Boston hosted a championship celebration for the rival team for the second consecutive season. Following a title-clinching Game 6 victory, the Golden State Warriors raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June 2022 on the parquet floor of the TD Garden.
The Miami Heat stopped the Boston Celtics from making it to the Finals for the second time in four years in late May of this year. Boston was hoping to become the first NBA club to win a seven-game series after falling behind 3-0 in the Eastern Conference finals.
We are aware that this year presented a unique chance. Following the Celtics’ Game 7 defeat to Miami, All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum stated, “We just came up short.” It’s not as though we lack the ability or talent.
“We act as
For many years, the Celtics have been among the most skilled teams in the NBA. Based on research from ESPN Stats & Information, Boston has won more regular-season games (349) than any other club save the Milwaukee Bucks and more playoff games (61) than any other team save the Warriors since the 2016–17 season began.
Over those seven seasons, the Celtics have participated in 112 playoff games. This is the result of multiple long and exhausting postseason campaigns, which have included four conference finals trips and the 2022 Finals.
However, no NBA team in history has played in more postseason games during a seven-season stretch without taking home a championship. Boston made two of its biggest offseason moves to help address that.
Stretch big man Kristaps Porzingis was acquired by the Celtics in June as part of a three-team trade that also sent Marcus Smart, the previous Defensive Player of the Year and Boston’s player with the longest contract, to the Memphis Grizzlies. Then, only a few days after Jrue Holiday had arrived in Portland as part of Milwaukee’s acquisition of Damian Lillard, Boston acquired him on the eve of training camp.
Due to the changes, Boston now has unmatched versatility on both ends of the court. Coach Joe Mazzulla can now use a top-six rotation that offers excellent floor spacing and other options for late-game situations without compromising defense.
These actions also represented the fact that the Celtics’ strike is now necessary due to the difficulties posed by the new collective bargaining agreement in the NBA.
“There’s a lot of excitement,” Derrick White told ESPN. “A championship is what we’re focusing on, especially with Jrue and KP and how close we’ve been every year since I’ve been here.”