Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics
The Phoenix Suns will improve through the losses (if you want to call it that) of Dragan Bender and Josh Jackson, however, so too will the Celtics with the loss of Kyrie Irving and the addition of Kemba Walker.
It is going to be very strange to see Kemba in a Celtics uniform, and while I do not believe that he will be able to live up to the contract on the back end, next season will probably see more of the same of what he accomplished his last few seasons in Charlotte.
His play alone might potentially be enough to keep the Suns at the same arm’s length that Irving had been to keep Phoenix for the past two years.
That said, Al Horford, Terry Rozier, and Aron Baynes are all also gone and other than Kemba, the Celtics have not added another significant piece.
Is Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum enough to carry the Celtics with Kemba to the Eastern Conference Finals?
Possibly, but I also do not know if they are good enough anymore to sweep the Suns.
I will honestly predict a 1-1 series tie.
Do not forget: the Celtics had to take the Suns to OT for one of their victory’s last season, and while Boston definitely over-looked Phoenix in that game, I do not believe that they are great enough anymore to be enough to hold the Suns back twice.