The Boston Celtics are heading back to the postseason for the second consecutive season, yet this year feels a bit different.
A year ago this team rode the wave of a late season surge to an unexpected playoff berth as the No. 7 seed in a watered-down Eastern Conference. Despite playing as well as anyone down the stretch, the Celtics were still a 40-win team that had the privilege of being the first obstacle in the path of a Juggernaut Cleveland Cavaliers team on their way to the Finals. The happy-to-be-here Celtics were promptly swept in the opening round, gaining little more than the valuable experience of playing on the postseason stage.