After falling short in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics made a big splash in the offseason, drafting Jayson Tatum with the third overall pick in the 2017 draft, inking All-Star forward Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $128 million max deal, and acquiring Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, a 2018 first-round pick, and a 2020 second-round pick.
The 2017-2018 season, which initially had shown so much promise, quickly turned as Hayward suffered a gruesome injury, dislocating his left ankle and fracturing his left tibia just five minutes into his Celtics debut.
With just four games remaining in the regular season, the Celtics were dealt another blow, as it was announced that Irving would need surgery on his left knee, forcing him to miss the playoffs.
Despite adjusting on the fly for most of the season, the Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell to LeBron James and the Cavaliers in seven games despite their new stars being sidelined.
Entering the 2018-19 season fully healthy, the Celtics had championship aspirations. The C’s entered the season with the second-shortest odds to win the Finals, behind just the Golden State Warriors.
However, it was a frustrating and disappointing season for the Celtics, as they finished 49-33, fourth in the Eastern Conference, and were embarrassingly bounced by the Milwaukee Bucks in just five games in the second round of the playoffs.
Nothing went to plan for that Celtics team, and in an interview with "Podcast P With Paul George,” Hayward was candid about why things didn’t work out for the loaded team, all originating from everyone on the roster being more focused on themselves than the team.
“In my eyes, it was just, we all had too many agendas, and the agenda to win the whole thing was not the main one,” Hayward told George. “Not to blame anyone either because I think it was all human nature.”
“I’m coming back from where the last season that I played I was an All-Star, so I’m trying to prove that I’m still an All-Star. Kyrie was hurt the year before too, and had to miss the playoffs. So he’s trying to prove this is still his team. And then you’ve got JT and Jaylen and Terry who are coming off where they’re all starting and make it to the Eastern Conference Finals the year before, they’re all trying to prove like – we’ve arrived.”
Flash forward to the present, this Celtics’ team is the polar opposite of the one that went up in flames nearly half a decade ago.
“2018-2019 was a long time ago, believe it or not, it seems like yesterday. But I mean it blew up. We had guys leave and so on, and we didn’t take it all the way. So I can't disagree with him [Hayward],” Celtics’ owner Wyc Grousbeck told WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show when asked about Hayward’s comments. “But today, I do feel like this team is connected. Like my old sport years ago, which was rowing, everybody is in the same group going in the right direction.”
Pairing Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday with Tatum, Brown, Al Horford, and Derrick White gave Boston undoubtedly the best top six in the NBA. Entering the season, the group had combined for 3,707 career starts, including the postseason.
Unlike the 2018-19 team, the 2023-24 Celtics are not focused on personal agendas. Instead, this team has bought into the idea of sacrifice, collectively focused on one goal – raising Banner 18.
Although it takes every individual on the roster to buy into that philosophy, Grousbeck credits Brown and Tatum in particular for spearheading the open-mindedness.
"I’d like to answer by saying it's everybody because it really is. That would be an easy way out of the question,” said Grousbeck when asked about the chemistry. “But the first names that came to mind when you asked what's leading it or driving it, I really did think of Jaylen [Brown] and Jayson [Tatum]. I mean, look at Jaylen, in the offseason he signed a big contract, to say the least. That's a lot of pressure. It’s a great situation for someone to be in, but it’s also, he's come back and he's playing hands down the best basketball of his life and he was already an All-Star."
"He wants to win. He knows the goal, he buys in completely to the goal,” Grousbeck added. “He and Jayson are leading this team to cohesive, highly rated offense, highly rated defense, very connected. I put it first and foremost with Jayson and Jaylen that they both stepped up and said they are willing to do what's necessary to keep piling up the wins."
While there is still a long road ahead for Boston as they look to reach a level of success not witnessed in Boston basketball since 2008, the early results are promising.
"These next couple of months will say a lot. But right now, you have to give this team an A,” Grousbeck said.
As long as this team can remain committed to the idea of sacrifice and stay healthy, few obstacles that can impede their success.
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