Will the Celtics take the lead in overall NBA championships this year and win their 18th title?

 

The storied Celtics are deep-rooted in NBA lore. Yet, they haven’t won a championship in 14 years since the big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. This year, however, the Celtics are at the precipice of a dynastic run. 

The offseason veteran additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari may prove to be excellent moves predicated on their health. Brad Steven, the General Manager for the Celtics, shrewdly acquired both Brogdon and Gallinari to an already championship-caliber team. 

Brogdon bolsters the Celtics’ backcourt immensely. He can do it all: score, assist, rebound, and defend. He is one of the few players in NBA history to have logged a 50/40/90 shooting recently in 2019. Moreover, Gallinari brings top-notch 3pt shooting with a career of 38.2% from behind the arc. He will provide spacing and scoring for the Celtics’ second unit.

The Celtics are currently the favored team to win the championship among betting lines. Brad Stevens has proven to be quite shrewd as he had big shoes to fill after Danny Ainge retired. Coach Ime Udoka has a plethora of lineup strategies with the depth of this year’s roster. 

If the Celtics keep their current roster intact, they should prove to be quite formidable. The dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will continue to wreak havoc. Al Horford brings the veteran moxie while Robert Williams III brings the energy and defense. Marcus Smart, the reigning defensive player of the year, will not have to shoulder so much responsibility now that Brogdon and Derrick White form a 3-headed guard rotation. 

Four of their starters out of their projected starting lineup were all drafted by the Celtics. In an age of player movement, it is easy to root for a team who has built the foundation of its roster via the draft. The success of the Celtics, Milwaukie Bucks, and Golden State Warriors are setting an example for teams to value how they build their rosters.

I am excited to see how the maturation of the Celtics pans out after such a successful run for first-year coach Ime Udoka. With a healthy Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, they will have their hands full. Certainly, we cannot count out the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat. Here’s hoping the Celtics remain resolute and give their core team the chance to build a dynasty.