2016 NBA Predictions: A look at each team in the league
By Keith Rivas
Boston Celtics
Boston picked Jaylen Brown with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft to make the point that they’re aiming to contend sooner rather than later.
Al Horford left the Atlanta Hawks for Boston in the offseason and that will help the Celtics match up better with Eastern Conference teams.
Jae Crowder has been solid, while Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas continue to impress.
In order for the Celtics to make any sort of dent in the Eastern Conference, it starts with them winning the Atlantic division outright.
Similar to New York, Boston will be tested by Toronto and other top conference teams and that will be the telling factor when it’s said and done.
Boston had the fifth best offense in the regular season, but failed to get past the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.
Atlanta won’t be nearly the kind of threat this season as they were a year ago, and that has everything to do with Al Horford leaving town.
The Celtics love to feel like an underdog, so it’s in that position that they’ll thrive and hang right around Cleveland.
Season Prediction: (53-29), 1st in Atlantic