The Boston Celtics unveiled their mindset because the reigning NBA champions three weeks in the past, setting the report straight that no matter what occurred final season, the 2024-25 marketing campaign is a totally new slate so the Larry O’Brien Trophy is up for grabs.
No kidding, proper?
Positive, the Celtics have the — on paper — most gifted roster within the league, till confirmed in any other case. Everybody, moreover dispensable position gamers Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk, had been retained and it value the franchise over $500 million — on high of the $286 million it saved to re-sign Jaylen Brown, and $60 million for Kristaps Porzingis, plus the $135 million given to Jrue Vacation. Boston spared no expense as soon as the key method solid was found, a league-leading 64 wins had been logged and Banner 18 was as soon as and for all captured. However these credit don’t switch.
There have been solely 13 groups in NBA historical past to win back-to-back titles, which alone, places in perspective simply how immensely tough it’s to achieve that uncommon feat. The Golden State Warriors, within the prime of their dynasty, had been the final crew to take action and that roster had Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant.
The Celtics aren’t permitting the champagne showers, duck boat parade celebration or upcoming banner-raising ceremony to cloud their perspective. Boston was final season’s champion, not this season’s — but.
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“This crew, 2024-25 Celtics, just isn’t nice but,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla stated at Saturday’s follow, per CLNS Media. “Like, that’s it proper there. Do we now have the potential to be? Sure. But, the key phrase, ‘But,’ is essential. Do we now have nice expertise? Sure. Do we now have nice gamers? Sure. Do we now have an important basis? Sure. Is that this 24-25 crew nice but? No, as a result of we haven’t been in a recreation. It simply takes time and each season is totally different and assuming that you just’re simply going to — what we are saying earlier than — doing this previously doesn’t essentially imply that is going to work now. So we now have to say open-minded to going to one thing totally different.”
Mazzulla continued: “I believe that humility of understanding we now have to get higher is what retains us, the method of an earthly (season), enjoyable.”
Boston entered final season with all of the motivation on this planet to eventually recover from the hump. The Japanese Convention had been up for the taking, and with Celtics killer Jimmy Butler down earlier than each events crossed paths within the first spherical, Boston proved that its largest lesson — enjoying right down to lesser competitors — had been realized. The Celtics dusted not solely the Miami Warmth, however the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers and Western Convention champion Dallas Mavericks with a near-spotless 16-3 postseason run earlier than formally taking on because the NBA’s most championed franchise.
Though Banner 18 validated Brown and co-star Jayson Tatum as winners at ages 27 and 26, respectively, what’s working to their benefit this upcoming season is the motivation issue as soon as once more. Due to this fact, even with a hoop on their palms, Brown and Tatum have an edge and a chip on their shoulders to show that 2023-24 wasn’t a fluke, however the begin of one thing larger within the works.
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Like final season, every little thing’s in place and up for grabs for the Jays.
“The 12 months earlier than once we misplaced (to the Miami Warmth within the convention finals), it was form of just like the lowest of lows for me,” Brown stated eventually month’s crew media day. “I really feel prefer it was my accountability once we misplaced in Recreation 7 and fell quick. After which now it seems like we gained and it was the identical form of deal however simply the alternative finish of the spectrum. … It sort of feels weirdly, oddly sufficient the identical. So I’m excited simply to begin the journey once more. Might’ve used one other couple of weeks however no complaints right here. I’d relatively finish each season like we did final 12 months so let’s get it going.”
Brown spent a busy offseason launching a brand new sneaker model (741), a nonprofit (Boston XChange) and a debut single (Simply Do It), however the end result of these off-court ventures — plus being the reigning NBA Finals MVP — didn’t make up for one factor: the Olympics. USA Basketball snubbed Brown, who expressed curiosity in enjoying throughout final 12 months’s media day, by including teammate Derrick White to interchange a withdrawn Kawhi Leonard (knee) with little-to-no rationalization.
Tatum, who did play for Crew USA, additionally didn’t create many fond recollections with Steve Kerr, Erik Spoelstra, Grant Hill and the remainder of the teaching workers regardless of being a member of their gold medal-winning roster. Tatum was a DNP twice, averaged 17.7 minutes by means of six appearances and barely had alternatives to contribute — contemporary off signing a record-large $315 million supermax contract with the Celtics this summer time.
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“I believe the vital factor is being pleased with what we did final season and final 12 months was superb,” Tatum stated on media day. “We had been an unimaginable crew and we made historical past. And this 12 months, not essentially feeling like we now have to defend the title however we now have to go win it. We had a goal on our again the final couple of years. Nothing has modified in that facet. If something, we all know how nice it felt to win and what it took and we’re making an attempt to win once more. Not essentially defend it, however identical to anyone else we wanna go win a championship.”
If the remainder of the league is banking on an injured Kristaps Porzingis, flustered Brown and Tatum or looming possession change issues to cease the Celtics, it gained’t take lengthy for Boston to kick these notions to the aspect and catapult itself to the highest — once more.
