NBA New Season Preview: Boston Celtics – Core Roster Remains Intact as Tatum & Brown Aim to Defend Title

The new NBA season is about to begin, and today we introduce you to one of the Eastern Conference’s elite teams – the Boston Celtics.

Review of Last Season:

Last season, the Celtics were centered around Tatum and Brown, with Holiday, White, Porzingis, and Horford in supporting roles. They achieved a record of 64 wins and 18 losses in the regular season, ranking first in the league. In the playoffs, the Celtics demonstrated their formidable strength, avenging their loss to the Heat 4-1 in the first round, eliminating the Cavaliers 4-1 in the semi-finals, sweeping the Pacers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, and ultimately defeating the Mavericks 4-1 in the NBA Finals to claim the championship. This was the Celtics’ 18th championship title, more than any other team in history.

Offseason Changes:

The Celtics had a quiet offseason this year, but they retained their core roster, which is perhaps the best choice for defending champions. They renewed White’s contract for four years at $125.9 million, extended Tatum’s contract for five years at $315 million, kept Hauser for four years at $45 million, renewed Kornet’s contract for three years at $7.18 million, and signed Lonnie Walker on a training camp deal, almost like a lottery ticket. Compared to last season’s lineup, the Celtics only lost Brissett and Mykhailiuk. The core team remains centered around Tatum, Brown, White, Holiday, Porzingis/Horford, with no significant weaknesses on either end of the court.

Staying the course is the Celtics’ summer strategy, given that they are the reigning champions and there’s no need to seek change actively. It’s worth noting that since 2018, no team has managed to defend their title, and the Celtics might have a real chance to break this trend. The core roster is still intact, and both Tatum and Brown are still young.

Outlook for the New Season:

The roster remains stable, and coach Mazzulla has proven himself by leading the team to the championship. There’s no need to worry about Tatum, Brown, Holiday, and White; they will likely continue their form from last season. Additionally, Tatum could rediscover his touch, as he was overlooked during the Olympics and needs to prove himself; Brown won the FMVP and was also overlooked by the US men’s basketball team during the offseason, which may motivate him to further improve.

However, there are some concerns at the center position. Porzingis’ health, as he suffered an injury during the playoffs last season, needs to be ensured. The other interior player, Horford, will turn 39 next season, and whether he can maintain his form from last season will be crucial. After all, in the upcoming season, the Celtics will face Eastern Conference rivals like Embiid and Towns, and it remains to be seen if Tillman can step up.

Predicted Starting Lineup:

Holiday, White, Brown, Tatum, Porzingis

Predicted Regular Season Ranking:

1st or 2nd in the East.