3 problems Boston Celtics must fix to win 2024 NBA title

The Celtics have things to work on as the playoffs approach.

Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum
Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum | Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
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The Boston Celtics are all-in on winning a championship and anything else will be considered a disappointment. They have the best record in the NBA by a wide margin after two blockbuster trades improved their roster in the offseason. The Celtics have the number one offense and are third in defensive rating. They are the title favorites but still have issues to sort out if they plan on winning it all.

Boston has made the conference finals five times in the last seven years, but Jayson Tatum is still chasing his first championship. Jrue Holiday is the only current Celtics player with a title ring. Can Boston finally exercise their playoff demons and win another ring? They have been close, including reaching the NBA Finals in 2022, but continue to fall just short.

Things feel different this season. Boston is elite in almost every category, and the franchise has the most talented top six in the world. Still, these issues could come back to bite them in the postseason if they are not sorted out.

3. Complacency

Fans saw it up close on March 25. Boston raced out to a 30-point lead in the first half and figured the Hawks were no match, especially without Trae Young, but Atlanta had other ideas. They stormed back and pulled off one of the most improbable wins of the season when De’Andre Hunter sank a triple in the final seconds.

The Celtics cannot relax. They must play every game out because teams will not quit in the playoffs. No lead is safe in the modern NBA. Boston must keep the pedal down and compete. They cannot rely on their superior talent to bail them out.

Boston has already clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference and will soon lock up the NBA’s top mark. They will get some added rest down the stretch, but they cannot let that turn into rust in the first round of the playoffs. No matter what happens, the Celtics must bring their best every night and cannot rely too heavily on their outside shooting.


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