Background Info: This dynasty will officially start with the 2018-19 NBA season. I played every game for the Celtics and let the CPU control the other 29 teams. Along with providing details on every game on the Celtics schedule, there will be two or three games every week that will be highlighted with in depth analysis. Weekly reports will detail the events in the NBA.
Isaiah Thomas with his new teammates after being traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Boston Celtics during the 2014-15 season.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- The trade for point guard Isaiah Thomas during the 2014-15 season was one of the key turning points for the Boston Celtics. Thomas, along with other players like Jae Crowder, Kelly Olynyk, Jonas Jerebko and Marcus Smart quickly lifted the Celtics from a fringe playoff team to a title contender.
Thomas played in only two games of the conference finals becuase of a hip injury.
Over the next few seasons, the Celtics would become a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference. Even though the Celtics made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017, the Celtics were handily defeated in five games by the Cleveland Cavaliers. As a team that had ambitions greater than the conference finals, the Celtics knew being complacent would not cut it. What came next for the franchise was a big surprise. The only players to return were Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford. One of the reasons for this is the Celtics wanted to get younger. The other reason was Kyrie Irving.
Jerebko, Olynyk, Amir Johnson, and Gerald Green left via free agency. Avery Bradley along with a 2019 second-round pick were sent to the Detroit Pistons for Marcus Morris. Meanwhile, in the blockbuster trade that brought Irving to the Celtics, the Cavaliers acquired Thomas, Crowder, Ante Zizic, the 2018 first-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets and a 2020 second round pick from the Miami Heat. With the roster depleted, the Celtics would have to find new talent to fill the ranks.
Gordon Hayward poses with Irving and Horford after signing with the Boston Celtics in the offseason.
The second biggest acquisition of the 2017-18 season was Gordon Hayward. The former Utah Jazz forward averaged 21.9 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Originally, he was to play alongside Thomas. After the Irving deal presented itself, the Celtics didn't hesitate to take advantage of that situation. Unfortunately, an injury to Hayward's left leg sidelined him for the entire season. An opportunity to play presented itself to Hayward during the Eastern Conference Finals, but the Celtics decided to keep the talented forward out of action. The Celtics went on to lose to the Philadelphia 76ers. Whether or not Hayward would have been able to tilt the series in the Celtics favor, no one will ever know.
Despite losing in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row, the Celtics found they were able to rely on a lot of young, talented players during the year. With many of those players still under contract for the next season, the future still looks bright for the Celtics. Now, the only thing left for the team to do is to maximize the most out of the opportunities and the talent that they have on the roster.
Comment