Who will be the most improved player?

BOSTON – We can take some comfort by bringing back all the highlights of a team that played as far as the Celtics did last season.

And while this success has left very little room for improvement in the team, the same can not be said of individual players.

Boston has a list of talented players who are eager to show how much their game has grown since last season.

But who will stand out?

Here's a look at five Celtics who may be among the best players on the team:

SEMI OJELEYE

The 6-foot-6 striker was primarily used as a defender who would lie in a corner and would throw 3 Although being a 3-D man will still be a big part of who is Ojeleye, he showed signs in the summer league that his game would be a little more diverse this season. Specifically, Ojeleye will try to attack the defenders more easily, which is very logical. Although he does not have much height, he compensates with exceptional lateral speed to keep the players in front of him, as well as a strong bust that makes him a tough guy. many NBA players have learned the hard way last season.

JAYLEN BROWN

He has made tremendous progress from the first to the second year, and you can take the opportunity to start his third season. People forget that Brown's average of 14.5 points per game a year ago was the team's second against Kyrie Irving. Generating more offense will be harder for Brown this season with the return of Gordon Hayward in the lineup. However, Brown's potential to be an elite defender is immense. He already has above average athleticism. Combine this with his length, his improved strength and a good understanding of what Brad Stevens is looking for in the group, which translates into a player who will be significantly improved.

ARON BAYNES

With Baynes, you know that you get a very good defender and a solid rebounder. But as the Celtics entered the season, Baynes was starting to do things that Baynes was not supposed to do, like reversing the 3 points. It was as if, for some ephemeral playoff moments, Baynes was becoming this prolific 3-point shootout producer. The 3 will certainly not become an essential part of the Baynes game. But as we saw in the playoffs, the 6 foot 11 inch bruising center is not afraid to let it fly either.

JAYSON TATUM

I know I know. He finished third in the NBA rookie vote, was arguably the best player in Boston at the Eastern Conference finals and he was so much better than most thought that it would be so fast. And that's the scary part of Tatum. As a talented player as he turned out to be, he clearly bought everything he needed to get better. Tatum is unlikely to add weight, but wing 6-8 has a chance to become stronger. He showed his ability to dominate the games as a scorer, but it will be difficult for him to do it with Irving and Hayward, as well as Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart, who have all proven that they too can succeed. in games. Still, it will work, of course. The most pressing concern is whether Tatum will experience a second consecutive year or endure a second year crisis?

JABARI BIRD

He was Boston's best player in the summer league. It was therefore logical to reward the former G-League player with a multi-year contract. However, the incident on Friday night in Brighton, Mass., Which led him to face multiple charges including assault and battery, strangulation and kidnapping, jeopardized his future. .