The Boston Celtics entered the 2024-25 season as the defending NBA champions. They entered the year with one goal in mind: go back to back.
Winning back to back championships is no easy feat. The last team to do so was the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
Boston breezed through the 2025 playoffs, only losing 3 games, en route to their first title in 16 years. Critics discredited their title run, as they faced many teams with injuries to key players.
In the first round, Boston faced a Jimmy Butler-less Miami Heat, who they lost to in the Eastern Conference the prior year. The next round saw them face the Cleveland Cavaliers, who missed Donovan Mitchell for the last two games in the series. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston swept the Indiana Pacers who missed Tyrese Haliburton, who also missed the final two games.
From there, the Celtics took care of business and defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. The Boston Celtics were 18 time NBA champions and that fact could not be disputed.
Jayson Tatum was criticized for an underwhelming finals performance. He shot a combined 12-for-38 from the field through the first two games in the series. However, the Celtics’ deep roster made up for Tatum’s inconsistency.
Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis all took turns in the limelight amidst Tatum’s struggles. It was Brown who took home the finals MVP award.
As the defending champions heading into the 2024-25 season, the Celtics were considered the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference, without much resistance.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had other plans, as they have given Boston a run for their money as the east’s top team. Though the Celtics have been an elite team all season, they have been trailing Cleveland in the standings all season.
Boston and Cleveland have split their four matchups this season, with each game being close.
With Cleveland’s emergence as a contender in the Eastern Conference, Boston cannot expect a cakewalk route to the finals once again. Barring injury and other circumstances, this is a possible Eastern Conference Finals matchup.
Aside from the Cavaliers, Boston will possibly have to deal with either the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks or Indiana Pacers in the semifinals.
With the new acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns in the offseason, the Knicks threatened the Celtics’ supremacy in the east. That has not materialized in the regular season though, as Boston is 3-0 against New York in the season series.
The Bucks have struggled this season, but facing a former two-time MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo will always come with its challenges come playoff time. Boston and Milwaukee have traded playoff series wins in the last six years.
Indiana is looking to avenge their Eastern Conference Finals loss to Boston from last year. The Pacers have had Boston’s number this season, as they currently lead the season series 2-1.
It is evident that Boston cannot take any of these teams lightly if they want to reach the finals yet again. If Boston conquers the east again, they will have a battle-tested Western Conference team waiting for them in the finals.
The road to a 19th championship will be difficult. Boston will have to prove the naysayers wrong to get there.
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