The Celtics will probably be worse this year. Here’s why I’m OK with that.

Just because I know most of the Celtics’ plays, or track the length of Jayson Tatum’s sideburns, or try to read the same books as Jaylen Brown — last Spring, we both read “Whiplash: How to Survive Our Faster Future“ by the MIT Media Lab — it doesn’t make me an irrational optimist who drinks Green Kool-Aid.

Quite the opposite actually.

As Leader Brad has always preached, an even-keeled approach to basketball requires honest reflection. That is why I can comfortably admit to you that the Celtics will be demonstrably worse than they were a year ago. Although the front office did a solid job of replacing Kyrie Irving’s production with the acquisition of Kemba Walker, the departure of Al Horford has left the team without the prettiest eyes in basketball and without a legitimate chance of contention.

Horford is a singular talent who did all the little things perfectly while facing asinine accusations of averageness. He was the team’s defensive anchor — the lone hope of slowing down Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo. Horford’s ability to facilitate while stretching the floor was also vital for a Celtics offense that struggled to generate open looks. Down the stretch last season, Gorgeous Eyes was clearly the only adult in the room, as the team somehow managed to fall apart every time he took a well-deserved rest.  After the All-Star Break, with Horford on the bench, the Celtics were outscored by an outrageous 8.9 points per 100 possessions. Horford’s production is irreplaceable and without him on the roster, it’s foolhardy to expect the Celtics to contend for a championship this season.

You might be surprised to hear that I am OK with that.

To many Boston sports fans who have grown accustomed to constant title contention, this downgrade in talent and championship potential is unacceptable. Conventional wisdom suggests that I, as an extremely passionate fan, should be furious with my hometown team getting worse. I mean, I picked the 2018-19 Celtics to win 65 games and they made me look like an idiot! Then Kyrie bolted for Brooklyn in a move he was reportedly planning since December! Then Horford signed with the 76ers — our primary Eastern Conference rival, the one opponent that most clearly demonstrated his greatness, and the team that was the most fun team to beat!

How could I not be filled with rage?

Simply put, I choose not to be.

Rooting for the Celtics is something I choose to do for fun, so engaging in sports anger feels irrational. Leader Brad teaches us to only focus on what you can control. If the Celtics win, I am excited.  If the Celtics lose, I am disappointed. But both feelings are fleeting, as I realize that I have zero control over the outcome.

I don’t feel a sense of accomplishment after a win, so why would I hold on to feelings of anger after a loss? Rather than riding the emotional roller coaster of the results, I take joy in the process of watching the game.

This good-vibes-only approach may seem antithetical to traditional sports fanaticism, but it becomes a whole lot easier after interacting with the Celtics fans who get “mad online.”

I cringe every time I see a tweet calling Horford a traitor or crucifying Danny Ainge for not trading for Russell Westbrook because it’s abundantly clear that these posters don’t realize that their constant online animosity makes them appear foolish, ugly, and potentially unhinged.

I know social media can serve as an outlet for many, but I can confidently say that — absent some tactful or ironic self-deprecation — it is impossible to appear likable, smart, or cool while being mad online.

Beyond making yourself look like a jerk, engaging in sports anger doesn’t seem very fun. Why waste time insulting players or wallowing in the failures of yesteryear? Especially when the Green Teamer alternative of pivoting to optimism is so much more enjoyable? Rather than bemoaning the current state of the Celtics, get hopeful and happy by focusing on the possibility of future success.

Look how easy it is to re-frame the conversation: The Celtics’ championship window did not close; it merely moved farther away.

This is the brilliance of Ainge’s post-Big Three rebuilding effort. While the short-term bet on Kyrie clearly failed, the Celtics still have multiple paths for acquiring top-of-the-line talent needed to win a title. As this past offseason taught us, player contracts no longer have meaning. The Celtics have the combination of players and assets to pursue the next disgruntled superstar.

Need something more tangible to root for? Look no further than Tatum. Somehow still only 19 years old entering his third NBA season, Tatum is the Celtics’ best chance at developing a superstar. If he can stop taking so many long twos, put his head down and get to the rim, and thus improve his efficiency, he has a chance to take a major leap this season. He clearly has all the physical tools, so it will be fascinating to see if he can adjust his approach and take his place as the best player on the team.

Although he has a lower ceiling than Tatum, Brown’s development is just as intriguing. Brown has clearly bought into the teachings of Leader Brad. Early on last season, he struggled with his role, shot, and Kyrie’s pseudo-intellectual nonsense. But he was able to control what he could control and commit to continuous improvement. As the season progressed and his shooting percentages steadily rose, Brown evolved into a better playmaker. (Also, his homicidal instinct to try and murder Giannis while dunking was the lone highlight of last year’s Bucks’ series.) This season, as he approaches restricted free agency with a larger role, Brown has the chance to grow into an All-Star.

Even if you don’t believe in the Celtics’ young core, this season will be exciting solely for the opportunity to see Walker in a winning environment. For eight seasons, Walker’s talent was wasted in Charlotte, where owner Michael Jordan was either unable or unwilling to put any talent around him. A 49-win season and second-round playoff exit was disastrous for the Celtics last year. For Walker, it would have been his greatest professional accomplishment. In strict contrast to Kyrie, Walker doesn’t have the hubris to believe that he or the team can simply flip the switch in the playoffs. I expect him to approach the season with an intensity and tenacity that will endear him to Boston fans who clearly enjoy rooting for “the little guy.”

If you need more convincing, you are probably one of the mad online individuals I described earlier, but let me try and quickly list all of the other reasons to get excited about the upcoming Celtics season.

You should savor every one of Smart’s winning plays and Brad’s ATOs. Look forward to Gordon Hayward returning to full health and reclaiming his talent. Be in awe of Robert “Time Lord” Williams’s combined love of jumping and insane leaping ability, and Tacko Fall’s size, and Semi Ojeleye’s thick, jacked frame. Laugh at Enes Kanter taking threes while doing his best to troll his enemies. Appreciate Carsen Edwards’s shot-making and meaty thighs, Vincent “La Grande Baguette” Poirier’s extravagant swagger, and Grant Williams’s love of passing and nerd culture.

Enjoy the process of watching a young team develop, outperform expectations, and learn how to win. And, if that doesn’t work out, remember to not get mad online and instead pivot to optimism and find the next thing to be excited about.