The Boston Celtics of 2022–2023 had the incorrect mindset, according to Jayson Tatum, believing they would easily return to the NBA Finals after forcing the Golden State Warriors to six games in 2022 under Ime Udoka.
When asked what event altered his viewpoint to see things more broadly, Tatum responded, “Maybe last year, us losing in the conference finals” (h/t Boston.com). “Perhaps I was just expecting that, following our 2022 defeat, we would undoubtedly make a comeback, and now is our chance.” The previous year served as a kind of wake-up call to cherish every moment as you never know when they will present themselves.
Even with greater talent on the roster, it was a fool’s errand to expect the exact same outcomes under first-year head coach Joe Mazzulla. Talent-wise, Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon was definitely an improvement over Aaron Nesmith and Daniel Theis at the time, but bringing in a veteran who believed he should have started proved to be a relationship problem.
Considering this, it’s not shocking that it required six games to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, seven games to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round, and a miraculous comeback from a 3-0 deficit to force a seven-game Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat.
For the Boston Celtics, changing things up has made all the difference.
It is normal for a club to believe that they will make it to the Finals again after retaining all of their key players and adding the one item they were lacking in 2022, a pass-first point guard like Brogdon in the case of the C’s.
However, occasionally complacency sets in and the same combination that once worked no longer does. Boston went through that in 2023, and the Celtics altered its fundamental makeup during the offseason by acquiring Game 1 hero Kristaps Porzingis and underappreciated postseason player Jrue Holiday in exchange for Marcus Smart, Brogdon, and Robert Williams III.
With this new roster, everything has gone smoothly thus far, and Banner 18 feels more connected than it has since Banner 17 was erected.
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