Ahead of the 2018-19 season, the Boston Celtics have been installed as the favourites to win the Eastern Conference.With a star-studded roster, there's a huge expectation that they will contend for a championship next year.The return of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward from injuries will give them a major boost as they'll possess one of the deepest squads in the NBA.The Celtics reached the conference finals without their All-Star duo and there's real excitement in Boston for what they can achieve with them in the lineup.

Achieving something special

Terry Rozier - who enjoyed a breakout playoff campaign filling in for Irving - has high hopes for the new campaign and thinks they can do something special.

"We can be special. Truly special," Rozier said, per ESPN's Chris Forsberg. "I think you know that. I think everybody knows that.

"Obviously, we [are] good on paper, we just gotta get it together and make sure everybody comes in and has that same mindset. But I feel like it's going to be a special group."

Earlier this month, teammate Jaylen Brown made the bold proclamation that the C's will make the NBA Finals.

Rozier wasn't quite ready to make the same prediction and put extra pressure on himself and the team but he did say that having Irving and Hayward back will add another dimension.

"We look good on paper. The same team back from last year adding two main guys, two main pieces, with a lot of the guys we added from this draft and re-signed," Rozier said.

"It's special. It's special. Like I said, I don't want to talk too much about [what the team can accomplish], but it's going to be special."

LeBron-less road

LeBron James' departure from the east has certainly opened the door for another team to take over and have an easier path to the finals.

Brown said he was disappointed to see James join the Los Angeles Lakers as he wanted the C's to be the team that ended his reign as the king of the east.

But Rozier says he's not concerned about LBJ's decision and is only worried about the happenings on his own team.

"I really don't care," Rozier said. "The league is watered down as it is. Everybody is making different moves.

"I'm only worried about the Boston Celtics. I'm not worried about LeBron James, Lakers, Cavaliers. [We're] just trying to figure out how we can get better."

The 24-year-old truly came of age in the postseason and thrived as the team's starting point guard.

He posted 16.5 points and 5.7 assists per game but he's likely to return to a bench role.

But there's no doubt that he'll be a key presence and a leader on the second unit for Boston next season.

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