Boston Celtics
The 2024-25 Boston Celtics can be defined by losing to the Knicks in the second round and losing Tatum to a torn Achilles.
What did we learn?
The Celtics did not have the same injury luck this time around.
Far from it.
The season ended on the most somber note, losing to the New York Knicks in the second round in six games and with the lasting image being Jayson Tatum tearing his Achilles in the final minutes of Game 4.
That game and likely the series were already a wrap, unable to overcome the Celtics egregious blown leads in Games 1 and 2.
The Celtics were down by seven with three minutes left in Game 4 when Tatum went down on a play where Jaylen Brown just lost the ball. It was one of Tatum’s best games, too. (35-10-8 shooting 10-of-16 from the floor.) But it resulted in a loss and was the dagger in their quest to repeat.
To be perfectly honest, the Knicks were just the tougher team.
The Porzingis mystery illness put the C’s in a precarious spot and it zapped their biggest advantage.
Jaylen Brown didn’t play close to the same level that he did in 2023-24. The Finals MVP version of JB no showed this time around.
The Knicks built a team specifically to beat the Celtics and that’s exactly what they did.
Boston lived and died by the 3 all year long. They never apologized for who they were.
In the end, it left them apologizing to themselves because they lost all semblance of late-game offense. Chuck ball just ain’t gonna cut it in the yoffs and that’s the breaks, pal.
Life without Tatum puts the C’s in flux going forward. Life has gotten real for the new ownership group real quick.
And with the 2nd apron staring them in the face, tough decisions have already been made.
Good bye, Jrue Holiday.
So long, Kristaps.
Key pieces from last year’s Championship roster already gone.
But the JV East is still wide open…
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Additional Notes
Derrick White made 265 3-pointers this season, 4th-most in the entire NBA. Not sure everyone realizes that.
Payton Pritchard made 255 3-pointers this season, 5th-most in the entire NBA. Really not sure everyone realizes that.
Excited for more Baylor Scheierman next season. There was that game against the Nets where he scored 20 points in 15 minutes.
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Did our preseason Over/Under prediction hit?
Better late than never. Over 58.5 wins.
Celtics 2024-25 record: (61-21)
Yes indeed. The C’s won 60+ games for a second straight season.
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What’s Next?
Holiday is gone and Simons is in. Porzingis is gone and… Niang is here? (Surprising given some beef this past season.)
In the 2025 draft, which somehow has already happened, the Celtics selected Hugo Gonzalez from Real Madrid at No. 28 and in the 2nd round, they took Amari Williams from Kentucky.
You know what? We’ll say it: Give us… JAYLEN BROWN UNLEASHED.
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Favorite Celtics Highlight of the 2024-25 Season:
11/29/24 Jaylen Brown 4.3
12/27/24 Jaylen Brown 4.0
The return of Power Dunk City: COMING SOON.
