It seems like everybody is already counting Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics out next year. They suffered a first-round playoff collapse against the Philadelphia 76ers and then traded Jaylen Brown to them just a couple of months later, the rest of the conference is climbing up the ladder, and they still have some serious roster concerns (bench scoring, backcourt depth, and Paul George is now their No. 2 option).
But Mazzulla and the Celtics have been in this position before. Just last year, everybody expected them to, at the very least, miss the playoffs. Jayson Tatum had just suffered an Achilles injury and was going to miss at least most of the season. Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet all departed. And their roster looked like a shell of the one that won it all in 2024.
The Celtics ended up finishing the season with a 56-26 record and earned the No. 2 seed in the East.
Just because they did it once doesn't automatically mean they'll do it again, but the Celtics have exceeded expectations in this current regime before. And people may need to think twice before they count them out again.
There's a lot to like about the Celtics' outlook next season
You can say what you will about the Brown trade (even though I don't hate it anymore and am starting to see the vision, I still don't love the move), but it didn't crush the Celtics. They should still be a really good team next season and right back in the title picture.
Tatum will be Boston's undisputed No. 1 option for the first time in his career. And with how much he elevates everybody else because of his gravity and elite playmaking skills, the rest of the team should get a huge boost from him having the ball in his hands more.
Plus, even though the way he got to Boston wasn't ideal, PG13 is a great fit in Mazzulla's system. He is an elite catch-and-shoot player from beyond the arc, and he should complement Tatum's game because he can make an impact everywhere on the court without needing the ball in his hands (though Celtics fans did see firsthand in the playoffs that he can still step up when needed).
Payton Pritchard, who was fantastic as a starter for most of last season, is likely about to take on the biggest role of his career. Boston's center situation is intriguing with the continued development of Neemias Queta and the arrival of Mitchell Robinson. Derrick White should be in for a bounce-back year. And guys like Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman should be in line for a major jump in production.
This isn't the same Celtics team that won 64 games and practically dominated their way to a championship just two years ago, but it's still pretty good. Fans shouldn't be quick to dismiss them just yet. They have what it takes to surprise some people, and they'll be able to prove that in a big way next season.
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