A lot of things are different about the Boston Celtics this season, starting with the roster. With Jayson Tatum sidelined and Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Luke Kornet no longer around, the Celtics have a very different team than the one that lost to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals back in May.
With so many of its veterans gone, Boston is a much younger and less experienced team this year. Accordingly, training camp was much different, with the Celtics focusing on learning how to play together and developing chemistry.
There was also a different vibe and atmosphere around training camp this year, a different type of intensity. According to assistant coach Sam Cassell, it was “the hardest” he’s ever seen.
Sam Cassell on the Celtics training camp so far:"We want to be the hardest playing team in basketball, and that's how our camp is going right now." "I've been in this business for 34 years, my 34th training camp, and this is the hardest." ð¤ð¥ pic.twitter.com/sULwfAXiz6— CelticsMuse (@CelticsMuse) October 5, 2025
“We want to be the hardest playing team in basketball, and that’s how our camp is going right now,” Cassell said recently. “I’ve been in this business for 34 years, my 34th training camp, and this is the hardest.”
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That isn’t surprising, as head coach Joe Mazzulla is known for his intensity. He may also be extra motivated to push his players after Boston’s crushing loss to the Knicks last spring.
Furthermore, Mazzulla can afford to run a tougher camp this year. His players are younger and have more to learn, so they’re not merely going through the motions and trying to get into basketball shape. They’re fighting for playing time and have more to prove.
They also have more energy and are better rested, as they didn’t play into June this year. They’re not expected to play in June next year, either, so they don’t have to worry as much about easing into the season and pacing themselves for the long haul.
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But ultimately, Mazzulla likely knows that his team will need to win more games on the margins this year. The Celtics can’t simply show up and overpower opponents with their superior talent and three-point shooting like they have the last few years, so they’ll need to win more games by outhustling, outrebounding and outplaying their opponents. Effort and conditioning will be even more critical if they want to win on a nightly basis and make it back to the postseason.
Time will tell if Boston’s intense training camp leads to success during the regular season. The Celtics kick off their preseason schedule tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies, so that may provide a clue.