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Every year I like to make some predictions I call SWAGs. If I get them wrong, I forget all about them. If I get them right, well, you know I’m going to tell you all about it. Usually this waits for the end of the regular season but ...well, this could be the end of the regular season.
I’m usually pretty optimistic by nature, but after the bad taste of last year I must have really needed to pour out the sunshine and rainbows. Here are my predictions and my commentary on them now.
Gordon Hayward will win Comeback Player of the Year
Well, technically I got this one wrong, but only because this award doesn’t technically exist anymore. Perhaps I was thinking of Most Improved but whatever. If this award was still a thing I think Hayward would have won or at least been a finalist. I’m not here to make proclamations about Gordon being “back” or “Utah Hayward.” We’re past that. He is what he is and you can debate his value relative to his salary all you want. The thing is, he played very well this season and more often than not he’s been just what the coach ordered. A dynamic, playmaker and scorer that gets into the teeth of the defense and makes good basketball decisions with the ball.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will be All-Stars
Ok, I only get partial credit for this but come on. Both of them COULD have been selected. In fact, there was a healthy debate by really smart basketball people about which of the two deserved the invite more.
Jaylen Brown made another huge leap forward this year and any other fanbase would have been ecstatic with his development into near-All Star form. Of course we’ve been totally spoiled because Brown’s meteoric rise was overshadowed by another rising star in Jayson Tatum. These are good problems to have.
Danny Ainge will NOT make a major trade during the season
Nailed it.
The Celtics will be back in the Eastern Conference Finals!
Well, there’s still time. I hope.
Speaking of hope, here’s a new SWAG for you. The regular season will be cancelled but (eventually) we’ll get a playoff schedule (though it might be truncated).