Central Celtics aiming to challenge for 2023 NBL title
Published:Friday | May 19, 2023 | 1:28 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
AS the National Basketball League (NBL) draws closer to resumption, title hopefuls Central Celtics are looking to emulate NBA franchise Boston Celtics and contend for a title of their own. The Boston Celtics are facing the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA.
According to Oneil Watson, chief administrator of the Central Celtics, the club’s name was copied from the NBA franchise and he has players on the roster who idolise players from the Boston Celtics.
“So if there is any motivation that we can take from them then we are going to take it as we see where one event can motivate another in a completely different location,” Watson stated.
With the competition’s restart about two weeks away, Watson highlighted that the Central Celtics unit, which is currently in training, will boast a youthful team with a few experienced players as their bulk of players from past NBL seasons have retired.
“The Central Celtics team is in training, and we are looking at a core of younger players. The layoff, which lasted about three years, would have seen most of our senior players transitioned into retirement or not being able to compete with the younger players. So we are coming in with a young set of players that we’re banking on along with a few experienced players,” he added.
In terms of priorities, Watson said that Central Celtics’ main aims in the upcoming season will be to avoid relegation and to be competitive.
“Even though we haven’t heard about any form of relegation so far, our mindset currently is to avoid being relegated. Also, we are aiming to be very competitive, so we are banking on our resurgence and our history over the years to be a force in the upcoming NBL season. We are going to compete at our best, and if we can get into the semi-finals, that would be another incentive for us,” the chief administrator of the Central Celtics said.
Despite the lengthy layoff of competitive basketball action in Jamaica, Watson does not think that they will see a dip in the usual high standard of play in the NBL. According to Watson, based on what he saw at the recent staging of the Social Development Fund McCatty Community Basketball League, local basketball is in good hands.
“The Kingston league was on recently, and it was very competitive. It showed that we still have good-quality players and coaches here in Jamaica, and, probably, that is one of the things that will always keep the NBL alive and kicking,” said Watson.