Uphill Battle Awaits the 18-19 Celtics

It was all so simple.

After pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics were expected to dominate the NBA’s Eastern Conference this year. With the returns of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, that dominance was all but assured. Unfortunately, the Celtics 10-10 record through 20 games has been more disheartening than discouraging.

The problems for this Boston team are numerous. You could cite the slow start for Hayward, their dependence on Kyrie’s brilliance, or their inability to consistently rebound or stop skilled perimeter players from having big nights. All of these are real problems, but if you are looking at Brad Stevens or even the roster for solutions, they may not have them. There is a realistic chance that the team as constructed isn’t on par with the improved East. We all need to start paying closer attention to Danny Ainge.

Boston’s GM is known for making moves, both big and small, and he can’t be pleased with how the team is performing roughly a quarter through the season. We need to temporarily ignore X’s and O’s and begin to consider draft picks and assets in predicting how Ainge may alter the team’s course if the struggles persist.

Maybe he’ll look to deal Terry Rozier or Jaylen Brown. The breakout stars of last years surprising playoff run have suddenly found themselves splitting minutes with their counterparts. Kyrie’s return has made Rozier an overqualified backup ballhandler and that dip in minutes (and rhythm) can’t be helping his impending free agency. Jaylen is in a similar spot with Hayward back. He’s still a starter, but often finds himself the odd man out at the end of games.

Perhaps the moves will be bigger. It could mean cashing in on the potential that Jayson Tatum has shown to bring in a bona fide star. What if veteran Al Horford lands on the trading block as he seems to be in decline right ahead of the big player option in his contract this summer.

No matter the route Ainge may take, you can be certain that changes will come if this team cannot begin stringing together wins by the midpoint of the season. Boston’s schedule gets easier over the next two months, but recent losses to Orlando and New York have killed that comfort. It’s time for these Celtics to step up or get shipped out.