As heartbreaking as it’s to observe a staff with official championship aspirations fall within the first spherical to a rival, there’s a silver lining for grieving Celtics followers.
With the additional few weeks, the Celtics can allocate much more time to an space that separates them from the majority of different NBA groups: participant growth. OK, possibly it doesn’t take away the ache of the loss fully, however hey, it’s one thing.
As they flip the web page – with the caveat that a few of these gamers could head elsewhere – right here’s one space of enchancment for every member of the Celtics this offseason.
Jayson Tatum: full power
I nonetheless discover it actually outstanding how fluid, sturdy and polished Tatum regarded given all that transpired. You actually felt for the man when he missed Recreation 7 and might’t assist however surprise what would have occurred if he had been on the market.
Tatum ought to use this offseason to make sure he’s one hundred pc good to go, appears like himself and is totally snug heading into subsequent season. Give him all of the credit score on this planet for responding the way in which he did, however that chapter of his profession is previously now, and it’s time to fortify the longer term.
Jaylen Brown: resolution making
Brown improved in virtually each space, each with the attention check and statistically, and proved he’s greater than able to being “the man.”
That is nitpicking, as a result of he was so excellent, however he wants to enhance his resolution making barely for the Celtics to take the subsequent step. Generally it felt like Brown made up his thoughts that he was going to shoot and would miss open teammates within the nook.
He averaged 3.6 turnovers per sport, which was the fifth most within the NBA. Whenever you account for the truth that Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Cade Cunningham are proper above him, it doesn’t look so dangerous, however it’s nonetheless an space value monitoring. Sure, he has the ball lots, and sure, turnovers are going to occur, however he can nonetheless reduce down on them barely.
Derrick White: constant capturing
White is likely one of the most likable Celtics ever, and he nonetheless contributes in so some ways when his shot is off, however it’s truthful to say his capturing harm the Celtics final season.
He shot a career-low 39.4 p.c from the sphere and noticed his 3-point share plummet from 38.4 in 2024-25 to 32.7 final yr. One fascinating word: These numbers elevated to 47.8 and 42.4 in April. With Tatum again within the combine, White’s scoring numbers went down and his effectivity went up.
Whereas aggressiveness is vital, typically much less is extra for White. Crucial half is to not overthink it and simply play the sport. Simpler mentioned than accomplished. He’s unquestionably the largest X-factor on the staff with the way in which the roster is presently constructed.
Payton Pritchard: defensive versatility
The man actually must get higher at end-of-quarter capturing. He missed one in opposition to the Sixers. Inexcusable. However significantly, Pritchard had a wonderful season throughout. Whereas he has many admirable traits, for me, No. 1 is that he actually makes concrete enhancements to his sport yearly.
You need each participant to try this, however the actuality is that some do and a few don’t. Pritchard legitimately will get higher yearly. This offseason, the purpose of emphasis must be defensive versatility. Pritchard is a strong defender, and he performs extraordinarily exhausting, but it nonetheless appears like groups choose on him within the paint typically.
A part of that’s simply the truth that he’s 6’1, and it’s what it’s, however there are methods to counteract it: keep away from switching within the first place, beat your defender to the spot, gamble on the proper moments to get steals. He’s not a legal responsibility on that finish, nonetheless there’s nonetheless room to develop.
Neemias Queta: mid-range jumper
Think about it. Queta units a display screen on the high of the important thing, each defenders swarm towards ball-handler Tatum or Brown and the massive rotates to clog the paint. Queta merely stops close to the free-throw line, catches the over-the-shoulder go and sticks a mid-range jumper.
He can do it. He actually can. Nobody is asking him to try 5 3-pointers a sport – not but, anyway – however establishing himself as a official menace to shoot would give the Celtics but another choice and make defenses scramble much more. The truth that Queta has improved a lot previously couple years means he’s able to including one other trick to his steadily rising repertoire.
Sam Hauser: decrease chilly spells
Give Hauser loads of credit score. The Celtics requested him to enhance his protection and he did. They requested him so as to add playmaking to enrich his capturing and he did. They requested him to shoot and not using a conscience and he did.
The following step is to make sure he doesn’t have chilly spells all through the season. It’s simpler mentioned than accomplished (belief me, I do know all too properly), however Hauser is succesful. As an illustration, he shot 27.5 p.c from 3 in November, 45.1 p.c in January, then 33 p.c in March.Taking pictures within the high-30s to low-40s constantly, somewhat than in spurts, goes a good distance.
Baylor Scheierman: proceed to play with confidence
As a big-time Scheierman believer since his school days, it was very cool to see him come out of his shell and set up himself as a constant NBA function participant.
You can see one thing shift with him, the place he began to understand he actually belonged simply performed, somewhat than fascinated by how he was enjoying. The purpose now could be to try this for a whole season. He deserves to be on the market, logging heavy minutes on a gifted staff, and he must proceed to consider in himself and his talents.
Nikola Vucevic: defensive depth
The whole lot we thought we knew about Vucevic was true. Nice teammate, nice spacer, nice veteran … not an incredible defender.
That’s OK. Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses. That’s life, and I’m certain he’s labored extremely exhausting behind the scenes to develop into much less of a legal responsibility on that finish. However, the unlucky actuality for each Vucevic and the Celtics is that he actually is a legal responsibility on that finish. So, how do you compensate for that? With all-out hustle and depth. That’s to not say he’s not hustling, as a result of he’s, however I feel turning into a bit extra of a maniac on that finish would profit him.
Dive for a free ball, foul somebody with conviction, pound your chest. See what occurs.
Jordan Walsh: develop your bag and look to drive
I’ve written about this earlier than, however Walsh has come a good distance. He used to assume “Ought to I shoot it? Ought to I shoot it?” Now, he simply shoots it, and it’s been enjoyable to observe his development.
The following step is to develop into extra of a playmaker. Walsh is lengthy, athletic, versatile and rangy. He’s able to beating guys off the dribble. It could be enjoyable to see him throw an upfake, speed up to the rim, spin to his left hand and end in visitors on the rim, as an illustration. He can do it.
Luka Garza: defend with out fouling
I’m unsure there’s a participant on the roster who maximizes every ounce of athleticism in his physique greater than Garza. To not say he’s not athletic (he’s), however comparatively talking, he’s somebody who makes probably the most of every window he has. That’s an admirable trait.
With that in thoughts, something right here is trivial, however I’d say defending with out fouling would assist Garza transferring ahead. He averaged 2.3 fouls per sport in 16.2 minutes, which equals out to greater than fouling out per 48. Slicing that quantity to, say, 1.5, would assist considerably.
Hugo González: offensive crispness
Barring a stunning twist, González isn’t going wherever and is a key a part of the equation within the years to come back. He’s already a menace defensively, and bettering his offensive crispness would go a good distance. He’s nonetheless a child, so it can take a while, however that’s the subsequent step.
Ron Harper Jr.: make your self indispensable
Harper Jr. is healthier than I assumed he was. That child is legit. Use the gas you’ve gotten of regularly listening to that about how nice your brother and pa are and proceed to show you belong. Make it so the Celtics can’t put you in a commerce bundle, and in the event that they hold you, make it to allow them to’t take you off the ground.
Dalano Banton: showcase your versatility
Banton is a fairly distinctive participant. Not many guys are that tall and discover themselves enjoying level guard after they enter the sport. Beat guys off the dribble, again them down, make the additional go, block pictures, get steals and run. Show you are able to do all of it.
Amari Williams: fine-tune your publish strikes
Williams is lengthy and athletic and he can disrupt bigs and get them out of a rhythm. I personally would have tried him in opposition to Joel Embiid for a couple of minutes to see what occurred (nobody else might guard him, so they’d nothing to lose). He probably would have roasted him, however it might have been an fascinating experiment. Williams is a promising participant who ought to work on his publish strikes to earn a spot on the ground.
Max Shulga: 3-point capturing
With a view to final within the league, Shulga has to show he can constantly hit the 3-ball. Whereas he’s a strong passer, and a sensible participant, capturing effectively is crucial.
