After an offseason of significant change — one that saw Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis traded in an effort to get under the NBA’s dreaded second apron, Luke Kornet and Al Horford depart in free agency, and Jayson Tatum sidelined indefinitely while recovering from a ruptured Achilles — five of Boston’s top nine minute-getters from the past two seasons (including the 2024 championship run) were no longer on the floor entering the year.
With that level of roster turnover came diminished expectations. Boston’s preseason win total was set at 41.5, its lowest since the 2014–15 season.
Fast forward to now, and Boston sits at 29–17, second in the Eastern Conference, tied for the fourth-most wins in the league, with the third-best point differential, the third-best net rating, and the second-most efficient offense. They allow the second-fewest points per game.
That preseason projection? The Celtics are on pace to shatter it, tracking toward 52 wins.
By the numbers, the Celtics carry the statistical profile of a championship-contending team, a reality few anticipated heading into the season.
In fact, much of the early conversation surrounding Boston centered on whether the franchise should tank during what was labeled externally as a “gap year.”
However, after spending two seasons with the organization and seeing its day-to-day operations and mental makeup, Holiday never viewed that narrative as an accurate characterization.
“Not that surprised. I knew that they’d do well. Knowing the type of determination that this coaching staff and organization has,” he said. “Being with this team for a couple of years and knowing who they are and how they prepare, I figured that they would be good. And then obviously, knowing Jaylen, I feel like he takes a lot of things personally. He doesn’t accept a lot, especially when it comes to being bad.”
Having experienced the team’s culture firsthand — and winning a championship alongside many of the veterans and the coaching staff led by Joe Mazzulla — Holiday knew the Celtics weren’t the type to simply go through the motions.
“I think people counted them out as a team,” he said. “Not just Jaylen. I know Payton, Sam, Neemi, Joe, and the whole coaching staff. When people say that they can’t do something, they prove them wrong.”
He was right.
The Celtics were well aware of the discourse surrounding them. The assumption that this season represented a step back or a temporary pause. But inside the locker room, that idea never took hold. Instead, doubt became motivation, skepticism became fuel, and a team many expected to fade has spent the season proving it never planned to.
“It definitely motivated a lot of us,” said Pritchard. “To hear people say this is going to be a gap year. That, like, because we traded away a lot of players, and JT being out, that like we weren’t capable. So definitely gave some motivation.”
Jaylen Brown, who is averaging 29.6 points on 48.3 percent shooting from the field and 36.2 percent from three, along with 6.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists — one of only three players in the league posting that stat line, alongside Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokic — has particularly relished this opportunity to prove himself.
“I take everything personally, lowkey. I’m always looking for something. But yeah, I’ve felt like I’ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team. And I think, now, we’re getting to see that a little bit. What exactly I was capable of, and what I was sacrificing,” Brown said. “I think, before, maybe it wasn’t so obvious. I think now, being able to be at the helm of things, and us being the second seed in the east, versus last year we finished second seed in the east – it’s almost been no drop off with four players, five players that are essentially gone. The work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has been great.”
Internally, the Celtics have never wavered from their goal of competing for a championship. Armed with a championship-winning core and an established coaching staff led by Mazzulla, that standard has remained unchanged regardless of outside noise.
“We play for the Celtics,” Neemias Queta said last week. “Anything other than a championship, it’s not going to go. We’re not happy.”
The Celtics, who have placed an increased emphasis on film study this season, have prided themselves on being the smarter, harder-playing team. That preparation was a staple during Holiday’s time in Boston, and one he believes has continued to drive their success.
“I think how they prepare is a specific way to them. You can just tell by how Joe is. How he talks to people and how he is as a person,” Holiday said. “He does things his way, and you’ve seen his way work. So knowing that, having him and the coaching staff here, and how they prepare, you knew they’d be good."
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