Change is everywhere for the Boston Celtics this season. And it shows in many ways, big and small.
Point guard Kyrie Irving left, replaced by another star, Kemba Walker.
At the center of Boston’s offense, a site that once belonged to Al Horford will now be filled by draft free agent Enes Kanter.
Some returning Celtics players literally look different in some cases. Fourth-year guard Jaylen Brown’s signature flat-top haircut? It’s gone too, and it’s been replaced by a sleek, slim fit.
“It’s a new start. Everybody sees Jaylen Brown’s hair, right? ”Marcus Smart joked during the Celtics’ press day Monday.
Everything is pertinent for a team that despite having stars like Irving, Horford and Gordon Hayward, as well as the young talent of Brown and Jayson Tatum, did not produce the expected results, victim of a lack of chemistry and public disputes.
Now Boston has gone from the team that was the favorite to take over the reign of the Eastern Conference after LeBron James left the Lakers, to a team that must discover a new identity this season.
Returning players say they have internalized the lessons of the previous season in hopes of not repeating history with this renewed group.
“I think you just learn that nothing will be given to you in this league,” Hayward said. “I think a lot of people gave us the trip to the Final and thought we were just going to walk our route to the final of the Eastern Conference. That was obviously not the case and it did not happen. “
That’s why head coach Brad Stevens said a squad that could often find itself playing with four perimeter players and one big man will have to find a different way to play.
But he also said he will start on the same principles that helped lead the Celtics to back-to-back conference finals in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
“I think everything I’ve ever thought and believed about the game has just been reinforced,” Stevens said. “I think this team will have to play differently on both sides of the court. Not hugely different, but we will have to do things here and there. “
He added that he has no big plans for training camp, other than creating an environment that helps this new group to coalesce.
“Our focus for the next couple of weeks is just getting ready to play with the right effort and the right bond. And that’s it, “he said. “At the end of the day, that will give us the opportunity to be the best version of ourselves.” AP