The current title holders are still set to mount another significant push for the playoffs.
The Boston Celtics entered the 2024-25 season with lofty expectations. Following an exceptionally strong playoff performance—one of the best in recent memory—and having lost just three games on their way to securing their first championship in 16 years, the Celtics were once again considered a top contender heading into this campaign.
With the regular season nearing its conclusion, the Celtics are poised to secure the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings, trailing only the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Oklahoma City Thunder stand as the sole other team boasting a superior record. As Boston aims for another 60-win season, their status as a serious championship hopeful becomes increasingly undeniable.
Nevertheless, the Celtics have not generated much buzz this season even though everyone understands their potential. Still, Celtics guard Derrick White appears unfazed by his team’s relative obscurity as the postseason approaches.
"We're just trying to play our best basketball," White said. "We're not worried about what's being said out there. We know what time it is, and we've got a lot of guys that have played in a lot of big games, and so, it's gonna be exciting."
The Celtics are well-acquainted with this part of the season, having reached the conference finals for three consecutive years. This time around, Boston seems ready to secure victories in at least two playoff rounds, yet their prospects of returning to the NBA Finals appear less promising compared to where things stood at this juncture last year.
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Regardless, the Celtics stand among the elite franchises in the league, and no one would bat an eye if they clinched yet another championship title soon. Amidst all the chatter surrounding other squads across the league, the Celtics remain concentrated and are preparing themselves for a potential deep playoff run extending as late as June.
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