During this past offseason, the Boston Celtics were one of the most active teams in reshaping their roster ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.
It entailed them acquiring a pair of All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, which have further elevated the level of expectations around the team to be serious challengers to finally dethrone the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have reached the NBA Finals in the last three straight years.
Despite all of that movement, veteran guard JR Smith voiced on Monday morning ahead of the team’s season opener matchup on Tuesday that he’s not afraid of the Celtics, according to Nikki Goel of ClutchPoints.
On top of that, he also undermined the addition of Hayward and the task of guarding his former teammate.
The 32-year-old clearly has no concerns about the newly-constructed Celtics this upcoming season. Although the Cavaliers had moved on from Irving, the front office acquired Isaiah Thomas Derrick Rose, and Dwyane Wade to help more than make up the difference.
It has helped them put together a more talent-laden roster that has much experience across the board that could become a bigger powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. Let’s not forget, that LeBron James is still leading the way for the Cavaliers that have become the standard bearers in the conference since his return three years ago.
What this chatter from Smith does more than anything else is build more anticipation and excitement toward the season opener between two top teams in the Eastern Conference.
