The Boston Celtics will enter the new season as the reigning NBA champions. Joe Mazzulla's team dominated the regular season and steamrollered their way through the 2024 playoffs, holding teams to under 100 points in 11 of their 19 games.
Yet, despite their dominance, the Celtics have been forced to watch their championship credentials be questioned in the media, as they've been accused of benefiting from an easy run to the NBA Finals. Boston faced the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers before defeating the Dallas Mavericks to hoist the 18th championship banner in franchise history. Their first three opponents all had games without their respective star players on the court.
This summer has provided even more reason for motivation within the Celtics roster. Jayson Tatum endured a difficult tenure with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jaylen Brown was snubbed from the Team USA roster. And the media has continued to write off Boston's chances of a repeat performance next season.
“As a competitor, you’re always looking for any key identifiers that could help you be motivated, stay motivated and add to that chip on your shoulder,” Brown said during an interview with NBC Sports Boston. “I’m that type of guy already. I’m always looking for something. When things don’t go your way, or those voices get louder, it makes you wake up even more to drive and be better. So, I’m excited to get back going with the guys. I’m excited to start the new year.”
Over the summer, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has focused on roster continuity, locking down most of Boston's primary rotation for the foreseeable future. As such, the Celtics will already know what roles they're expected to play, how to get the best out of each other and where each member of the roster is at their best on the court.
That continuity should play a major part in any future success for the Celtics and is already proving beneficial following the disrespect some of the team's stars have endured this summer.
"I personally was not happy about it," veteran center Al Horford said regarding Tatum and Brown's issues with Team USA this summer. "Those guys, they're very special to me. And even though it was nothing against me, it motivated me and all of us for this season. I know that they handled it well. They're fine. But when you see those two guys, the amount of work that they've put in, the sacrifices they have made. To be on the top of their games and that happened to them, it was hard to watch [the Olympics] and not see them in the position that we would've hoped to see them in."
The Celtics may be the reigning NBA champions, but they're starting to sound like they're approaching the season with an underdog mentality. When a team with the level of talent Boston has at its disposal believes it has its back against the wall, it can become a dominant force on the court.
The Celtics have a whole new level of motivation coming into the 2024-25 season and the rest of the league can thank Team USA and the media for ensuring the team begins the season with a renewed fire in its belly.
