Skip to main content

ESPN's NBA team projections are out - Celtics #2 in the East

Image
By
I am still not sure ESPN has any affection for the Boston Celtics, but they did put Boston in second place to finish in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics are surrounded by the Milwaukee Bucks in first place and the Philadelphia 76'ers in third spot.



ESPN's Kevin Pelton bases the predictions on a mathematical scheme referred to as Real Plus/Minus (RPM). Pelton rationalizes that the loss of Al Horford and Aron Baynes would put a damper on the Celtics defensive capabilities (and I agree), but the guys in green have enough defensive wings to create just enough havoc with opponents (per ESPN's Kevin Pelton):

2. Boston Celtics
Average wins: 47.4
Playoffs: 95%

The Celtics are one of four teams projected by RPM to rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating, something they quietly pulled off last season despite underperforming expectations. With the departures of Aron Baynes and Al Horford, defense could be the greater challenge, but Boston has strong defenders on the perimeter, led by NBA All-Defensive first-team pick Marcus Smart.

So, what were ESPN's Real Plus/Minus predictions last season - you may ask. Same as this year - second in the East. Well, we know Boston finished fourth in the East, so even mathematical predictions can be wrong. We know the Eastern Conference is up for grabs this season, so I will accept second place. But we all know that the Bucks season is absolutely locked in to Giannis Antetokounpo. Is the NBA season here yet??

Follow Tom at @CelticsSentinel and @_Celtcis_Center




Labels:

Comments

  1. David AnthopoulosAugust 20, 2019 at 12:31 AM

    Pelton's projection for the Lakers also looks more realistic. His playoff matchups give Irving a chance to test himself against the Bucks again. He has Detroit out of the playoffs and both Orlando and Miami in them, which seems possible now that Butler's in Miami. And he leaves Sacramento out in the West. This might be a season where health is very important in both making the playoffs and getting a good seed.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Elm Street Nightmare

By
 A true-and-suspenseful horror tale of haunting, homicides and the hunt for triple-murderer, Daniel Laplante - as told by the cops that were there By Lt. Thomas Lane (Ret.)  Daniel Laplante - cold, calm, clever, calculating- Photo: YouTube   Elm Street  surfaces on six (6) occasions in the Laplante saga: 1.) He  resided on Elm Street  in Townsend, Massachusetts  2.) He  kidnapped a woman  at gunpoint on  Elm Street, Pepperell , Massachusetts 3.) That kidnapped woman fled to the Gillogly residence on Elm Street after escaping from the armed fugitive, Laplante. 4.) He was arrested and transported to Massachusetts State Police Barracks on Elm Street in Concord . 5.) He was  tried, convicted   and sentenced for the murders at  Superior Court , corner of  Elm Stree t and Gorham Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. 6.) The author, Thomas Lane, lived on Elm Steet, Pepperell, Massachusetts while a police Sgt./Lt. for the t...
19 comments
Read more

In defense of Marcus Smart

By
 Let me make it clear first of all that I am totally against making a threat of any kind that even hints at harming, or certainly killing, another human being. Marcus Smart was wrong in doing so in the Celtics loss to the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder , and he deserved the one-game suspension. But to be honest, part of me loved that it occurred. . This type of thing can happen when a player gets to a point "beyond frustration" and is having a bad game. Marcus and his teammates have been under-performing generally - were in the process of losing to a pathetic-and-tanking Thunder team - and Smart was having a bad game . And he let loose verbally at the closest target - an NBA official. Wilt Chamberlain did a similar act versus referee, Earl Strom when Wilt was having his usual tortuous time at the free throw line (per Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith): ''He was in one of those 1-for-13s,'' recalls referee Earl Strom. ''Nothing was getting close. S...
Post a Comment
Read more

Did the Celtics Kevin McHale really have a wingspan of 8-feet?

By
According to many sources, the Celtics Kevin McHale did indeed have an estimated wingspan of 8-feet. One of those sources is Wikipedia, as seen below: Kevin McHale American basketball player DescriptionKevin Edward McHale is an American retired basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics. He is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and is regarded as one of the best power forwards of all time. He was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Wikipedia Born: December 19, 1957 (age 61 years), Hibbing, MN Wingspan: 8′ 0″ Height: 6′ 10″ Spouse: Lynn McHale (m. 1982) NBA draft: 1980, Boston Celtics (Round: 1 / Pick: 3) Hall of fame induction: 1999 Number: 32 (Boston Celtics / Power forward, Center) Kevin was listed at 6'10" tall when he was drafted with the 3rd pick in the 1980 draft. Red Auerbach, in yet another heist, brought in both McHale and center Robert Parish (via trade) prior to the Celtics' 1980-81 Champion...
Post a Comment
Read more