BOSTON — Three years ago, the Boston Celtics were on the cusp of a championship but fell just short. A major coaching change ensued, and they were thrown back into the fire. Two years ago, the Celtics were left heartbroken at TD Garden by a flurry of Caleb Martin threes and a symphony of Jimmy Butler heroics. Two huge roster additions later, they were back to business.
One year ago: Glory. After 16 years, the Celtics finally climbed back up to the NBA’s mountaintop, securing Banner 18. The following summer, virtually nothing changed. Now, staring down a chance at making more history, they are tasked with reascending the same mountain that they fought vigorously to climb last season.
So, what’s changed?
On a granular level, nothing. The Celtics are still the Celtics, and no matter the stage of the season, Celtics basketball is Celtics basketball. “The most important thing is not being distracted by what goes into winning, regardless of the situation,” Joe Mazzulla said after practice on Tuesday.
Nothing is different. “What wins in the preseason, what wins in the regular season, what wins in the playoffs, it's all the same stuff,” said Mazzulla. “It's just the level of mentality that you do it with and the discipline and the focus and the detail that you have on that."
Celtics are ready to battle against recent NBA history
No team has repeated as champions since the 2017 and 2018 Golden State Warriors. In fact, no champion has made it past the second round since then.
For some, it was injuries. Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson going down in the 2019 NBA Finals. LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ health issues in 2021. Khris Middleton being hampered throughout the 2022 campaign.
For others, it was roster changes. Kawhi Leonard leaving Toronto in 2020. The Denver Nuggets losing Bruce Brown and depending on young players in 2024. And in the case of the 2023 Warriors, internal dissension played a part.
Perhaps Jaylen Brown’s knee issue may play a part this season, but by and large, the Celtics have avoided those common tropes. And in Mazzulla’s three years as Boston’s head coach, the pre-playoff thought process has adapted.
“You start to develop a mentality, a shared mentality, about how you go about doing things the longer you're in it and the longer you're together with a core group of guys like we have,” he said. “At the same time, I think there's an understanding of, there's a level to what wins in the playoffs, and I think those are the margins and the process and the physicality and all the things that really isn't tactical.
“And then, each series presents a different challenge, and each series kind of takes on a life of its own, so you have to be ready to go to what you think is necessary on either side of the ball as that goes on.”
The luxury of talent helps the Celtics
Where Mazzulla has three years of experience as a leader in the postseason, other guys on the team have plenty more. Al Horford’s 17 years of NBA experience prior to this season have birthed 15 playoff runs.
His early years with the Atlanta Hawks included treacherous regular seasons, fighting to earn a spot in the playoffs. Later on came the amenity of a top seed in the conference. And now, the Play-In provides another added bonus.
“It's very different because, in the past, a lot of the times, you didn't have all this time to kind of prepare and get ready,” Horford said. “The context was just a little different. Early on in my years, to get to the playoffs, we had to exert ourselves quite a bit, play a lot of high minutes, just kind of work your way there. By the time you got there, you probably weren't feeling the best physically, and it was just about kind of pushing through and trying to do your best.
“The luxury that we've had here the last few years is that we've been in a really good position. We finished as one of the top seeds, and that kind of allows everybody on the team to kind of get recharged, get refocused, get ready. So, this time period, it's nice to prepare yourselves physically and mentally.”
A similar story can be told for Holiday, who made the playoffs in eight out of 15 seasons before this one. Yet, in his eyes, the Play-In gap only changes the timing. The approach is the same.
“I don't think it's changed,” said Holiday. “This is different, obviously, having the gap within the last two years, having the Play-In. But honestly, I think it's the same. I think it's, mentally, being prepared, getting your mental right, getting your sleep and your hydration, so that means physically being prepared as well.
“Doing whatever you can to get in here. And obviously, we won't play for about a week, so get in here and be ready for that first game to hit the floor running.”
This season is different. For everyone but Holiday, at least.
Boston has one of the most experienced rosters in the NBA when it comes to the postseason, but only one guy has gone through the pressure of a title defense—Holiday in 2022. “I think you take it a game at a time,” he said of what he can take from that run with Milwaukee. “The last time for me, yeah, we thought we had a chance of going back to back. Sometimes things happen. Health is a big part. A little bit of luck.
“But I think it was about preparing for our own journey and doing it worrying about us. Worrying about the things we can control.”
Defending the title changes nothing for Celtics
Fast forward to now, and the Celtics find themselves in the same position.
“I think for us, it's about doing it again,” Holiday said of this year’s Celtics. “Who can do it again? Who can do it multiple times? And when you go through something like what we did last year, we're kind of bonded forever. So, to go back into the trenches, to go back to war with your guys, is always something fun.”
And for Horford, who won his first ring last season, the challenges of trying to go back-to-back don’t change a thing. But the increased focus of this time of year does.
“I don't know if it makes it any different,” Horford said of trying to go back-to-back. “I just feel like, when this time of year comes, everything is more heightened. Everybody's more focused. There's more attention to detail with things like that. But I would say that it's about the same.”
The biggest advantage in Boston’s possession is continuity. Everyone is back from last season. All the pieces from their 2024 Championship rotation are still sitting pretty in Mazzulla’s lineup.
If anything, they’ve gotten more tools. Payton Pritchard has taken a leap. Luke Kornet is healthy now and has made major strides as a player. Kristaps Porzingis is available to play (for the time being). Outside of Brown’s knee, everything looks identical to last year.
But at the same time, nothing can ever be exactly the same. That’s what the Celtics are prepared for.
“I mean, it changes because every season presents a different opportunity, a different challenge, and guys are different,” Mazzulla said. “They're a year older. They're more experienced. And so, what changes is just the perspective that you have and how you build from it.”