I requested the employees a fairly simple query for this one: Predict what number of wins are the Celtics going to get (clarify).
Mark Aboyoun
After a 64-18 document final season, my guess is that Boston will end with a 57 wins. I believe they’ll nonetheless win the East, however with out Porzingis to start out the season there might be an adjustment interval and I can see them dropping a couple of video games early within the season. When KP returns, there might be one other adjustment interval the place the offensive and defensive movement might be off till they keep in mind the right way to play with one another.
Oliver Fox
As a lot as I’d like to sit down right here and predict 68 wins, which this group is greater than able to on paper, that’s simply not a practical projection for a group that simply received the title. Ignoring Porzingis’ absence, I’m on document as very involved with the Celtics’ motivation degree going into this yr, and I don’t see them killing themselves in late-March making an attempt to win 70 video games or one thing. I’m with Mark, give me 58 clear wins, particularly with how Boston must handle the well being of Horford and Porzingis going into the playoffs
Nirav Barman
This yr, I’ve the Celtics going 62-20. Final yr’s Celtics have been historic in a variety of methods. They have been so dominant, that they primarily obtained to take the final month of the common season off, clinching the first total document within the league properly earlier than the playoffs. This yr, I see them flipping that season round, taking it simpler originally of the season as they get within the movement of issues with Porzingis rehabbing from harm, and placing in a stronger push on the finish of the season to safe their place atop the league once more as they head into the playoffs with some steam. The East is definitely going to be extra aggressive this yr, however the Celtics are bringing again a banner-winning roster that has been by all of it collectively. What might lead to a couple extra losses because of increased competitors in some video games may be negated by their very own expertise and expertise in different video games. I don’t see their total document taking an excessive amount of of successful in the long run. (edited)
Ian Inangelo
I believe the Celtics will go 60-22 this season. They’re primarily operating it again with the identical roster that simply received 64 video games final season so I don’t suppose will probably be that a lot of a step again. No Porzingis may end in a couple of extra losses to start with of the yr however except there’s catastrophic accidents to the roster, I don’t see how this group can’t win 60 video games once more
Daniel Poarch
Asking for enchancment on a 64-win season is a towering order for any franchise, however I believe the Celtics will find yourself in an analogous ballpark of their title protection season. In an offseason that didn’t essentially see any seismic upheavals within the NBA panorama, the depth and continuity of the Celtics goes to be their greatest power. The continued absence of Kristaps Porzingis in his restoration from offseason surgical procedure might be a check, however even with out his providers, that is the league’s most proficient roster. The expectation must be at the least 60 wins this season.
Trevor Hass
There’s no motive to suppose this quantity will enhance or lower considerably. Certain, they’re now the hunted, however they mainly already have been the hunted even after they didn’t have a hoop. Kristaps Porzingis’ harm will play a task, however the Celtics will energy by en path to the No. 1 seed in a 59-23 common season.
Steve Hooper
Boston will seemingly wrestle to repeat the demolition begin to end of the East from final yr and finish with round 59 wins. With Kristaps out to start out, Joe might want to shuffle the entrance court docket rotations for early stretches within the season and I believe we may see a couple of extra back-to-back losses or wins that fell to them final season swing the opposite method. Saying that although, I nonetheless suppose 59-23 continues to be on the playing cards and sure ok for finest document within the league and title favorites.
Mike Dynon
Final season I predicted 61 wins and Banner 18. The Boston Celtics mentioned “maintain my beer,” racked up 64 wins, and cruised to the title in probably the most stress-free playoffs in franchise historical past. Plainly put: The Celtics dominated each the common season and the postseason. (We in Celtics Nation know that, clearly, however not solely does it really feel good to sort out these phrases, that assertion additionally triggers NBA Twitter.)
Anyway, again to the query: The champs’ roster returns intact, Joe Mazzulla is not seen as a questionable rent, and the strain to win a championship has vanished. As soon as Kristaps Porzingis returns from his surgical procedure, what’s stopping the Celtics from doing all of it once more? Granted, different East groups have made some enhancements, so there are not any positive bets – however now the burden of proof has shifted to them.
With all that in thoughts, the prediction right here is 61 wins once more and Banner 19. Why? As a result of it labored final time. And I problem the Celtics to show as soon as extra that I’m low-balling them. Truthfully, I received’t thoughts after they do.
Jake Issenberg
On one hand, 64 wins appears like loads to ask of subsequent yr’s Celtics. However, the Celtics’ beginning lineup consists of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Vacation and Al Horford. Even when Horford performs round 60 video games eventually season’s minutes load, it’s arduous to check them dropping many video games. The group’s flooring is extremely excessive on a recreation to recreation foundation, because of the two-way influence of their high 5 gamers. Nonetheless, with Kristaps Porzingis out for the primary few months and Horford’s ongoing load administration, the middle place may current sufficient challenges to stop them from hitting 60 plus wins. I predict the Celtics will end with 59 wins, which ought to nonetheless be sufficient to safe the highest seed within the NBA.
Wealthy Jensen
I’m going to go together with my coronary heart on this one.
65 wins.
What I wish to see, no matter whether or not it occurs, is a Boston group that comes out of the gate with one thing to show, and that, regardless of getting one of the best shot from each group within the league each night time, they exit and win at the least yet another recreation than they did final season.
Jeff Clark
Vegas has the over/beneath at 57.5 wins. I’m making an attempt to think about what life like destructive components may occur to make me “take the beneath” with this group. It’s a must to think about they’ve already factored within the Porzingis harm and maybe some regression by the group as an entire. The Celtics have been comparatively fortunate with accidents final yr, in order that’s all the time a wildcard. Maybe that is the yr that Al Horford begins to indicate his age extra. Perhaps among the bench gamers wrestle at occasions. Maybe Tatum has a chronic capturing droop. I don’t know, the record isn’t lengthy.
I nonetheless suppose I’d “take the over” (don’t gamble youngsters) and my prediction is a pleasant even 60 wins and one other first place end.
Your flip. Inform us your predictions within the feedback under.
