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 speak in regards to the Celtics possibilities of repeating.
First the excellent news: Boston will convey again their whole core subsequent 12 months. 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 formulation 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 folks wish 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 highway gained’t be simple: For one factor the competitors goes to get higher. Within the East we will’t rely on the opposite staff’s harm woes once more and out West the Nuggets, Wolves, or Thunder might show to be a more durable matchup than the Mavericks. Talking of harm woes, the Celtics will likely be monitoring Kristaps Porzingis’ well being all summer season. 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 must navigate ever tightening restrictions from the CBA, so tweaks across the edges will likely be more durable and more durable to hit on.
So how are you guys feeling in regards to the highway 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 harm bug hit the opposite groups, I used to be sure we’d get via the East. Nonetheless, there’s a superb probability all of those groups gained’t be as injured subsequent 12 months. Philly ought to be stronger behind Embiid and Maxey and with their cap house they’ll 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 highway to the Finals will likely be more durable as a result of different groups will likely be more healthy and I don’t see Boston dropping solely three video games throughout all the playoffs.
Sam LaFrance
I really feel like this staff has nearly as good of an opportunity as any to repeat. They gained’t be dropping any core items (perhaps Luke, hopefully not) and have the entire 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 12 months.
My largest concern must be well being. The obvious angle right here is Kristaps’ distinctive harm. He’s going to want surgical procedure and may have a “months-long” restoration course of, in accordance with Tim Bontemps. On prime of that, Boston is at the very least two guys who will likely be enjoying for Workforce USA on the Olympics. Jrue Vacation and Jayson Tatum are going to have their sturdiness examined this summer season. 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 ultimately, 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 tough… Until you performed with Invoice Russell, you most likely misplaced the final recreation of the season extra typically than you gained it.
However the C’s have nearly as good an opportunity as any staff just lately. In a league that’s drawing expertise from all around the world, two of the C’s belongings, chemistry and training are so vital. Uncooked expertise alone simply doesn’t lower it anymore.
That stated, these guys have to know they’re going to get everyone’s finest shot each evening. They have been one of the best 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 notice that the subsequent one will likely be as difficult in its means as this one was.
Ben Vallis
One of the vital disturbing features of the ‘23-’24 season was maintaining Kristaps Porzingis wholesome. The Celtics managed to realize that, after which promptly un-achieved it as quickly because the playoff began. Kristaps will now have offseason surgical procedure, and his well being will likely 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 better, whereas the Celtics are adorned with one more goal on their backs, this time that of defending champs.
Repeating is troublesome beneath one of the best of circumstances, and the Celtics don’t have any scarcity of restraints pulling them downward heading into 2025.
That stated, that is an exceptionally gifted roster with exponentially potent staff chemistry. In that sense, the championship standards stays because it was final 12 months; If wholesome, this staff ought to be enjoying in June.
Mike Dynon
Earlier than the opening recreation 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’ 12 months – they usually proved that it was.
Repeating is a bit totally different. Others have described a number of elements 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 unfastened the chorus, “What they gonna say now?” He positively heard and was fed up with the criticism that grew louder yearly that the Celtics didn’t win. Jaylen Brown actually 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, principally stress-free playoff run is fairly particular. However now that they’ve the trophy, will they nonetheless be determined? It’s human nature to chill out 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 must set the tone that they won’t settle for failure. No matter it takes, as a result of profitable once more is even more durable than profitable the primary time.
So, how assured am I? Barely much less assured than a 12 months in the past, however however maintaining my calendar open for one more 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 wanting 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 number one seed.
Certain the highway via the East will doubtless be much less harm fraught for these nearer tiered convention opponents: Philly, Milwaukee and New York. Nonetheless, Boston’s capability to defend at a supremely excessive stage and get good & nice appears to be like 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 Jap Convention counterparts.
We get to the Finals once more and it comes right down to a better of seven collection, I like our possibilities.
