Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: 20 things to watch this NBA season

By Bryan Toporek

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 06: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics high fives Jayson Tatum #0 after a timeout in the second quarter of the preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on October 6, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 06: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics high fives Jayson Tatum #0 after a timeout in the second quarter of the preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on October 6, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

16. The full-strength Celtics

Five minutes into his Celtics debut last year, Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome season-ending ankle injury. In mid-March, a knee issue brought a premature end to Kyrie Irving’s season as well.

Despite being down two All-Stars, the undermanned Celtics still made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they put a scare into LeBron and the Cavaliers before falling in seven games. Rookie forward Jayson Tatum and sophomore forward Jaylen Brown seized the scoring mantle from their fallen teammates, while do-it-all big man Al Horford finally got some respect put on his name.

Heading into the 2018-19 season, Boston’s Death Star is fully armed and operational. Irving is reportedly working out without any restrictions, according to Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports, while Hayward will be cleared for five-on-five activity “very soon,” head coach Brad Stevens told Jay King of The Athletic. With those two alongside Brown, Tatum and Horford, Boston’s starting lineup will be a positionless nightmare on both ends of the floor.

The Celtics’ riches don’t end in their starting lineup, though. Newly re-signed 2-guard Marcus Smart is a tenacious bulldog of a defender, while backup point guard Terry Rozier likely earned himself millions with his performance last spring in place of Irving. Throw in Marcus Morris, Aron Baynes and some young prospects, and Boston has perhaps the most top-to-bottom talent of any team outside of Golden State.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have pegged the Celtics as the favorites to represent the East in the NBA Finals for good reason. If they can dodge the injury bug this time around, they figure to flirt with 60-plus wins and yet another deep playoff run.