Checking in on our bold Celtics preseason predictions at All-Star break

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Checking in on our bold Celtics preseason predictions at All-Star break originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Two thirds of the 2024-25 NBA season is in the rearview mirror as the league speeds into the mid-February All-Star break.

The brief regular-season respite offers us a chance to take inventory, including a check in on how our trusty crystal ball is faring.

So let’s do a status check on all seven of our bold preseason predictions and then we’ll add a handful more prognostications to the mix.

1. Jaylen Brown lands on All-NBA, All-Defense teams

Brown’s counting stats are very similar to last season when he was an All-NBA snub. Hurting his cause: His offensive efficiency is down with his 32.4 3-point percentage being a career low, and 46.1 percent shooting overall would be his worst field goal percentage since his rookie season. That’s balanced out a bit by a notable pop in playmaking with Brown handing out a career-best 4.8 assists per game. If Brown can find last year’s shooting touch over the final 27 games, it might aid his case for All-NBA. The 65-game threshold is also going to squeeze out a handful of familiar All-NBA names.

The case for Brown on All-Defense hinges on the level of scorer he’s typically defending this season. Brown has routinely requested to guard the opposing team’s top threat. That’s reflected in a 46.7 expected field goal percentage, which is among the top 10 highest numbers in the league among high-volume perimeter defenders. Brown is holding those opponents to 45.8 percent shooting, or 0.9 percent below expected, which is a good-not-great number.

What makes it more impressive is that Brown’s top defensive matchup list reads like an All-Star roster. Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, Steph Curry, Jalen Brunson, Zach LaVine, Tyrese Maxey, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell. Brown has not shied away from the challenge of defending elite offensive players. The question is whether voters will give him the nod over other Boston All-Defense stalwarts like Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.

Bottom line: Brown needs a loud second half to strengthen his case…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/checking-bold-celtics-preseason-predictions-115527268.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2025-02-14 11:55:00

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