The Boston Celtics are set to begin their NBA title defense in style on Tuesday night, kicking off their season against the New York Knicks at TD Garden. Coming off one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history, the Celtics are aiming to make history once again. Boston is aiming to repeat as champions under the leadership of superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, a feat they haven’t achieved since the Golden State Warriors did it in 2018.
The Celtics will raise their 18th championship banner before the game, commemorating last season’s title run, where they finished with the league’s best regular-season record and went 16-3 in the playoffs. Despite the high stakes, head coach Joe Mazzulla insists there’s “zero pressure” on the Celtics to repeat.
“We’re all going to be dead soon, and it really doesn’t matter anymore,” Mazzulla said during Monday’s press conference. “So, there’s zero pressure. You have an opportunity to carry the organization forward, to double down on the tradition and history of what this organization has. What else would you expect than someone expecting you to win all the time?”
High Expectations for the 2024-25 Season
The Celtics’ roster remains largely intact, featuring the league’s best starting five in Tatum, Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Derrick White. With this elite lineup, Boston is heavily favored to repeat as NBA champions, a task they’re prepared to embrace as the season begins.
“There’s nothing anyone in this circle can do to me that’s going to impact my identity and who I am as a person or coach. We’re either going to win or we’re not,” Mazzulla added. “Forty years from now, none of you are invited to my funeral, and that’s it.”
While fans are already expecting another title, Celtics guard Payton Pritchard emphasized the desire to create a dynasty: “A lot of people can do it once… but winning it multiple times, creating almost like a dynasty, that’s hard to do. So that’s greatness, and that’s something we’re trying to achieve.”
Challengers in the Eastern Conference
Standing in their way are several strong Eastern Conference rivals, including the Knicks, who have made significant offseason moves by acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. Though the Knicks present a formidable challenge, many believe that the Celtics remain the team to beat, given their recent dominance.
Boston’s goal is clear: to bring home another NBA title and solidify their place among the league’s greatest teams. With Tatum and Brown entering their primes and a supporting cast that complements their strengths, the Celtics are confident they can achieve greatness once again.
As Tatum stated before the season: “It was never about just trying to win one.”
The Celtics’ quest for a back-to-back championship starts now — and Boston is more than ready.
