In recent years, the Warriors were the ultimate measuring stick for the Celtics. Every matchup brought back haunting memories of the 2022 NBA Finals, sparking endless debates about whether Boston had finally exorcised those demons.
Facing Golden State always meant more—it was a game the Celtics got up for, a chance to prove they could reach the same champion status that brought the Warriors league-wide respect.
But things have changed. Now, Boston is the team the rest of the league, including Golden State, envies. With Banner 18 now hanging proudly above the parquet, the Celtics have become the new barometer for success—the team others look to in order to prove they belong in the conversation as contenders.
“We know who Boston is,” Stephen Curry said following his Warriors’ 118-112 win over the Celtics on Wednesday night. “I know they are missing JB and Porzingis, but it felt like it was a good test. They’ve been playing well despite those guys [being out]. They have a certain style that we haven’t seen. Tatum is playing awesome, D-White is playing awesome. Defensively, to try to match up with them was great – and that’s an environment that’s tough to win in, no matter who is playing. Obviously, we know what happened last year. It was a great test.”
“It’s a statement,” Buddy Hield added. “If we don’t win this game, everybody says, ‘Oh, they ain’t played nobody.’ So you gotta come make a statement, right? On the road – that’s how the basketball world talks.”
In years past, a loss like Wednesday’s would have been met with considerable frustration. A 40-point first half, primarily due to failure to match Golden State’s physicality. Twelve turnovers leading to 16 points for the Warriors. Seven offensive rebounds surrendered in the fourth quarter. Outscored 32-20 over the final 7:03, ultimately losing a clutch game. None of this would have boded well for Boston.
However, the reactions are different now.
“It was a good game between two really good teams,” Jayson Tatum said after the loss. “Brad Stevens used to say, ‘Every game counts as one.’ You want to win every game you play. We’re no different. If we were to win tonight, we still gotta play on Friday. If we lose tonight, we still gotta play on Friday. That’s the beauty of the NBA. We play 82 games.”
Holding the title of reigning champions brings with it a unique confidence—one that the Warriors know all too well.
“It’s an interesting dynamic when you play on a team that wins a championship. I think the next year, there is a different level of confidence that you have,” Kerr said. “That’s what I see with Boston right now. They’ve earned that. They’ve climbed the mountain. They know how good they are.”
“Right now, you are playing with ultimate confidence and with house money. You are the champs,” added Curry. “You know you are going to get everybody’s best shot because you are now the hunted, but usually, you overcome that with an identity that you know has paid off at the highest level.”
The Celtics have discovered that identity, the same one that propelled them to a dominant 64-win season and brought the city its first NBA championship in 16 years last season. It’s also the basis for their +11.8 average point differential this year, despite the setback on Wednesday.
In many ways, it mirrors what we saw from those Golden State teams during their dynastic run—a motion offense that is visually captivating and can easily overpower a defense. We caught a glimpse of this in the third quarter when Boston exploded for 41 points, nailing 10 three-pointers. Eight of their 14 makes in that frame (57.1%) were assisted.
“They’re a legitimate five-out, which makes them almost impossible to guard in the half-court given the speed and the strength of Jaylen, Jayson, Jrue, and Derrick,” said Kerr. “When you have that much ground to cover, and also you have to cover the paint, that’s a tall task. We’ve always been different. We’ve always been more top-heavy with our shooting.”
That sense of confidence runs deep. Especially when the players truly believe in the process and the scheme. While it doesn’t justify losses, it certainly allows for a broader margin for error, especially for a team that’s navigating the challenges of being without two All-NBA caliber players like Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis.
It’s a team that has now earned trust and the benefit of the doubt.
And the good news is a core component of that championship identity has been avoiding prolonged slumps. The Celtics have never lost more than two consecutive games and have only dropped back-to-back contests four times since the start of last season. Including the playoffs, they were an impressive 17-4 after a loss last season. This season, they are 1-0 following a loss.
They'll have the chance to build on that success and get back in the win column when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.
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