36 reasons why I’m excited about this Celtics season

Chances are, if you are reading this blog, you are already excited about this upcoming Boston Celtics season. Still, for fun I thought I’d catalog some reasons why I’m excited. Yes, this is a gimmick and I’m cool with that.

1. Marcus Smart is the longest tenured Celtic and is now the adult in the room. Maybe that’s why he’s wearing a robe.
2. Jaylen Brown got paid. He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy that lets up. If anything it might motivate him more.
3. Carsen Edwards is a walking bucket. Go Beef Bullet!
4. I’m really ready to see Brad Stevens smile again.
5. Robert Williams III is going to be blocking shots. Sometimes he gets up so high that he blocks them with his forearm.
6. I can’t wait to argue with people on twitter about how valuable Grant Williams using flawed stats like plus-minus.
7. Jayson Tatum’s beard now connects. This is important. This is a sign.
8. Tacko Fall. Enough said.
9. Gordon Hayward driving with confidence. That alone is going to open things up for the offense.
10. At some point this season, Stevens is going to need to turn to Tremont Waters and I he’s going to knock it out of the park.
11. Kemba Walker’s megawatt smile and professional demeanor. Not comparing to anyone or anything, nope. Not at all. Because comparison is the thief of joy.
12. Team USA didn’t win gold, but they got an early start on bonding as a team.
13. We’re back to being underdogs again.
14. Daniel Theis (Germany), Enes Kanter (Turkey), Vincent Poirier (France), and Robert Williams III (another dimension) make up a very diverse center rotation. Basketball brings them together.
15. A year ago, Romeo Langford was projected to be a top 5 draft pick. The Celtics got him at 14 and he’s been completely forgotten about by most. He’s in a good system with no pressure other than the motivation to prove himself. I think a little patience will pay off here.
16. Semi Ojeleye (by all reports) is one of the nicest, hardest working guys in the league and he’ll have a shot to earn and keep his place in the rotation this season.
17. Brad Wanamaker is the ideal backup quarterback. Always ready when called upon to provide a solid, steady hand.
18. Javonte Green is more than just a dunker, ...but boy can he dunk.
19. Jayson Tatum could make his first All Star team. Jaylen Brown too.
20. Danny always makes the trade deadline ...interesting. (Buyout season too)
21. Everyone thinks the Celtics defense will slip because Al Horford isn’t around anymore. Maybe it will, but if it doesn’t, all hail Brad Stevens (and Marcus Smart).
22. It is going to be fascinating to see how former Celtics fare in their new locations. That’s all I’m going to say.
23. Kemba Walker has only played in 11 postseason games in his career (last time was in 2016). “Chomping at the bit” doesn’t even begin to describe it.
24. I think everyone’s forgotten what a good Gordon Hayward looks like. Even at 90% of his former glory, he can still be very impactful.
25. Jayson Tatum launching 3’s and getting to the rim is going to bump up his points per game and unlock more of his game.
26. Jaylen Brown added a little bit of shake to his game. Ball handling has been a concern for him in the past, but he’s obviously been working on that.
27. Marcus Smart’s good shooting season doesn’t appear to have been a fluke. He’s really a decent shooter now, and that’s all that was holding him back.
28. By the end of the year (or maybe by the end of the month) we’ll see a lot of Grant Williams on the floor. He’s a quick study and a future glue guy.
29. Alley-oops to Robert Williams III are going to be fun.
30. Remember what offensive rebounds look like? No? Well, Enes Kanter is here to remind us.
31. When Poirier is in the game and the Celtics get the ball, watch how he sprints up the court to the other end. Coaches love that kind of stuff for a reason. Good things happen.
32. The Celtics play the Sixers, Raptors, and Bucks, all before Halloween. Should be a good early indicator for where this team is.
33. Tatum, Brown, and Hayward are all known more for their offense, but they can be really good defensively as well.
34. The Garden is going to be rockin’ again.
35. Marcus: “I love Boston, and Boston loves me.”
36. Opening night. LET’S GO!!!!!!!!!!