On virtually any sports book site, fans of the Boston Celtics will see their team as the odds-on favorite to win it all at the end of the looming 2022-23 NBA season. Even after losing one of their two big offseason additions in Danilo Gallinari’s tear to his left ACL in FIBA qualifier play this summer, the perception of the Celtics as the team to beat in Las Vegas has seemingly wavered little, if at all.
And that is exactly what worries Celtics lead Governor Wyc Grousbeck. Speaking in an interview with the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, the Boston co-owner explained his concerns about how such lofty expectation
“I really loved being part of the Celtics throughout that run. I loved being right there with them,” began Grousbeck. “It was thrilling.”
Celtics Lab 141: Projecting the order the East and talking on the NBA’s Robert Sarver reaction with Zak Noble https://t.co/vymwICc4l5
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 15, 2022
“The other side of the coin is I think that we’ve now been overrated,” said the Celtics’ lead Governor.
I think that performance was a bit overrated in the public mind, or my own mind, because I’m the one saying it. (We were) a finalist and two wins away from winning it, but when you look back, (the) Brooklyn (Nets first-round matchup) was a tough series, and then we had to go seven games (against the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat). Then we lost (to the Golden State Warriors).”
“So, we’re not a hands-down team to repeat as Eastern Conference champions,” Grousbeck related. “I think we’re a quality team.”
The Hick From French Lick was best known for his scoring, but Bird could find the open man like few have ever been able to. https://t.co/sYuX8086G1
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 16, 2022
“We added Malcolm (Brogdon), and now (Danilo Gallinari) is hurt, but we added them to a good, quality team,” he continued. “And we’re in the mix. There are probably five or six teams you could say are contending teams, and I definitely think we’re on that list.”
“But I’m cautious against being overconfident. And anyone who asks me what I think about the team, I’m saying I don’t want to overrate us.”\
The Flower Mound native suggested Boston is ready to use those lessons as fuel to hang a banner, however. https://t.co/L4CuF7Tx4P
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 16, 2022
Grousbeck says he has no plans to cut corners, though, with this season’s team, despite his concerns about Boston being overrated — if anything, quite the opposite.
“I think we’re spending about $200 million on the roster this year, and Brad has the green light to spend more. People can write or think whatever they want. Or, you can actually look at what we do, which is do whatever we possibly can to win a championship. And we’re in the mode right now of completely adding on. Are you going to trade future draft picks and young players under 30? Hopefully not.”
“But money is not a consideration whatsoever, and this roster shows that,” he finished.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 16, 2022
While there has been some speculation that the team might be trying to save money by waiting to bring on a veteran player who might help the team in Gallinari’s absence, what Grousbeck suggests to be the case has been born out so far with the Celtics’ roster moves.
No player remaining who is available to be signed is so good that it’s not more important to see exactly what the team has already in camp.
But we will likely see soon enough just how committed to winning the team’s payroll is at some point during the season — as well as whether this team is indeed overrated.
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