A team once believed to be jockeying for draft position is now jockeying for a position is this year’s playoff picture. Not only are fans across the league surprised, but it’s probable that even most Celtics fans are shocked their team is even making noise to potentially be in the playoff.
With a record of 30-36, the Celtics are now tied for the 8th seed with the Miami Heat. The difference? Even with a far less talented roster than Miami, the Boston roster is far closer to full strength than the roster of Miami is. Boston has been “hot”, or at least more productive as of late.
After the Rajon Rondo trade, it appeared the Celtics had admitted to their fans they were in full tank mode, but that projection clearly changed when they traded for Isaiah Thomas from the Phoenix Suns. Management proved they felt with a more productive point guard added to the current roster, the team would be able to compete now for playoff positioning. The team is obviously still a little ways from competing for a title, or even a first round playoff victory, but making the playoffs would far exceed expectations set this season for Boston.
Over the next two seasons, the Celtics have 6 first round picks, and 8 second round picks. Being able to compete and not having to dismantle the current roster to gain draft picks is going to make this team competitive for years in the future as long as managements can make the most of these picks, and the as long as the coaching staff can successfully develop the picks.
Obviously not all of these picks will become members of the Celtics, but there is a lot of potential to trade the quantity of picks for more quality picks. This could prove to create a deadly roster in a few years, and it would not be a surprise to see Boston turn into one of the best teams in the entire league.
If anybody would have said the Celtics would make the playoffs, or even compete for a playoff position, most fans would have said that thought was crazy and not possible. Well here they are, with around a month left in the season, and the Celtics could potentially make the playoffs. We will see what happen, but expect Boston to make a late push and make the playoffs as either the 7th or 8th seed in the Eastern Conference.
