Yearly I attempt to predict the long run. Properly, maybe it’s extra correct to say that I attempt to entertain individuals with my outlandish and foolish guesses concerning the Boston Celtics. This time, I assumed I’d put a barely completely different spin on issues. As an alternative of predicting the Celtics destiny (which, if we’re sincere, could possibly be absolutely anything from tanking to title this yr), I assumed I’d predict issues about you. Sure, you. Or I assume the overall sense of “you” as Boston Celtics followers. After 20+ years of masking this group, I’ve acquired a fairly first rate thought of how this fanbase operates. So, right here’s my guesses.
The Anfernee Simons response arc
Nothing is extra predictable than this. At first, followers will largely be trying to commerce him for no matter we will get. He’ll be greeted and handled like a brief timer with gentle curiosity, largely for what his commerce worth will find yourself being. Then, he’ll begin scoring, like so much. Folks will see his field scores and uncooked scoring stats and marvel simply how he landed in Boston in a wage dump commerce. The group usually will wrestle on protection and Simmons won’t assistance on that finish, nevertheless it received’t all be his fault.
So ultimately, he’s going to win over followers and individuals are going to flip from making an attempt to commerce him to making an attempt to see how the group can re-sign him to a “affordable” (i.e. team-friendly) contract going ahead. I’ve stopped making an attempt to foretell what Brad Stevens will do (largely as a result of he retains exceeding my expectations) but when I needed to guess, I’d say that Simons might be traded on the deadline, simply after a two-week stretch of averaging 25 factors per recreation.

The middle candidates might be a Myers-Briggs take a look at for followers
With out a clear-cut pecking order at heart, there might be an attention-grabbing debate over who ought to get probably the most minutes. It can boil all the way down to your character sort.
Neemias Queta – You’re large hearted and dependable …generally to a fault. You develop connections with individuals shortly and stand by these . You’ll be able to look previous their faults and help them by troublesome occasions. I simply fear that you simply is likely to be a bit too trusting generally.
Luka Garza – You’re at all times trying to the long run and are optimistic …generally to a fault. When there’s little proof to go on, you are inclined to consider within the optimistic potential. You shut your eyes and see the following stretch large man with an extended profession in Boston. Simply bear in mind to open these eyes because the season progresses and we get a bigger pattern measurement.
Chris Boucher – You’re a realist and require tangible proof to consider …generally to a fault. No person else on the roster has the resume that Boucher has and due to this fact you may’t think about the group beginning anybody else. Another person goes to must show that they’ll play at this degree to take the spot away from him. Even when he’s not a long run answer, or actually even a middle.
Xavier Tillman – You undertake runaway canines and nurse woodland animals again to well being. Bless you and your big coronary heart.
Amari Williams – You’re overtly rooting for this group to tank for the best draft place doable. You additionally haven’t lived lengthy sufficient to grasp how this stuff work, so that you’re excused from having these foolish notions. Or possibly you identical to to observe the world burn. You’ll develop out of it.
The wing rotation might be a taste of the week state of affairs
I feel the wings might be cycled out and in of the rotation all yr. Will probably be much less a Myers-Briggs take a look at and extra of a Rorschach take a look at. They’ll every see one thing completely different, and it would change as we get a number of appears to be like on the similar gamers over time. Typically Jordan Walsh will appear to be Herb Jones and generally he’ll appear to be Common Joe. Typically followers might be saying “why not Minott?” and different occasions they’ll be saying “sorry, nevertheless it’s not Minott.” I feel individuals wish to consider in Baylor Scheierman, but when he can’t hit photographs from deep, he’s going to search out it laborious to win individuals over. Hugo Gonzalez is a rookie, so after all he’s going to have his peaks and valleys and get numerous rope.
By the tip of the yr there’ll in all probability be extra of a consensus, however it’s going to take a while. Oh yeah, and don’t be shocked if one or two of them is thrown right into a commerce.
After all we’ll discuss ourselves into Jayson Tatum coming again and main us within the playoffs
That is already taking place, and Tatum himself is in charge. Logically, we shouldn’t count on him in any respect this season. Or if he does come again, it in all probability must be lengthy after he’s been cleared and solely on a minutes restriction or no matter. At the least that’s what feels right, however I by no means did very properly in science.
Apparently, he has bionic heels that may make Achilles himself jealous. He’s an absolute gymnasium rat nut who refuses to do load administration or sit out for any motive. He’s missed a complete of 59 common season video games in his profession — a quantity he may double by March 4th if he doesn’t come again sooner. If he will get the nod from his medical group, you received’t be capable of preserve him off the courtroom.
I don’t know the place the group might be within the standings at that time. I don’t know what sort of group goes to be round him at that time. However I do know if he’s on the courtroom, we’ll consider. And actually, I wouldn’t change that for something. Go Tatum, go Celtics!