Celtics Face Chemistry Test
Elation is warranted following the blockbuster trade for Cleveland Cavaliers PG Kyrie Irving. But think about this fact:
Four players remain with the Boston Celtics from the 2016-17 team. Just four.
They are starting center Al Horford, second stringers PG Marcus Smart and SF Jaylen Brown, and third string PG Terry Rozier.
Gone are starters PG Isaiah Thomas, SG Avery Bradley, SF Jae Crowder, PF Amir Johnson; reserves SF Gerald Green, C Kelly Olynyk, PF Jonas Jerebko, C Tyler Zeller, PF Jordan Mickey, PG Demitrius Jackson and SG James Young.
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Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge overhauled the roster as if he was Chip Foose. If this was a video game, a roster turnover of this magnitude has zero risk as better talent always works. But players are human and it will be up to head coach Brad Stevens to find the right mix to foster chemistry.
There’s no denying that Stevens is a great coach. Since missing the playoffs in 2014, the Celtics had been a team better than the sum of its parts every year. And while Stevens dealt with roster changes annually, including during the season, this might be his toughest test.
This roster turnover is more dramatic than the 2007 changes. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and the new role players were welcomed by six holdovers, including the best player, Paul Pierce.
Boston’s former starters are now spread around the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers have Thomas and Crowder, Bradley will do his thang with the Detroit Pistons while Johnson assumes a mentor role with the Philadelphia 76ers. In their places could be Irving, free agent signee Gordon Hayward, second year swingman Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Morris, acquired via trade for Bradley.
The challenge increases when incorporating the youth on the roster. Besides Brown, rookie Jayson Tatum is projected to contribute immediately. European big man Daniel Theis is in position to fill Jerebko’s minutes. Will Boston get anything from Semi Ojeleye and Guerschon Yabusele?
Teams are usually built around the stars. It was one thing to assemble the front line of Pierce, Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins then fill out the roster with role players. The 2017-18 team was completed almost in reverse order. Compiling the bench first makes this Celtics team an experiment.
Rivers did it with a veteran team. He made them believe in Ubuntu – a philosophy to sacrifice for the good of the team. Position-less basketball doesn’t have a ring to it, but Stevens and the four holdovers need to get the new guys to buy into it. Embracing it could lead to quicker than expected positive results.
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