Celtics' Kyrie Irving expected to return against Nets

The Boston Celtics are a "team of the future in the East", according to Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

That's not to say Kerr's assessment of the Celtics is wide of the mark. They add Tatum, so you've got another long-armed guy who can switch.

Al Horford returned from concussion protocol Sunday after missing two games and couldn't have been much better considering the circumstances.

"They're all on a string".

While lavishing praise on the red-hot Celtics on Tuesday, Kerr may have provided LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers the bulletin-board material they need to pull themselves out of their early-season funk, as well as motivate them come play-off time.

"It's a team that has been on the rise in the last couple of years, they lost in the Conference Finals. Even with Gordon Hayward and that very bad injury, Boston is just crushing people". "We know how tough it's going to be".

The silver lining of Hayward's fractured ankle is that it has forced Boston's young talent to take on larger roles, and they've flourished as a result. He also described Kyrie Irving as "amazing".

None of this guarantees anything to the Celtics, as several potential dynasties in league history have been thwarted for various reasons, but it's impossible to look at Boston's current situation and be anything but optimistic.

The Celtics, meanwhile, own the best record in the National Basketball Association (12-2) in what's supposed to be a year of adjustment following the additions of Irving and Gordon Hayward-and Hayward's subsequent injury on opening night.