WALTHAM — The clock on the scoreboards at the Celtics practice facility read 18:18. The score for both the “HOME” and “GUEST” was 18. The foul count for each side was 18.
The inference was clear. As the Celts gathered for media day, the goal is an 18th NBA championship.
But as circumstances stand on this fine first weekend of autumn, one of the only certainties for this club is that the empty green-bordered banner on the wall next to the other title flags will remain unlettered.
It’s important to keep reality close at hand when assessing the 2015-16 Celtics, and at this stage of their development, they are simply not ready to contend for a championship.