Is there a downside to running it back?

[RodyTur10]

The biggest downside will be that a lot of games will be very predictable again.

[tonydelk]

I think it's more upside then downside.  A lot of teams who have major changes like the Cs did don't win in their first year.  They need time to play together and Gel.  When zinger comes back there is potential for them to be even better next year then they were this year.  I would love to see a surprise signing for the last roster spot.  A wing to take regular season minutes from the Js. 

[Kernewek]

The main downside, similar to what we saw happen to Denver this year, is that now that you've won - teams are going to start building their rosters to beat you and you are effectively locked to your roster with no way to make it better if it's proven that you can be beaten.

Denver didn?t run it back, though. They lost players in free agency after winning their championship.

The season they won, Denver's top 5 players in MPG were Jokic, KCP, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr.

Last season, Denver's top 5 players in MPG were Jokic, KCP, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr.

It's true Bruce Brown left, but it's also true that they happened to win more regular season games and significantly improved their D whilst playing largely the same style of championship-winning basketball that won them a ring the season before.

For all intents and purposes, I'd say they ran it back.

Sure, but in total minutes Bruce Brown was third.  In the playoffs he was sixth, but closer to 5th in minutes than he was 7th (the also-departed Jeff Green), playing about 80% as many minutes as number 5 MPJ.  The sixth man in total playoff minutes this year was Christian Braun, who played fewer than half the minutes of number 5 KCP.  Bruce Brown was a significant loss from their title rotation that they were unable to replace internally.

This can co-exist with the fact that they were a better team than the year they won the championship.

In the regular season, maybe.  But in the postseason they had to ride their starters due to a complete lack of confidence/effectiveness in their bench.  We see that in the minutes data and we see that in the results.

That's fair, but how much of that is Denver being worse (which is harder to support with the data) and Minnesota just being better?

[green_bballers13]

With so much anxiety in Boston (I mean, we haven't had a championship since 2018!), it was nice to see the Celtics rip through the regular season and playoffs. It was almost as uneventful as a championship can be, though I know some will complain that they lost 3 games in the playoffs.

Next year will be more challenging, but this is the squad you want to battle with. Every other team in the NBA is inferior on paper.

[Phantom255x]

The biggest downside will be that a lot of games will be very predictable again.

Yeah not that I'm complaining but I don't think anyone is gonna really care about the regular season lol, unless the C's somehow get off to a horrible start and causes panic. Otherwise, it'll be "business as usual" and just praying for minimal injuries + keeping guys as fresh as possible.

I guess a potential downside is that guys start to develop egos and someone like Tatum decides to go "all out" trying to win MVP. But I just don't see it with these guys. Unfortunately it happened with guys like Rozier, Kyrie, Morris, etc. in 2019 but we don't have guys like that right now.

[Moranis]

The last repeat champion was the Warriors and they were at another level and they even had some changes to the rotation from 17 to 18 (Looney didn't play a single minute in the playoffs in 17 and was basically the starter in 18).

[libermaniac]

I think Coach Joe is the perfect guy to lead the team to battle complacency.  He is not going to rest on laurels.  Not unlike Belichick.

Couldn?t agree more. Also, the two Jays and KP have individual reasons to improve their games. I think Tatum having an inefficient post-season, not winning finals MVP, and the narrative that he?s not a deserving first team superstar will fuel him to improve his game. Jaylen wants to prove he?s worthy of superstardom. And KP wants to prove he can stay healthy and relied upon in the playoffs. With these 3, I don?t think the drive for individual success will come at the cost of teamwork either.

[ozgod]

If the team needs any external motivation for this coming season, all they have to do is paste Shaq's comments up on the locker room wall.

?Boston had it easy. It?s not their fault,? O?Neal said during a recent episode of The Big Podcast. ?It?s not their fault. I don?t care, they won ? they won it and they won it square but there is still a lot of doubters.?

The Celtics were far from the only team to face injuries during the playoffs. Miami?s Jimmy Butler, Cleveland?s Donovan Mitchell, and Indiana?s Tyrese Haliburton all missed games against the Celtics. Dallas?s Luka Doncic was reportedly receiving pain-killing injections during the Finals.

?Their road was too easy, so when their road stiffens up and they don?t win, then that statement will be verified. Now, if they win next year, with all these teams healthy you?ve got to give them their respect. But, you know how us haters and us commentators do. OK, you got one, win two.?

?I?m impressed by this year but this year is already over,? O?Neal added. ?So if you want to impress me, if you want to separate yourself as the best, most successful franchise, beat those teams when they are healthy.?

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2024/07/08/shaquille-oneal-celtics-hater-comments/?p1=recirc_mostpopular

[RJ87]

I'm not worried because of the players on this team and it starts with the Jays. I really think those two want to win multiple titles. I hear it more from Jayson these days about how much he loves being a Celtic and what it means to him to wear the jersey - that's not a knock on JB, I can just recall specific examples of JT speaking of this. One banner gets you goodwill here, but multiple titles make you a legend.

[RJ87]

The biggest downside will be that a lot of games will be very predictable again.

Yeah not that I'm complaining but I don't think anyone is gonna really care about the regular season lol, unless the C's somehow get off to a horrible start and causes panic. Otherwise, it'll be "business as usual" and just praying for minimal injuries + keeping guys as fresh as possible.

I guess a potential downside is that guys start to develop egos and someone like Tatum decides to go "all out" trying to win MVP. But I just don't see it with these guys. Unfortunately it happened with guys like Rozier, Kyrie, Morris, etc. in 2019 but we don't have guys like that right now.

Cut to the middle of January when this board is in flames because we lose to an undermanned Lakers team.

[ozgod]

The biggest downside will be that a lot of games will be very predictable again.

Yeah not that I'm complaining but I don't think anyone is gonna really care about the regular season lol, unless the C's somehow get off to a horrible start and causes panic. Otherwise, it'll be "business as usual" and just praying for minimal injuries + keeping guys as fresh as possible.

I guess a potential downside is that guys start to develop egos and someone like Tatum decides to go "all out" trying to win MVP. But I just don't see it with these guys. Unfortunately it happened with guys like Rozier, Kyrie, Morris, etc. in 2019 but we don't have guys like that right now.

Cut to the middle of January when this board is in flames because we lose to an undermanned Lakers team.

Why wait till January? I'm predicting the board in flames after the first loss of the season 

[Donoghus]

The biggest downside will be that a lot of games will be very predictable again.

Yeah not that I'm complaining but I don't think anyone is gonna really care about the regular season lol, unless the C's somehow get off to a horrible start and causes panic. Otherwise, it'll be "business as usual" and just praying for minimal injuries + keeping guys as fresh as possible.

I guess a potential downside is that guys start to develop egos and someone like Tatum decides to go "all out" trying to win MVP. But I just don't see it with these guys. Unfortunately it happened with guys like Rozier, Kyrie, Morris, etc. in 2019 but we don't have guys like that right now.

Cut to the middle of January when this board is in flames because we lose to an undermanned Lakers team.

Why wait till January? I'm predicting the board in flames after the first loss of the season 

Don't get me started on this....

[SHAQATTACK]

Eventually we need to take AD from the clown show ,  he might like being on a real team .

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Eventually we need to take AD from the clown show ,  he might like being on a real team .

I've eyed that possibility. Problem is that we are a second apron team for a while, which means the only players we can trade for him are Brown or Tatum.

[ozgod]

The biggest downside will be that a lot of games will be very predictable again.

Yeah not that I'm complaining but I don't think anyone is gonna really care about the regular season lol, unless the C's somehow get off to a horrible start and causes panic. Otherwise, it'll be "business as usual" and just praying for minimal injuries + keeping guys as fresh as possible.

I guess a potential downside is that guys start to develop egos and someone like Tatum decides to go "all out" trying to win MVP. But I just don't see it with these guys. Unfortunately it happened with guys like Rozier, Kyrie, Morris, etc. in 2019 but we don't have guys like that right now.

Cut to the middle of January when this board is in flames because we lose to an undermanned Lakers team.

Why wait till January? I'm predicting the board in flames after the first loss of the season 

Don't get me started on this....

The game thread will be in flames when we're down by 10 points the first time I'm sure