The difficulty of winning a championship is often overlooked. That is what makes it so special. For years, Boston was spoiled. Twelve championships since the turn of the century are unprecedented.
In Boston, winning is ingrained, an expectation so deep-rooted it permeates every facet of the team. The pressure, as Jrue Holiday aptly described on the Draymond Green Show, is unparalleled. ‘Being in that Celtics green - the pressure. It’s different. All they talk about here is winning… The only thing that is important is winning.’
Compounding this pressure are the towering expectations of championship or bust. Such demands may seem daunting, but with the caliber of talent on the roster—Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Holiday, Derrick White, and Al Horford—it’s only fitting. Collectively, they boast an impressive resume of 16 All-Star appearances, five All-NBA selections, and seven All-Defensive teams.
The Celtics have teetered on the edge of greatness for over half a decade, with multiple Eastern Conference Finals appearances and a coveted trip to the NBA Finals in 2022. The hunger for that elusive championship fuels every player, coach, and fan alike.
Through the ups and downs, the criticisms of the Celtics have been relatively similar.
“They can’t learn from their mistakes.”
“They can’t get it done down the stretch.”
“Tatum and Brown can’t play together.”
“They don’t have that killer mentality.”
In the words of Tom Brady, these claims are “up for talk show debate,” and until Banner 18 hangs from the rafters at TD Garden, they’ll persist.
However, many fans would likely agree that this year feels different. The #DifferentHere slogan isn’t merely a marketing tactic; it’s a genuine belief shared by fans and players alike. The mistakes that plagued the Celtics in previous years, such as playing down to weaker opponents and enduring chronic lapses in focus, seem to be a thing of the past.
Of course, occasional setbacks still occur, as evidenced by recent examples like Monday night’s blown 30-point lead against Atlanta. Yet, such instances are part and parcel of navigating an 82-game season.
While the increased talent level certainly contributes to this improvement, the fundamental shift lies in the team’s mindset. If you have been following along with the Celtics or have done any reading on the team, you are likely all too familiar with this word. It’s a mantra repeated daily, reminiscent of the “ubuntu” back in 2008.
Powered by this mindset philosophy, the Celtics have been building good habits, and as the postseason looms, this will be instrumental to their success, as Holiday highlighted.
“In every series, in every playoff run, something goes to s—. You’ve gotta have a lot of luck, a lot of health, and stuff going your way to get to where you want to get to. But I think right now, our mindset has been really good. Obviously, being there and experiencing it. Me being able to, and then, even them making it to the Finals and losing. Experiencing that. Experiencing what it takes to get there. I think that’s been really good. Even when we’re up double-digits games, or even when we’re playing against the worst teams in the league, our mindset is to win this game. Go for the kill.”
“I think that’s going to take us and carry us over the top whenever we get to that point.”
That’s an important perspective from Holiday, who won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. That championship insight is paramount, as evidenced by the fact that since 2000, only three teams have won the Finals without a prior champion on their roster.
The road ahead won’t be without its challenges, but how the Celtics weather the storm will define their journey. And in that journey, the power of mindset will be their guiding light.
Incentive check
With 10 games remaining in the regular season, now is an appropriate time to take a look at the potential incentives on the books for the Celtics. According to Spotrac, the Celtics have three incentive-based contracts: Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Jrue Holiday.
White appears to be in a favorable position to fulfill all of his incentives. The Colorado native is well on track to earn $500,000 for playing in 70 or more regular-season games and another $500,000 for making 185 three-pointers. He only needs to play four more games to reach the 70-game threshold and is just nine three-pointers away from hitting 185 over the remaining 10 games.
Considering he also has the most blocks amongst guards, totaling 84, good for 14th-most in the entire league, while posting a defensive rating of 109.2, top-12 among players with at least 50 games played, averaging at least 25 minutes, and fourth-best among guards meeting that criteria, White should be considered a lock for his second consecutive All-Defensive selection. First or second-team All-Defensive honors would earn him an additional $250,000. White reached the All-Defensive and games played bonus in 2023.
Holiday stands to earn $139,200 if he secures All-Defensive honors this season. Holiday’s defensive prowess is well-established, with five previous selections for the All-Defensive team over his 14-year career.
Additionally, Holiday is due $1,767,840 in likely-to-be-earned stats, while $4,401,040 is likely to be unearned. Notably, on April 1, Holiday becomes eligible to sign a contract extension with the Celtics.
Finally, Brown can earn up to $3,321,428 in incentives this season. The All-NBA wing signed a five-year $304 million supermax extension over the offseason, which is fully guaranteed, however, it doesn’t kick in until next season. All of his incentives are likely to be earned.
A good time for this reminder
As the postseason draws near, one statistic sure to garner scrutiny is the Celtics’ volume of three-point attempts. Boston has showcased dominance from beyond the arc, boasting an impressive +819 scoring advantage on the perimeter this season.
Considering the Celtics are 3-8 record shooting below 30% from deep, fans have been quick to criticize the team’s reliance on high-volume three-point shooting.
Yet, the Celtics rarely have such poor shooting nights. They shoot below 30% from beyond the arc roughly once every six games, which shouldn’t raise alarm bells, especially considering the playoff series’ seven-game format.
Moreover, the team’s success from long range has often proven decisive, as evidenced by their remarkable 44-4 record when they make more threes than their opponents.
After the Celtics’ win over the Bulls Saturday night, a game in which they buried 21 triples and outscored Chicago 63-27 on the perimeter, former NBA Coach of the Year and current NBA TV analyst Sam Mitchell compared the Celtics to the old dynasty Warriors.
“It reminds me of Golden State when they were winning,” Mitchell said. “Everybody tried to outshoot them, and I’d sit back and laugh. How are you going to outshoot two of the greatest shooters ever?”
“This team is loaded with talent, and the number one thing that they do is play to their strengths. They know who they are and what they are, and they don’t deviate,” Mitchell added. “The thing about it is, in order to beat them, you’re going to have to create a different style of play.”
One of the Celtics’ biggest strengths lies in their ability to shoot the lights out, a skill that has even drawn comparisons to the Warriors from none other than Stephen Curry himself.
“They’re hitting 10 threes in the first quarter. That’s what we used to do to teams,” Curry said after the Celtics knocked down 25 three-pointers en route to a 52-point blowout win in early March. “That’s kind of demoralizing.”
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