5 of the last 6 NBA Champions were 2nd round exits

[radiohead]

The exception being the Covid champ Lakers who were eliminated in the first round the following year.

2019   Toronto Raptors   - 2020 Eliminated in the Conference Semifinals by the Boston Celtics, 3-4

2020   Los Angeles Lakers - 2021 Eliminated in the First Round by the Phoenix Suns, 2-4

2021   Milwaukee Bucks - 2022 Eliminated in the Conference Semifinals by the Boston Celtics, 3-4

2022   Golden State Warriors - 2023 Eliminated in the Conference Semifinals by the Los Angeles Lakers, 2-4

2023   Denver Nuggets    - 2024 Eliminated in the Conference Semifinals by the Minnesota Timberwolves, 3-4

2024   Boston Celtics - 2025 Eliminated in the Conference Semis by the NY Knicks

This just goes to show how tough it is to repeat  in today?s NBA. I honestly thought our Celtics had a chance to be special and repeat. The biggest factor for me would be KP and Jrue?s availability. We never had that same chemistry and cohesion that we had last year. We survived with no KP last year but now it was just too hard. He was the piece that really put us over the top. Without him we were just ?one of the stronger teams? in the league.

[ozgod]

It's hard enough to do without having self-inflicted issues derail your title defense. That plus you have to be lucky with health, and we weren't.

[celticinorlando]

This is exactly what Adam Silver wants moving forward.

Everything in the NBA from the length of the season, the cap, all of it is designed to have what we are seeing.

The Knicks will be next to get gutted by the cap.

[Birdman]

If Tatum & Porzingus were healthy, we probably would won it again but that is a big if?