After a four-game sweep at the hands of rival LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics will call it quits for a season that surprised many.
The Celtics, who many expected to be a bottom feeder, lottery pick team, were able to shock the world and finish with a 40-42 record, which in the NBA’s Eastern Conference was enough to capture a seventh seed.
As mentioned above, no team should ever be happy with being swept, regardless of situation or position in the rebuilding process. Let’s face it; the Celtics were outright embarrassed by a much superior Cavs team as they got decimated in four consecutive games.
However, despite this shellacking in the postseason, Boston has a silver lining to be happy with and hold onto for the coming months of the offseason; what they can offer to free agents. Here is a list of a few things that Boston can offer to a talented list of players in this coming free agency
- One hell of a Head Coach
From LeBron James to Gregg Popovich, high-ranking members of the NBA community are singing the praises of the baby-faced play caller in Boston; Brad Stevens.
As noted previously, Head Coach Brad Stevens took what many predicted to be a team who would be in the running for the number one pick in the upcoming draft, and coached a strong-willed group who played out of their minds to secure a playoff berth. Boston went from 25-57 to a much-improved 40-42 in a year’s time.
In fact, crazy as it may be, Stevens finished ahead of Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich in voting for this year’s Coach of the Year Award. It is clear that Stevens demands the very best out of his guys and gets that high level of play from unexpected places. To have a coach of that caliber is a commodity that should have free agents eager to see what Boston is all about
- A Bench like no other
As we saw highlighted in the 2013 NBA Finals (and frankly, all of basketball) having a bench that can support the starters is vital to any superstar who wishes to find success.
If superstars are looking for an excellent bench, look no farther than the pine riders of the TD Garden. Boston’s bench led the NBA in scoring in the regular season and during their playoff run.
A large part of this offensive efficiency was due to Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, who averaged close to 22 points per game in three of the C’s four playoff games. With a supporting cast as good as the Celtics, free agents will be hard pressed to find the bench ability offered by Boston.
- A Pool of Young Talent, and more on the way
Many teams in the rebuilding process like to claim, the future is bright, and a better team is just around the corner. However for Boston, they have a respectable position currently, along with down the road opportunities out the wazoo.
Boston has already been wowed by rookie guard Marcus Smart, who continues to improve at an alarming rate, and might have more in store with raw prospects James Young and Phil Pressey. Not to mention third-year big man Jared Sullinger, who shows signs of improvement, despite a string of injuries and other issues that have stunted some of his progress.
Not to mention, that GM Danny Ainge has been stockpiling draft picks ever since the end of the Pierce-KG era. Boston looks to have two 1st round and two 2nd round draft picks in this year’s upcoming draft alone. With much young talent (The Celtics have an average age of roughly 23 amongst their current roster) and draft picks ahead, the C’s can rest assured that the future is looking bright for this young club.
- An Opportunity to be the Man in one of the most Historic NBA Franchises
If there was one thing that the 2014 Boston Celtics needed, it was a superstar. A guy for the franchise to use as their centerpiece, a true number one, go to guy in scoring situations. Boston had plenty of guys who could be utilized in a number of ways, but the superstar was just not present.
With a bountiful bench, excellent coaching, and a future that looks terrific, what more could a free agent want? In a weak Eastern Conference, playoffs will almost always be achievable, and with some patience and a good bit of time, a Finals appearance, and maybe a Finals win, could be too.
Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, Jojo White and Bill Russell, all of these men played and won the big dance, while being named Finals MVP in the process. Although this goal might be not so immediate, a superstar free agent who comes to Boston knows that they will be celebrating a long line of Hall of Fame players, and will hope to join the ranks as the next hero of Beantown.
Yell at me about how I am wrong on Twitter @gavroydavis for all things NBA and NFL related.
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