Here we go again.
Every year, it feels like Boston has to re-earn respect it already won. And every year, the outside noise doesn’t seem to match what’s actually on the roster. If the Celtics stay healthy, they can get to 50+ wins which would be good enough for a top-4 seed in the East. It’s not a reach. It’s the baseline.
People doubted them heading into last regular season too, and Boston still walked away as the 2-seed. I don’t see why this year plays out any differently.
So what actually went wrong last Playoffs? Because it wasn’t a talent problem. It was Embiid pulling off a surprise return at the worst possible time, Tatum missing a pivotal Game 7, and a few rotation decisions from Joe Mazzulla that, in hindsight, deserved more scrutiny. Strip those variables out and Boston’s floor looks a lot higher. I’d bet on them showing up as a real contender this time- not a team one bad week away from another early exit.
Now, about Paul George.
I think people are sleeping on him too, and not just as a name on the roster. Yes, his superstar days are behind him. But “not a superstar anymore” doesn’t mean “not valuable”- George is still an efficient, high-IQ, two-way contributor, and he’s chasing something he’s never had: a title. That kind of hunger, paired with his basketball IQ, tends to translate well in a locker room. I think he fits Boston’s culture, and I think he fits Mazzulla’s system, too.
The roster, on paper, is very good.
Starting five: Pritchard, White, George, Tatum, Queta
Bench: Conley, Scheierman, Hauser, Gonzalez, Robinson
That’s not even mentioning the likes of Walsh, Harper Jr. or Garza.
That’s not just talented- it’s deep, and depth is exactly what separates teams that survive a seven-game series from teams that don’t. Put it all together and I wouldn’t be shocked if Boston quietly outplays the hype around the Knicks and 76ers this season.
Nobody’s talking about the Celtics right now. That might be exactly the position they want to be in.