Before the 2025-26 NBA season got underway, the Boston Celtics were expected to struggle. Some sections of the fanbase were even debating the value of tanking for a lottery pick rather than competing for a spot in the play-in tournament. However, Joe Mazzulla has masterminded an offensive and defensive system that has helped the Celtics emerge as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Jaylen Brown is playing at an MVP level and has spearheaded Boston’s offense in the absence of Jayson Tatum. Derrick White continues to prove himself as one of the most overlooked players in the NBA and, less than a week ago, Tatum returned to the rotation, providing a boost to the team’s chances of success.
During a March 12 episode of FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” former NBA guard Lou Williams discussed the Celtics’ chances in the postseason, predicting that they will meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.
“I like OKC vs Boston. I don’t know. It’s just something about Boston that’s brewing in the East that I’m down for. I love what Detroit has been able to put together. I think there are issues with a secondary scorer right there. If something crazy happens with Cade Cunningham, where they put a good defensive package together and kind of limit his touches or something like that, I’m just a little unsure about Detroit. So I like Boston.”
If the Celtics want to get to the NBA Finals, they will face competition from the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Regardless of how the playoff seeding shakes out, Mazzulla’s team will be tested en route to a potential NBA Finals matchup.
Nevertheless, the Celtics have proven to be a tough team to deal with. They’re playing hard, executing at a high level and defense has once again become the team’s identity. With Tatum back in the rotation, they certainly have a shot at making a deep run.
Postseason success often comes down to health. As such, Boston must remain healthy between now and the summer. If that proves to be the case, we could be witnessing one of the franchise’s most historic seasons, not only because it could end with a championship but because nobody expected it to happen.
More Celtics: Jayson Tatum Addresses Minutes Restriction After Celtics’ Frustrating Loss To Spurs
