The Boston Celtics are set for an interesting season, but they might not be ready to sink out of the playoff picture.
This offseason has been a transformative one in Boston, with the Celtics making some big moves. Sending out Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to help the financial situation, the Celtics already understood they wouldn’t be a contender as Jayson Tatum recovers from the torn Achilles he suffered in the playoffs.
Although many think that Boston is destined for a serious dropoff, some folks still have belief, including 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell.
Encouraging Words From a Legend
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“Joe Mazzulla’s not going to let them take a step back,” Maxwell said in a recent interview with [The Boston Globe](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/08/16/sports/sunday-basketball-notes-boston-celtics/). “Joe Mazzulla is going to use that as fuel to have these guys compete on a nightly basis. We’ve seen teams in the NBA, perhaps not as talented as other teams but at the end, because they played hard every single night, you get your opportunities to win.”
Those are some strong statements from one of the most memorable players from the Celtics’ 1980s title runs. Maxwell also might have a great point.
While some teams with the contender tag, including Boston in recent years, haven’t delivered their full effort on a nightly basis, Mazzulla might ensure that Boston’s intensity level stays high throughout the season. Without the pressure of delivering a title in 2026, Mazzulla’s squad could easily make some noise in the East anyway.
With guys such as Jaylen Brown and Derrick White ready to take on larger roles, the Celtics might be ready to stay in the top four in the East if Mazzulla can get maximum effort from his role players each game. It won’t be easy for Boston to stay in the top tier of the league without Tatum, but an inspiring year could set the foundation for a return to the mountaintop in 2027.