The Boston Celtics open their 2025-26 season in seven weeks when they play the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 22.
With All-Star forward Jayson Tatum facing the possibility of missing the entire campaign as he recovers from his torn Achilles, expectations are mixed for the Celtics.
There’s a very real chance that Boston misses the playoffs for the first time since the 2013-14 season. With All-Star Jaylen Brown still in his prime and the Celtics residing in a weak Eastern Conference though, the team could still make some noise in the postseason.
Members of the NBC Sports Boston staff discussed on Thursday what a season of exceeding expectations would look like for the Celtics and had varying opinions.
Managing Editor Darren Hartwell said that if “at least one newcomer makes a big impact” with the team, they’ll surpass expectations.
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“Chris Boucher and Luka Garza both may need to play meaningful minutes behind unproven starter Neemias Queta,” Hartwell wrote. “If either Boucher or Garza makes the most of those minutes, this could be a sneaky good Celtics team in 2025-26.”
Web producer Michael Hurley, meanwhile, said that Boston “should make the playoffs,” but advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals would exceed expectations.
“They might win a round. The conference semis are probably the better mark for exceeding expectations, but I’m moving it one round deeper,” Hurley wrote.
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Vice president of content Kevin Miller may have had the highest optimism for head coach Joe Mazzulla and company.
“They finish Top 3 in the East — and I think it’s possible,” he wrote. “I think this will be a group that plays with a serious chip on its shoulder and wins games due to mindset.”