Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and other Boston Celtics players to watch out for during the 2022-23 season

The Boston Celtics have one of the most stacked sides for any team in the Eastern Conference going into next season.

The Boston Celtics in a file photo (Image credits: twitter)
By Godwin Matthew | Sep 26, 2022 | 4 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

The Boston Celtics defeated some of the best teams to emerge as Eastern Conference champions during the 2021-22 season. They had a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors but failed to capitalise on that as the Dubs showcased their brilliance. Despite losing 4-2 there, the seventeen-time champions have a lot of things to be excited about heading into the new season.

Having signed Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari, they added to their depth. However, the latter suffered an ACL injury during his stint with the Italian national basketball team. The Boston Celtics still have a lot of talent they can rely on next season. In this article, we take a look at five such players who will be key in their pursuit to win a championship next season.

Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum is regarded by many to be among the top 10 best players in the league. He was pivotal in the team’s journey to the NBA Finals. Tatum led the team in points and put in his best efforts when the going got tough. The youngster was not able to play well during the Finals as he was shut down by Andrew Wiggins. He received a lot of criticism for that, but it will definitely help him grow as a player. Having played on the biggest stage now, Tatum is well versed with the level of brilliance required to excel there. He will be hoping to keep the setbacks from the Finals behind him and stay locked in for the 2022-23 season.

Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown was one of the best players for the Boston Celtics during the 2022 NBA Finals. He managed to average 23.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG and 3.7 APG against a resilient Warriors defense. His ability to contribute on both ends of the floor has proven to be a great boost for the team. He is an All-Star player and certainly can get going in no time. With him on the roster, Jayson Tatum can play more freely as Brown is an able scorer himself. He can play well off the ball and also be a problem in the paint. Having proven his ability in the playoffs last season, Brown will be looking to further elevate his game and help the Celtics reach new heights.

Marcus Smart

Marcus Smart became the first guard since Gary Payton to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. His leadership on the defensive end is one of the reasons behind the Celtics’ rise to becoming one of the best defensive units in the league. Smart is also capable of creating damage on the offensive end of the floor. There have always been questions about his ability to play point guard, but the reigning DPOY put a lot of those talks to rest last season. He has elite on-court vision and can also knock down three-point shots at a high volume. If he continues playing high-octane basketball, the Boston Celtics will certainly get beyond the line and win it all next season.

Malcolm Brogdon

Signing Malcolm Brogdon was one of the biggest moves made by the Boston Celtics in the offseason. The guard is a total package who adds a lot of value to the team. His ability to bring the ball up the court and facilitate it to the others as well as his scoring will be handy for the Eastern Conference champs. He will most likely be coming off the bench as the best five of the team is more or less going to be the same as last season. But Brogdon is completely open to playing the sixth man on the team. He will lead the bench and that would honestly make things a lot easier for the Celtics. His presence will also give the stars on the team a chance to take a few possessions off as he himself can take over games.

Al Horford

Al Horford proved during the playoff campaign last season that he still had a lot of basketball left in him. He showcased tremendous quality on defense and scored points whenever the team needed him last season. However, his role will be a lot bigger during the 2022-23 season. The injury to Robert Williams III means that Horford will have to take the court as the center for the Boston Celtics. He certainly has the quality as he can deliver on both ends of the floor. The team will look to sign a free agent center, but Horford will indefinitely be their key piece due to his productivity.

The Boson Celtics have been marred by controversy as their head coach Ime Udoka has been suspended for the entirety of the 2022-23 season. His absence will be a big loss for them as he was a key figure in their turnaround during the second half of last season. However, the organisation decided to keep their principles above the game and parted ways with him for one season. Whether new coach Joe Mazzulla has it in him to fill that void is a question that only time will tell. But looking at the players they have, there is no reason to believe that they will have a dismal campaign next season.