Just a few months ago, the Boston Celtics successfully completed their quest to bring home Banner 18. Now, with the 2024-25 season roughly two months away, their focus has completely shifted toward their next title. But going back-to-back won’t be easy.
When the Denver Nuggets won the title in 2023, there was a ton of speculation as to whether or not they could win multiple rings. Nikola Jokic enjoyed one of the most dominant playoff runs in recent memory, but he failed to replicate that same success this past season.
But why?
What happened to the Nuggets this year that prevented them from winning another ring? Who got in the way? What did the Nuggets do to get in their own way? And most importantly, what can the Celtics do to avoid making the same mistakes?
Here are three lessons the Celtics need to learn from the Nuggets’ failed title defense last year.
1. Luck is needed
The best team in the world can make the playoffs with a real shot at winning a championship, but if luck isn’t on their side, it’s going to be very difficult to get the job done.
Every playoff turn needs a little bit of luck, and the Celtics got that. The Nuggets? Not as much. Denver got matched up with two teams that play them well, while the Celtics enjoyed three straight rounds in the East against injured teams. The Nuggets played fully healthy teams, and the Celtics didn’t.
This isn’t necessarily a lesson that the Celtics can learn from and account for, but it’s one that needs to be remembered. They need luck. Every championship team does.