you where the magic will come from? Not exactly, but the very fact that there are so many possibilities is encouraging. And I'm going to give you one more, perhaps the best! The system. Brad wants to stifle opponents on defense and run them into the ground on offense. As the personnel improves (both skill and attitude), there are more and more reasons to believe that Stevens' Pace and Space and his Ball and Player Movement schemes will be an irresistible force. Minute splits of 28-20 or even 26-22 keep a hungry, invigorated squad on the floor from tip off to final buzzer. This only works if you have the depth to play 10+ each game, and that all of those players are unselfish and on board with the program. Good fresh players beat good tired players every time, and often great tired players. Between Ainge and Stevens they have built a culture (bye, bye Bogans), a scheme (everybody plays hard and for each other), and a stable of athletes to execute both strategic and tactical advantages. This magic comes from the entire team, draws them together, and devastates opponents. Are we there yet Danny?

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