NBA scout explains why the Celtics will nonetheless miss Marcus Sensible this season

Brad Stevens was busy this offseason in his efforts to place the Celtics’ roster excessive, swinging a pair of blockbuster offers to herald two All-Star abilities in Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Vacation.

With the 7-foot-3 Porzinigis anchoring the frontcourt and Vacation anticipated to fit in because the group’s start line guard, Boston boasts arguably probably the most proficient roster within the league — particularly with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Al Horford nonetheless in place.

After all, Stevens and the Celtics did must half with a number of key items as a way to each carry Porzingis/Vacation aboard and clear cap area — headlined by 4 lineup fixtures in Marcus Sensible, Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, and Grant Williams.

The case can definitely be made that the 2023-24 Celtics is probably the most imposing Boston roster assembled for the reason that “Massive 3” period of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen.

However one NBA scout believes that this present Celtics group nonetheless has some query marks, most of that are because of the lack of one in every of their leaders in Sensible. 

“I feel Sensible particularly is a man that holds a few of these different guys accountable when possibly Jaylen is dribbling an excessive amount of or not shifting the ball or Jayson is doing the identical factor,” the nameless scout instructed Chris Mannix of Sports activities Illustrated. “He’s a man that may get on them. Or no less than he had the clout, the voice to inform them. I feel they’ll positively miss that.

“After which, Sensible makes all of the loopy performs. After they beat Philly in Sport 6, on that Tatum three, nobody ever talked about how nice of a move it was from Sensible. These sorts of performs. They usually get a few of that with Derrick White, I suppose, however I don’t suppose it’s to the identical stage.”

Sensible’s defensive depth and vocal presence may be missed in Boston’s locker room this season. However with different veterans nonetheless in place like Horford, Vacation, Brown and Tatum, the Celtics ought to nonetheless have the means to carry one another accountable over the course of an extended 82-game season and past.

“I’m by no means going to be Kevin Garnett,” Tatum instructed Jeff Goodman of The Messenger final month of his management fashion. “As a lot as folks need me to be, that’s not who I’m. The way in which I lead, the general public might not ever see what I do.”

“After I have to, I be sure my voice is heard and I do it in my very own manner. I’m not going to be on the market leaping up and down screaming. That’s simply not my persona. As a lot as folks need to speak about it and need me to be that, I’m not altering who I’m. I lead in my very own manner. After I speak, all people in that group goes to hear. And no matter I say is at all times for the betterment of the group — and my teammates know that.”