The Celtics have gotten used to contending and winning in recent years. After losing in the finals in 2022, they were able to finish the job two years later, beating the Mavericks for an 18th championship.
Along with those two postseason runs, they have been a staple in and around the top of the Eastern Conference.
This year could be a different look for Boston though, with Jayson Tatum being out at least part of the year, and the loss of multiple pieces from the title-winning team.
Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals last year, an injury that people expected to sideline him for all of this season.