NBA 2018-19 Playoff Chances: The Boston Celtics and their weird state of affairs

The Boston Celtics have a mysterious problem this season. They probably have the best young and proven core in the league as of this moment, along with a healthy mix of veterans and stars and a lot of future draft picks which can be used to either trade up in the draft or trade the picks away along with a bunch of young players for a really good established star (Anthony Davis).

But this season has been a mysterious one for the Celtics, with nobody able to get into a rhythm. Let us look at the playoff chances for the Boston Celtics.

Positive Signs:

#1. Kyrie Irving has caught fire:

The Celtics really need Irving at his best

Kyrie Irving has had a tumultuous season with the Boston Celtics this season, with the whole free agency drama and the fact that he called out some of the players publicly has not gone down well with the whole team. This has led to some issues with team chemistry but that has not bothered Irving in the least.

He has been a force to reckon with on the court this season, averaging 23.4 points a game, along with 6.9 assists and 4.9 rebounds as well, both of which are career highs. He missed a few games with lingering injuries but had an amazing January, where he averaged 25.7 points per game, along with 8.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds.

The Celtics will be looking to put aside their chemistry differences, as they have won just 1 game since the All-Star break and Irving continuing his stellar display will only make it better.

#2. The young core has continued to become better:

Terry Rozier has been in phenomenal touch for the Celtics this season.

The Boston Celtics have been blessed with a plethora of young stars and role players that last season managed to make an NBA finals run in the playoffs, without their stars in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Terry Rozier have continued their stellar display this season and have continued to make strides, staking a claim for a starting spot in the team.

Tatum has been phenomenal with the Celtics, averaging 16.1 points per game, along with 6.3 rebounds. Brown has been delegated to the bench with Smart starting in his spot, still averages 12.7 points per game, along with 4.4 rebounds. Rozier gets some time to play only when Kyrie is out and usually manages to play a big role in the Celtics lineup.

If the Celtics need to get themselves going, they need these budding stars to stick together and keep playing solid basketball.

Negative signs:

#1. Lack of team chemistry:

The Boston Celtics have been struggling to get going this season and team chemistry issues have dogged them all season long. The young guns want a fair piece of the minutes that are on offer, with Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown both having proved themselves last year in the absence of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward.

Jayson Tatum too wants more shots and touches and maybe be the man at TD Garden.

This has not gone down well with Irving, who has publicly spoken out against them. Even though this is the only big team in the East that has not gone through major changes in their squad, they have the most tumultuous chemistry between their players.

As the veterans have come out and said recently, they really need to get going soon if they want a long run in the playoffs this season.

#2. Gordon Hayward:

Boston Celtics can't seem to fit a struggling Hayward in their team

The Boston Celtics had a returning Gordon Hayward after he suffered a horrific injury last season, forcing him to sit out the whole 2017-18 season. Now he is back for the 2018-19 season, but his return has been a colossal failure as he is not able to get going on the offensive end. The injury is carrying its effects and it is clear as he is not as aggressive while attacking the rim and is not landing his shots consistently.

He is not the player the Celtics signed to a max contract. He has scored 10.7 points per game along with 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists on an average. Since the All-Star break, Hayward has scored a combined 26 points in 5 games, playing more than 24 minutes in all but 1 and hit double figures in none of those games.

These are just unacceptable numbers and if Hayward doesn't find his rhythm soon, he might get shut out of the rotation when the playoffs are here.

The Future:

#1. Playoff run:

The Boston Celtics seem poised to make a push anytime soon this season and are definitely going to make the playoffs. They are currently 5th in the Eastern Conference, 3 games behind the 3rd placed Indiana Pacers and have a 38-26 record, despite the recent poor form.

They have Kyrie Irving, fully healthy and in form, ready to push for home court advantage and that 3rd position. With Joel Embiid out injured right now for the 76ers and Victor Oladipo out for the season, the Celtics are in prime position to finally make a run for the 3rd place.

If they manage to put their indifference aside, they might be able to make it to the Eastern Conference finals.

#2. 2019 Free agency:

Will Anthony Davis end up at the Celtics?

The 2019 free agency has league-wide ramifications for all the teams in the NBA this season, including the Boston Celtics. They have space for another max contract and Kyrie Irving had already come out in the start of the season and said that he will resign with the Celtics next season.

But as the season progressed, the chemistry issues flared up and Kyrie's future has been tossed up in the air, with him not putting the rumors to bed as well, maybe in a message to the Celtics management. Most probably, he will wind up staying at the Celtics, as their star of the franchise and the leader of the locker room.

If the Celtics manage to offer the Pelicans a really good deal in the offseason with the draft picks and their young stars, the Celtics might be able to snag Anthony Davis as well, making them an instant favorite for the NBA title, let alone the Eastern Conference. So, this will a huge development for them to look out for.

Final rating to make the playoffs: 10/10

The playoffs are all but sealed for the Boston Celtics in an Eastern Conference where there might not be much talent this season except for the big 4 teams.

They just need to focus on the season left and make a playoff run to secure a home court advantage and maybe a run to the conference finals.