Every loss hurts on some level. I think Game 1 set up unrealistic expectations that Boston would bulldoze Philly. I mean, if we're honest the Game 2 Sixers are what most of us expected for Game 1. You don't swing from a 32 point win to a 14 point loss simply because Boston failed. The Sixers played much better. And Boston probably lost a little of that urgency from Game 1. Now it's time to adjust.
I still feel like the stars are better aligned this year for a championship run than last year. The 2024-25 Celtics were coming off a long title run PLUS Olympics for three key players. Jrue had a down year. Brown had sore knees. Porzingis had undiagnosed POTS and did more to hurt than help the team. Tatum was gassed...then injured.
This year's team has a fresher Tatum, healthy Brown, peak Pritchard and a pretty deep bench. I think it's all going to swing on whether White and Hauser can maintain some consistency, and if the bench inexperience comes back to haunt them. Nobody waltzes to 16 wins in the playoffs.
Good context.
Every loss hurts on some level. I think Game 1 set up unrealistic expectations that Boston would bulldoze Philly. I mean, if we're honest the Game 2 Sixers are what most of us expected for Game 1. You don't swing from a 32 point win to a 14 point loss simply because Boston failed. The Sixers played much better. And Boston probably lost a little of that urgency from Game 1. Now it's time to adjust.
I still feel like the stars are better aligned this year for a championship run than last year. The 2024-25 Celtics were coming off a long title run PLUS Olympics for three key players. Jrue had a down year. Brown had sore knees. Porzingis had undiagnosed POTS and did more to hurt than help the team. Tatum was gassed...then injured.
This year's team has a fresher Tatum, healthy Brown, peak Pritchard and a pretty deep bench. I think it's all going to swing on whether White and Hauser can maintain some consistency, and if the bench inexperience comes back to haunt them. Nobody waltzes to 16 wins in the playoffs.