Last season, the Boston Celtics clinched their 18th championship.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the charge under head coach Joe Mazzulla. The team was dominant throughout both the regular season and playoffs, holding opponents to under 100 points in 11 out of 19 postseason games.
Overcoming Past Defeats:
Despite some saying it was an easy playoff run, the Celtics stayed focused. They wanted to erase memories of losing to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals. In an interview with Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, Tatum shared when he knew they would win it all.
โPeople always ask me, when did you guys know you were going to win a championship?โ Tatum said. โWhen Minnesota beat Denver, I felt like Denver was the only team that matched up best with us. I thought that we were going to play Denver in the Finals and it was going to be a good one.”
The Unexpected Opponent:
Instead of facing Denver Nuggets, they played against Dallas Mavericks and won in five games. Their deep playoff experience helped them succeed, along with lessons from their loss to Golden State Warriors in 2022.
Now, as they prepare for a new season, there’s pressure on them. Mazzulla’s team needs to show last year’s success wasn’t just luck but skill and determination.
โ[Coach] Joe Mazzulla had a great quote,โ Tatum said. โHe said weโre not defending anything; weโre chasing another championship… After opening night, we have to put it behind us. Itโs a new season… Weโve got to figure out a way to get better.โ
New Challenges Ahead:
This summer saw many teams improve, especially in the Eastern Conference. Paul George joined Philadelphia 76ers while Mikal Bridges teamed up with Jalen Brunson in New York. So Tatum can’t focus on just one rival team; he has to stay ready for any challenge.
Fans believe this upcoming season is crucial for proving their worth again!
