The Boston Celtics are off to a 3-0 start and their top 6 is the best unit in the league, but if there are any concerns for Celtics fans, their bench has been the team's weak spot so far. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis have already started to click and each have had big games already this season. The bench on the other hand has been downright bad to start the season and for a team with some older players and injury prone players this is a cause for concern

The Celtics started the season with two close games against the Knicks and the Heat, so their bench wasn't tested until they blew out the Wizards on Monday night. Celtics fans knew the bench could be an issue going into the season, but the bench's struggles against the Wizards was an eye-opener for just how bad it could be if they need to be relied on.

The Celtics bench was 0-17 from 3 point range to start the game until Sam Hauser finally hit one in the 4th quarter. Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser are supposed to be the Celtics sharp shooters off the bench but have left a lot to be desired so far this season. Pritchard was 0-6 from 3-point range and 0-8 from the field against the Wizards. While Hauser was 3-10 from the field and 2-9 from 3 point range. Hauser is shooting 20% from 3-point range this season, a massive disappointment through 3 games.

Hauser and Pritchard are supposed to be sparks off of the bench because of their offensive prowess, but if the shots aren't falling their defensive deficiencies make them tough to play, especially together when the team is trying to hold a lead.

The Celtics bench didn't cost them the win against the Wizards, but they certainly raised some red flags. The bench scored 26 points on 30% shooting, 11 turnovers and were a -49 when on the floor. This would be a major concern for any team, but for a Celtics team that's trying to lessen the load on Tatum and Brown while trying to keep Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford healthy, this is something the team will need to remedy sooner than later.

The Boston Celtics opened training camp this week on the heels of making a massive trade with the Portland Trial Blazers by acquiring Jrue Holiday. Expectations are running high for the 2023-24 season, I'm as hyped as anyone who is a fan of the Celtics and I expected the Celtics to win 60 games and the NBA Championship, if they're healthy. I do have many concerns about the Celtics and if one or any of these issues pop up, the Celtics could ended up like the eight seed Miami Heat last season with 44 wins.

Here's a look at the Celtics schedule via the Celtics PR department:
The 17-time World Champion Boston Celtics today announced their schedule for the upcoming 2023-24 regular season. Boston will open the 2023-24 season on the road for the third time in eight years when they play against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, October 25 at Madison Square Garden.

The Celtics home opener will serve as an early rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals when they host the Miami Heat on Friday, October 27 at TD Garden for a primetime game on ESPN.

Boston will compete in four Group Play games for the inaugural In-Season Tournament when they host the Nets on Friday, November 10 and the Bulls on Tuesday, November 28 at TD Garden. The Celtics will also play the Raptors in Toronto on Friday, November 17 and the Magic in Orlando on Friday, November 24.

The Celtics will set out on a seven-day West Coast road trip, facing four California teams, starting with the Golden State Warriors on December 19 and capped by a marquee Christmas Day matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. For the eighth consecutive season, the Celtics will play on Christmas, serving as one of five featured matchups chosen by the NBA that day. The holiday game marks the third time the Celtics have played at the Lakers on Christmas Day and will be the first time since 2008.

The C’s will have a home-heavy schedule leading up to the NBA All-Star Break as they host a seven-game homestand (Jan. 27 – Feb. 9) featuring matchups against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 27, the Los Angeles Lakers on February 1, and 2023 First Round playoff opponent, the Atlanta Hawks, on February 7.

The Celtics will host a rematch of the 2022 NBA Finals on March 3 against the Golden State Warriors on ABC. Boston will close out the season with a three-game homestand, featuring a back-to-back set against the Knicks and Hornets before closing with a matinee game against the Washington Wizards on April 14.

Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell will once again handle radio broadcast duties this season. Games can be heard right here on the Celtics flagship station 98.5 the Sports Hub, as well as the Celtics Radio Network. Select games will be broadcast on Boston’s ROCK 92.9 FM.

So what am I concerned about?

The season begins at MSG against the Knicks and then the Celtics host the Heat at TD Garden, the first two games will most likely be a defensive nightmare. Jimmy Butler is already angry about not getting Damian Lillard and I'm sure he's upset about the Celtics getting Jrue Holiday. I don't think the Celtics will go 0-2 to start but I do think it's in play.

This in season tournament, which still confuses me, if the Celtics win games early and win these tournament games, they might have to spend a week in Las Vegas for what would be Game 82 and Game 83, which counts for money but doesn't count for a win or loss in the NBA standings to make the postseason or for home court. Let's take a deeper look at December to February. The Celtics host the 76ers on December first then could end up flying to Vegas for one or two games then fly back to Boston for a week, four games in six days, two vs Cavs and two vs the Magic then back to the west coast for Golden State, Sacramento, the Clippers and the Lakers. THEN it's back to Boston for a back to back with San Antonio and OKC for New Years weekend. Still with me, now we're in Janurary where the Celtics match up with Ime Udoka's Rockets for two games in eight days along with Denver, Dallas and Miami in a ten day span. If that isn't enough, February first the Celtics host the Lakers and that's followed up on February fourth with the Marcus Smart return game. That two month schedule is hell.

March isn't any better with Luka Dončić and Kyrie the Mavs, Warriors and then at Cleveland, at Denver, at Phoenix, home Phoenix, home Bucks.

I think the Miami Heat are the Celtics and Bucks biggest obstacle. Jimmy Butler still scares me a lot. The Heat knocked the Celtics out of the post season in 2023 and in 2020 and took the Celtics to seven games in 2022 as Boston was on it's way to the NBA Finals. Marcus Smart tried to give that series away.

Remember too that the Heat beat the Bucks in 5 games in the first round last year and have a winning record against them over the last few record seasons.

I just want to type this again, I still think if healthy, the Celtics should win 60 regulars season games and the NBA Championship.

Joe Mazzulla could be an an issue, and I think he’s an outstanding offensive coach, he trusts his players and he might be the best coach in the NBA at drawing up plays to get open and wide open three point shots. He spent an hour with JJ Redick talking about his issues coaching last season and how he needs to improve on teaching his basketball philosophies to the group so they can execute his vision better. For example, one of his biggest needs is to prepare the Celtics with more details as to what to do at the end of a game, run this 14 second play from Tatum's hand and make sure Jaylen Brown shoots the basketball before 2 seconds and if there is a miss follow the miss.

If the Celtics start off twenty and twenty in the first forty game, is Joe Mazzulla safe as head coach? Charles Lee was the Bucks top assistant coach, he's got a championship ring, he’s interviewed for head coaching jobs around the NBA, and I wonder if the Celtics are all in for 2023-2023 if they send Mazzulla home if the Celtics are slow out of the gate.

Two years ago, the Celtics identity and system was defensive versatility. Last year, it was Mazzulla-ball and threes. With these roster changes it will create a new identity, what will that be?

Variety.

Variety is the answer. The Celtics top 6 of Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford and Derrick White is a match up nightmare for the NBA. Those six players can do anything and do anything at a high level. Some nights you'll see forty three point attempts, while the next night you'll see 30 pick and roll plays with Porziņģis and Tatum and another night will be a rock fight on defense. If this team is healthy, there isn't anything they can't do and do at an elite level.

Many teams are the championship favorite in the NBA off season and then injuries derail those championship dreams. While not the favorites to win the NBA Championship in 2017-18, the Celtics did have a great chance of winning the East until Gordon Hayward dislocated his left ankle and fractured his left tibia just five minutes into his debut with Boston. My list of injury concerns begins with Jayson Tatum.

Tatum has a non shooting wrist injury that may or may not need surgery and he’s a few months removed from a high ankle sprain. And before the Holiday trade he was expected to handle the ball more like Luka Dončić in Dallas. So that’s more NBA regular season wear and tear.

Jaylen Brown the last 4 years, 57 games, 58 games, 66 games and 67 games. Jaylen went into the post season with a hand injury. So there’s a concern there.

Al Horford is 37 now and the mind might be willing but the body might not be able. Few love Al Horford more than I do but the reality is that Big Al is on the 18th green as the Celtics push for Banner 18.

Porzingis is dealing with plantar fasciitis. A big, with a lower body injury is concerning. Speaking about his injury and the recovery process with Sporta Studija Porzingis said the following, translated through Google.

"The foot hurts after exercise. I feel almost nothing when walking. It's a really funny injury. I have an idea what the origin of the injury might be, but it's something that builds up over the course of a career and pops out at one point. It got worse during the training process - when it started to hurt, then I couldn't get rid of the inflammation either."

My hope and the hope of Celtics fans, this injury doesn't pop out until say July 1st.

I'm overly hyped about the Celtics on paper. Sixty wins, NBA Championship. Those are my expectations.

BUT....

Jrue Holiday isn’t Kevin Garnett. I know the wording and messaging is what the Celtics are highlighting but KG is an all time NBA player, Hall of Famer and a top 10 player of his generation. Holiday is an outstanding player, top 5-10 defensively in the NBA but likely not a hall of fame player let alone at top 20 of this generation.

If we’re looking at the top tiers in the NBA it's the Celtics, Bucks, Nuggets, Suns, Lakers, Warriors and Heat.

Fanduels most likely Finals match ups:
Celtics vs Suns, Celtics vs Nuggets, Bucks vs Suns, Bucks vs Nuggets.

From 1000 feet and on paper and in NBA 2k video game land - I expect them to win 60 games and win the NBA championship. I keep stressing that point. I think they're loaded.

I think Horford and White will be in and out of the starting line up based on match ups.

Derrick White, Holiday, Brown, Tatum, Porzingis
Or
Holiday, Brown, Tatum, Porzingis, Horford

Size matters. Dealing Rob Williams and allowing Luke Kornet to be the third big on the Celtics can get them through the regular season but in the playoffs, smart NBA teams with hunt him whenever he's on the floor. My hope is that the Celtics add another big during the season by using the Grant Williams $6.2 million traded player exception.

Last season the Celtics struggled against bigger teams like like Cavs (1-3), Knicks (1-3) and Magic (1-3).
The Cavs and Knicks made the playoffs but only the Hornets and Pistons finished with a worst record in the East than the Magic. So if the Celtics sweep the Magic last year, they win 60 games.

Let's hope the Celtics can find an upgrade for their third big during this season.

Depth is a concern of many, it's not a major one for me. I just know that during the regular season it's important. The 7-10 part of the Celtics bench of Oshae Brissett, Payton Pritchard, Luke Kornet, Sammy (Buckets) Hauser hopefully will just be a net zero in plus minus. I would expect Tatum and Brown to get minutes with the middle third of the Celtics bench.

Oshae Brissett was signed by the Celtics from the Pacers and will be the name that will annoy Felger and Mazz during the season. He'll be this season’s "Jae Crowder best contract in the NBA guy".
It feels like the Celtics love Luke Kornet, Payton Pritchard will be motivated to up his value and well, Sammy Buckets is the most under appreciated player in the NBA.

In closing, I'm overly hyped about the 2023-24 Boston Celtics but these are my concerns. They have to win a championship this season. Anything less than an NBA Championship for me would be a failure. See you at the Garden opening night.

Listen to Joe Murray 6-11 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @JoeyMurr on Twitter to keep up with the show!