Celtics Hot Takes After 1st Week of 2022-23 NBA Season
The Boston Celtics went into their first three trips to the hardwood—two against teams vying for the Eastern Conference crown—without suffering their first loss of the 2022-23 NBA season.
As expected, this looks like one of the league's elite teams, and that's true even with havoc-creating center Robert Williams III temporarily out of the picture (more on that later).
Saying the Celtics should be great again is hardly a hot take, though, so let's enhance the spiciness setting on our analysis and offer up three early hot takes about this team.
This Defense Can Dominate, but Only Once Robert Williams III Returns
Last season, the Shamrocks paced the league in defensive efficiency, per NBA.com. This season, they've slipped all the way to 25th in the category.
What gives: tricky matchups? Extra-hot opponents? Still sorting out the puzzle pieces following the offseason changes?
All of the things are true to some degree, but the biggest difference is the Robert Williams III-sized hole on this frontcourt. Boston can't create nearly as much chaos without his length, athleticism and activity.
The good news is the Celtics should have him back at some point. The bad news is that timeframe is unclear. The bouncy big man had knee surgery in September and is "unlikely to resume basketball activities until December," per NBC Sports Boston's Chris Forsberg.
Grant Williams Is Pricing His Way out of Franchise's Future
The Celtics had a chance to secure Williams' future on a long-term extension this offseason, but they couldn't make the numbers work. It really doesn't sound like it was particularly close, either.
"It's one of those things that, you never want to take a bad deal for no one around you," Williams told reporters. "The role that I play as VP of the player's association, you understand where the league is going in the future and where the league is currently at. For me, it wasn't a matter of life-changing money, it was a matter of value, not only for this year, but for years to come."
Williams wanted to get paid after breaking out last season, and Boston apparently balked at the price. That could be a decision it comes to regret, as that price point keeps climbing.
Williams, a versatile defender who has turned heads with his improvements as a shooter, currently boasts the astronomic—and unsustainable—slash line of 70.6/66.7/85.7. Those numbers clearly won't hold up, but if he maintains or improves on last season's numbers while providing the same impact as a defender and energizer, his next contract could cost more than the Celtics can pay.
Jayson Tatum Might Win a Scoring Title...and the MVP
There have been some statistically absurd starts to this season, and Tatum's is right there among the best of the best.
He is pumping in a career-high 32.5 points per contest, which somehow only puts him in a tie for fourth-place. He's also shooting a career-high 55.6 percent from the field, while also converting 37.5 percent of his threes and 90.3 percent of his free throws. His 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks are also personal-bests, while his 1.8 turnovers are his fewest in four seasons.
This looks like he's leveling up—as someone who's already played in three consecutive All-Star Games and started the last two.
It's possible (in some cases, probable) this production slows down at some point, although as a 24-year-old he should be still ascending toward his prime, so who knows? What we do know is if he keeps this up, he'll factor prominently in both the scoring and MVP races.