The boys in green are back and they got something to prove this year.

Coming off of last year's impressive season, in which they finished with 48 wins, the Boston Celtics are looking to prove that they are not just a team with a bunch of entertaining players on an entertaining team. They are a team that can win, and they can win now.

I truly believe that during last year's first round of the playoffs that if the C's had Avery Bradley and a healthy Jae Crowder that we would've beaten Atlanta in a best of seven series. Now with the second best free agent signing in the NBA with Al Horford, and a league ready athletic monster in Jaylen Brown, they have an even better squad than last year.

With the team they have right now, there is no reason why the Celtics cannot finish with a top three seed in the weak Eastern conference, and post a challenge to the Cavaliers led by LeBron James.

Now I'm not saying we are going to beat the Cavs, I don't believe this team is quite yet there yet (they would have been if KD had come to Boston; sorry for bringing it up but it's true). However, ESPN has the Celtics with the second best odds to make it out of the East. I can't say I disagree with that. As I look at the rosters of the rest of the Eastern conference teams, I don't see one that is better than ours other than the Cavs and maybe the Pacers (I still think we have a better team than the Pacers).

I think that a realistic goal for this team is to make the Eastern Conference finals. Not only that but to show the Cavs that they aren't the only team in the East. If the C's were to do this, they would become an even more attractive free agent destination, something that is extremely valuable in the NBA. With the attention of big free agent names and Brooklyn's sure to be lottery pick next season in a stacked draft filled with talent, things are only going to get better in Boston.

If we were to make the ECF, we have the team to steal a few games from the Cavs, who are always a lock for making the ECF as long as LeBron is leading the way, but we would lose that series. I believe the Celtics are one move away from becoming legitimate opposition to the Cavs. However, the Cavs were to not show up in a series against us and the C's were to capitalize, perhaps we can squeak out of the East and make it to the finals, but that's highly unlikely with the team they have at this moment. The Cavs are still the better team, but their days as the sole Eastern conference dominating team are numbered.

Some people have complained about how the Celtics have not made a blockbuster trade yet. This doesn't bother me at all; in fact, I like what Danny Ainge is doing. He has not come across something that he likes, and is waiting for the right deal. I would much rather be doing this and waiting it out rather than forcing a big trade and having it backfire and in the process lose all of the assets you have gained.

The reality is Danny might not even make a trade. He definitely wants to, being the mastermind that he is, but if it's not for the right price or he flat out sees nothing of interest, he won't make one. I also would not have a problem with this. We still have multiple draft picks and if we sit on the young talent we have stockpiled we will surely develop into a powerhouse team.

Honestly, I don't think its a matter of if we will become a powerhouse team, its a matter of when. Danny knows what he's doing, and in my opinion, he has done well with building this team so far. We are on the borderline of becoming an elite team, and I think we will get to that point soon, maybe sooner than we all think (I'm looking at you, Danny).

Any way you look at it, the future is bright in green.