Not a C’s fan, but if you lack a grade 1A superstar in today’s NBA you have zero percent chance for a title and a minuscule chance to even play for a title. Boston was the only team of the final 8 who lacked that grade 1A talent. Run your team well, play disciplined ball, team chemistry, right moves in the draft/free agency and a great coach, and you still regress year over year. If your depending on Irving, who’s a rapidly depreciating assert and a 1B player at best, you’re done.
Boston certainly isn’t stupid, they know this that’s why they have been circling Kawhi, AD at every turn, because that’s there only chance. I believe Pats mentioned it recently in another thread, and he was on the money, C’s will push hard for AD and with Ingram’s injury status they have to be the fav. Some combination of Tatum/Brown and picks gets it done. Kawhi rolls out of TOR, Durant rolls out of GS, it will be more interesting than years past.