On June 17, 2024, the Boston Celtics won their 18th championship, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games and ending a 16-year drought. The Celtics, who had a 64win regular season, breezed through the playoffs with a 16-3 record, defeating every team they faced in five games or fewer. This dominant performance solidified their place among the most formidable teams in NBA history. After experiencing a loss in the NBA Finals and another in the Eastern Conference Finals in previous years, GM Brad Stevens recognized that changes were necessary. In the offseason, several roster moves were made, including trading longtime fan-favorite Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis and sending Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon to acquire Jrue Holiday. Both Porzingis and Holiday played pivotal roles in the Celtics’ 2024 championship run. Holiday became their premier defender and an efficient all-around scorer, while Porzingis, with his size and three-point shooting ability, expanded the offense and created new possibilities.
Entering the 2025 season, the Celtics quickly emerged as the early favorites to win the championship again and become the first repeat champions since the 2017-2018 Golden State Warriors. With a proven and dominant roster, GM Stevens made minimal changes, ensuring the core group remained intact. A few contract extensions were handed out to key players, including Jayson Tatum, who became the highest-paid player in NBA history with a fiveyear, $315 million extension. The goal was clear: maximize the championship window by keeping the team together for as long as possible.
While the Celtics stayed strong, other teams made significant moves to close the gap. The Knicks, Cavaliers, and Thunder all bolstered their rosters to challenge Boston. The season started promisingly, with Boston going 21-5 in its first 26 games. However, the team then hovered just above .500 over the next 22 games. Although the Celtics have won 14 of their last 17 games, they haven’t retained their previous dominance: finishing with 64 wins. Whether this is due to championship fatigue or a lack of intensity during the regular season as they await the playoffs remains to be seen.
Injuries have also impacted the team, with Kristaps Porzingis playing in only 32 of the 64 games so far, and Jrue Holiday missing time due to a mallet finger injury. Porzingis plays a crucial role in stretching the floor, providing a presence in the paint, and spacing the offense with his three-point shooting. His ability to open up the court for teammates makes the Celtics’ offense far more versatile. Holiday’s defense and veteran leadership are also critical to the team’s success. If both players can stay healthy, especially for the playoffs, the Celtics will have a much stronger chance of defending their title.
Another factor in the team’s inconsistent play this season has been its increased reliance on three-pointers. While the Celtics have been a three-point-heavy team since Joe Mazzulla took over as head coach in 2022, they have taken this approach to new heights this season, attempting nearly 48 threes per game—on pace to break the NBA record—up from 43 last season. While teams that attempt the most three-pointers statistically win 69% of the time, this strategy also makes shooting slumps even more damaging. Many of the Celtics’ losses this season were the result of a mid-season shooting slump in January, during which they blew multiple double-digit leads. If a similar slump happens in the playoffs, the team may struggle to recover against elite competition.
However, the Celtics still hold one major advantage over their toughest competition: playoff experience. While Cleveland and Oklahoma City have talented rosters, their cores are still relatively inexperienced in the postseason. In contrast, the Celtics are stacked with veterans who have made multiple deep playoff runs and know what it takes to win a championship. That experience could prove to be the deciding factor in high-pressure moments.
At 46-18, the Celtics remain on pace for 59 wins—one of the best seasons in franchise history—and are capable of beating any team on any given night. While their play has been volatile at times, if they can stay healthy and catch a few lucky breaks, Boston fans may soon be celebrating banner No. 19. Stay tuned to see what happens!