The Boston Celtics are going through a big rebuilding process, but even after trading away Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green, they clinched a playoff spot this year. With two first round picks in the NBA Draft and a bunch of cap space, Boston’s future looks bright.
Could they make the biggest jump of all and win the title this season? Though unlikely, here are three reasons why:
Brad Stevens
Stevens has already proven to be one of the best coaches in the NBA, and he's only entering his third season at the helm of the Celtics. As successful as Stevens has been, he's still learning the intricacies of the league - meaning he's only going to get better. Expect Stevens to win Coach of the Year in 2016, and if he does, Boston will earn a very high seed in the East and make a deep playoff run.
Progression of young players
The biggest thing Boston is counting on this offseason is having their young players improve and become more than specialized role players. Jae Crowder has shown promise as a defensive stopper, Marcus Smart is oozing with potential at both ends of the court, and Tyler Zeller is starting to look like a viable starter. If those three guys can take the next step in their progression, the Celtics should finish in the top half of the Eastern Conference next season.
Championship leadership
Brad Stevens did one heck of a job molding the young Celtics into a fireball of on-court effort in 2014-15. Now that the Celtics have brought in David Lee, a former All-Star who knows what it takes to win a title, Boston's abundance of talent will have a true leader that knows what it takes to win a championship. Expect those winning habits to rub off on the players that need it most.
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