Your Boston Celtics simply gained Banner 18. We are going to rejoice that for fairly a while, however the drive to Banner 19 has already began. So let’s discuss in regards to the Celtics probabilities of repeating.
First the excellent news: Boston will deliver again their whole core subsequent yr. That’s a luxurious that almost all title groups haven’t loved. That continuity will solely make this staff (which was already lapping the sector) much more formidable. They’ve a confirmed method on either side of the ball and now they’ll be getting into the season as confirmed champions. The collective weight falling off their shoulders will give them added confidence and swagger. Hey, it would even loosen them up a bit throughout these dry offensive stretches that individuals prefer to complain about a lot. They need to enter the season as favorites to win all of it once more.
With all that stated, the street gained’t be straightforward: For one factor the competitors goes to get higher. Within the East we are able to’t depend on the opposite staff’s damage woes once more and out West the Nuggets, Wolves, or Thunder might show to be a tougher matchup than the Mavericks. Talking of damage woes, the Celtics can be monitoring Kristaps Porzingis’ well being all summer time. Al Horford is seemingly ageless, however in some unspecified time in the future Father Time catches up with all males. Down the road Brad Stevens goes to should navigate ever tightening restrictions from the CBA, so tweaks across the edges can be tougher and tougher to hit on.
So how are you guys feeling in regards to the street to repeating?
Mark Aboyoun
I’m assured that the staff can repeat. All final season I used to be very assured that we’d make the Finals and when the damage bug hit the opposite groups, I used to be sure we’d get via the East. Nevertheless, there’s a great probability all of those groups gained’t be as injured subsequent yr. Philly needs to be stronger behind Embiid and Maxey and with their cap area they will purchase one other star. The Bucks didn’t have a wholesome Giannis in order that they’ll be a menace too, along with the Knicks, Pacers, and Warmth.
This postseason confirmed that matchups matter. Within the West nobody noticed the Mavs attending to the Finals, however they matched up effectively in opposition to most groups, till they bumped into Boston. Equally with the Nuggets, they confronted a Wolves staff that was a nasty matchup for them.
If Boston can keep wholesome, particularly KP, there aren’t many groups that present a nasty matchup for us. The street to the Finals can be tougher as a result of different groups can be more healthy and I don’t see Boston dropping solely three video games throughout your entire playoffs.
Sam LaFrance
I really feel like this staff has pretty much as good of an opportunity as any to repeat. They gained’t be dropping any core items (possibly Luke, hopefully not) and have all the major guys locked up, not solely via subsequent season, however lengthy sufficient to the place their impending deal gained’t be looming above the staff all yr.
My largest concern needs to be well being. The obvious angle right here is Kristaps’ distinctive damage. He’s going to want surgical procedure and could have a “months-long” restoration course of, in accordance with Tim Bontemps. On prime of that, Boston is taking a look at at the least two guys who can be enjoying for Crew USA on the Olympics. Jrue Vacation and Jayson Tatum are going to have their sturdiness examined this summer time. The Olympics don’t wrap up till early August, in order that they’ll have, what, a month off earlier than coaching camp? To not point out that Derrick White could also be becoming a member of them if Kawhi Leonard drops out.
This core has spent the previous a number of seasons enjoying deep into the spring. I’m not rooting for it, however finally, fatigue does catch up. Hopefully Tatum and Jaylen Brown are nonetheless younger sufficient the place that gained’t be felt as a lot.
Wealthy Jensen
Repeating is difficult… Until you performed with Invoice Russell, you in all probability misplaced the final sport of the season extra typically than you gained it.
However the C’s have pretty much as good an opportunity as any staff just lately. In a league that’s drawing expertise from everywhere in the world, two of the C’s belongings, chemistry and training are so necessary. Uncooked expertise alone simply doesn’t minimize it anymore.
That stated, these guys have to know they’re going to get everyone’s finest shot each evening. They have been the most effective staff within the East earlier than their playoff foes suffered accidents, so well being of the remainder of the East isn’t an enormous concern for me.
They should understand that the subsequent one can be as difficult in its approach as this one was.
Ben Vallis
One of the irritating points of the ‘23-’24 season was conserving Kristaps Porzingis wholesome. The Celtics managed to attain that, after which promptly un-achieved it as quickly because the playoff began. Kristaps will now have offseason surgical procedure, and his well being can be a lingering concern all through the season. Moreover, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Vacation, who’ve simply performed effectively into the month of June, will now undertake a full Olympic Basketball marketing campaign. They’ll start the ‘24-’25 season with little time to relaxation and get well, whereas the Celtics are adorned with one more goal on their backs, this time that of defending champs.
Repeating is tough underneath the most effective of circumstances, and the Celtics don’t have any scarcity of restraints pulling them downward heading into 2025.
That stated, that is an exceptionally proficient roster with exponentially potent staff chemistry. In that sense, the championship standards stays because it was final yr; If wholesome, this staff needs to be enjoying in June.
Mike Dynon
Earlier than the opening sport final October, I pinned a tweet with my predictions: 61 wins, prime seed, Banner 18. And, even higher with 64 wins, all of it got here true. I merely had full confidence that 2024 was the Celtics’ yr – they usually proved that it was.
Repeating is a bit completely different. Others have described a number of components that would sabotage the chase for back-to-back banners, however the largest impediment is more likely to be: Can the Celtics once more encourage themselves to win?
As quickly because the confetti began to fly, Jayson Tatum let free the chorus, “What they gonna say now?” He positively heard and was fed up with the criticism that grew louder yearly that the Celtics did not win. Jaylen Brown definitely felt it too. They and all their teammates knew that they needed to win the gold trophy. They have been determined, and it confirmed of their dominant season. A 16-3, largely stress-free playoff run is fairly particular. However now that they’ve the trophy, will they nonetheless be determined? It’s human nature to loosen up a bit.
Joe Mazzulla has excelled in motivating these gamers and extracting from them their finest performances. Joe must do it once more, and the Jays have to set the tone that they won’t settle for failure. No matter it takes, as a result of profitable once more is even harder than profitable the primary time.
So, how assured am I? Barely much less assured than a yr in the past, however nonetheless conserving my calendar open for an additional duck boat parade subsequent June.
Steve Hooper
This title run ought to spotlight the truth that turning into the primary seed is really the higher hand within the East, from a matchup perspective, the expertise drop off is actual.
Boston was 14 wins forward of the second place New York Knicks in 2023-24. Even when Boston fall in need of the epic win differential and lodge maybe 58 or 59 wins subsequent season, that ought to nonetheless place them within the field seat to take the #1 seed.
Certain the street via the East will seemingly be much less damage fraught for these nearer tiered convention opponents: Philly, Milwaukee and New York. Nevertheless, Boston’s capability to defend at a supremely excessive degree and get good & nice seems to be from past the three-point line evening in and evening out, ought to as soon as once more give them the sting over all their Japanese Convention counterparts.
We get to the Finals once more and it comes all the way down to a better of seven collection, I like our possibilities.
