RIDING high from their first trip to the NBA Finals in a dozen years, the Boston Celtics were offseason favorites to win their 18th title. The team returns with their young and potent core intact starring Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Robert Williams. Bench stalwarts Derrick White, Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard were also back for another deep run.

The Celtics further bolstered their chances when they traded for 2017 Rookie of the Year guard Malcolm Brogdon and signed veteran big man Danilo Gallinari, making them the deepest team in the NBA. But that's where the good news ended and the bad luck started.