Celtics need to focus on size, smarts and synergy in any transactions

The NBA Champion Denver Nuggets have all three of those attributes - size, smarts and synergy - and none of those can be taught. The rest of the League can expect the Denver roster to look very-much like it does right now for next season. They are not going away.

How in the world does the eighth seed (Miami Heat) put the Boston Celtics in a 0-3 hole in the Eastern Finals - and then fall to the Nuggets in a 5-game series? That is a good question for Brad Stevens, and he knows the answer.

No way would the present Celtics squad have defeated Denver had they advanced past Miami. Despite having one of the most-talented crews in the League, there had to be some level of discord within the Celtics organization for the players to perform (at times) so poorly. There is always discord within any organization, but The Green could not overcome whatever was bugging them.

Stevens can talk all he wants about Joe Mazzulla being his guy going forward - and Jaylen Brown being such a vital part of the team - but he is expected to say that. Does he mean it? I hope not! The 2022-23 Celtics had reasonable size, but certainly lacked smarts and synergy, at least in the post-season.

Give me a crew of overachieving, nose-to-the-grindstone, non-superstar players anytime. The 2004 Champion Detroit Pistons come to mind. They had All-Stars - yes. But no true superstars in Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince.

For the Nuggets, everything starts with Nikola Jokic, but it does not end there. Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter, Jr,, Kantaveous Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown - and even Jeff Green - fulfilled their roles.

Denver will be the major block to the Celtics, or any other teams aspiring to be champs this coming season. Is Mazzulla the answer at head coach. I am not so sure, and I doubt Stevens is totally sold on that concept. Is Jaylen Brown as vital to Boston's future success as Stevens claims? Once again, I am not so sure.

Size, smarts, synergy. They can't be taught. They need to be acquired, so Brad Stevens' "tweaks" to the roster may not suffice. Acquisitions that mesh well with the right present Celtics core is the key. That starts pretty soon.

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