Some final thoughts on Celtics season 2025-26

[Celtics4ever]

I think Brown is a passable dribber, if I had a dollar for every time he dribbled and it went out of balance, I could retire, JK

[Goldstar88]

Should have tanked like Indiana. Wasted season.

[ozgod]

Should have tanked like Indiana. Wasted season.

So all that joy they gave you for 5 months of the year, the development of the young guys, all wasted?

I guess I?m a journey > destination person?I collect enjoyable moments. A bad end doesn?t remove those moments for me?I loved this season. I wouldn?t call it a waste at all, but I can understand for championship or bust folks it could be seen as a waste because either you?re contending for a championship or you are tanking to collect assets for a championship. I enjoyed this season, much more than Indy fans probably did 

[Who]

Should have tanked like Indiana. Wasted season.

So all that joy they gave you for 5 months of the year, the development of the young guys, all wasted?

I guess I?m a journey > destination person?I collect enjoyable moments. A bad end doesn?t remove those moments for me?I loved this season. I wouldn?t call it a waste at all, but I can understand for championship or bust folks it could be seen as a waste because either you?re contending for a championship or you are tanking to collect assets for a championship. I enjoyed this season, much more than Indy fans probably did 

For me it is less about the memories of this season than the building blocks they have put in place for next season.

Queta has been a revelation compared to where he was 12 months ago. We have a guy who could be our starting center for the next 5+ years.

Jordan Walsh made huge strides. Baylor made big strides. Hugo was successful. We now have 3 young wings who are interesting role player material.

I also like that we acquired Vucevic who I still believe can be a quality piece for this team. That is 5 guys. 5 more pieces to put around Tatum, Jaylen, D White and Pritchard. That is great progress from where we were after losing Porzingis, Horford, Kornet and Jrue. We have the makings a strong title contender for next season.

That is what I feel good about. Why I am still happy and optimistic despite losing in the 1st round.

[Donoghus]

Should have tanked like Indiana. Wasted season.

So all that joy they gave you for 5 months of the year, the development of the young guys, all wasted?

I guess I?m a journey > destination person?I collect enjoyable moments. A bad end doesn?t remove those moments for me?I loved this season. I wouldn?t call it a waste at all, but I can understand for championship or bust folks it could be seen as a waste because either you?re contending for a championship or you are tanking to collect assets for a championship. I enjoyed this season, much more than Indy fans probably did 

I'd chalk it up to the preponderous of irrational takes right now.

[celticinorlando]

We will see if this whole journey of players getting better translates to next season when expectations of them will be high.

I do not think this roster as constructed can win the East let alone get past the first or second round. In order to do this, guys like Hugo and Baylor have to really improve and it still might not be enough. The roster has some good role players but lacks high level talent other than a few guys. 

Not sold on the center position either. But I do not think Brad does anything major this offseason. The Cs will be a top 4 seed in a lousy east only to fall on their faces again in the playoffs.

This group and coach treat the game with arrogance.

Next year is also going to be a "gap" year as the Cs work the cap. Maybe in 2027 we see some real changes.

[Larry for 3]

Should have tanked like Indiana. Wasted season.

So all that joy they gave you for 5 months of the year, the development of the young guys, all wasted?

I guess I?m a journey > destination person?I collect enjoyable moments. A bad end doesn?t remove those moments for me?I loved this season. I wouldn?t call it a waste at all, but I can understand for championship or bust folks it could be seen as a waste because either you?re contending for a championship or you are tanking to collect assets for a championship. I enjoyed this season, much more than Indy fans probably did 

For me it is less about the memories of this season than the building blocks they have put in place for next season.

Queta has been a revelation compared to where he was 12 months ago. We have a guy who could be our starting center for the next 5+ years.

Jordan Walsh made huge strides. Baylor made big strides. Hugo was successful. We now have 3 young wings who are interesting role player material.

I also like that we acquired Vucevic who I still believe can be a quality piece for this team. That is 5 guys. 5 more pieces to put around Tatum, Jaylen, D White and Pritchard. That is great progress from where we were after losing Porzingis, Horford, Kornet and Jrue. We have the makings a strong title contender for next season.

That is what I feel good about. Why I am still happy and optimistic despite losing in the 1st round.

You mean all those players the coach buried on the bench after playing them all year or yanking their minutes or flat out not playing them at all? Thats terrible coaching and is unacceptable, there?s no way I can feel good about that. Just no way. What a failure by this organization.

[Goldstar88]

Should have tanked like Indiana. Wasted season.

So all that joy they gave you for 5 months of the year, the development of the young guys, all wasted?

I guess I?m a journey > destination person?I collect enjoyable moments. A bad end doesn?t remove those moments for me?I loved this season. I wouldn?t call it a waste at all, but I can understand for championship or bust folks it could be seen as a waste because either you?re contending for a championship or you are tanking to collect assets for a championship. I enjoyed this season, much more than Indy fans probably did 

They lost 1st round. When you have two top 10, possibly top 5 players on the team, that?s a wasted season.

[keevsnick]

Should have tanked like Indiana. Wasted season.

Not really and option.

The Celtics comparison to Indy was never a good one. Indy was a 50 win team in 24-25, the Celtics were a 60 win team. They were starting from a much higher floor talent wise. Then beyond that Indy got devastated by injuries early in the season which sort of gave them no choice but to tank. The Celtics were generally healthy all year.

Again, the fact taht people think a 56 win team COULD tank if they wanted to is sort of silly. They were too good for that to be an option.

[angryguy77]

Should have tanked like Indiana. Wasted season.

So all that joy they gave you for 5 months of the year, the development of the young guys, all wasted?

I guess I?m a journey > destination person?I collect enjoyable moments. A bad end doesn?t remove those moments for me?I loved this season. I wouldn?t call it a waste at all, but I can understand for championship or bust folks it could be seen as a waste because either you?re contending for a championship or you are tanking to collect assets for a championship. I enjoyed this season, much more than Indy fans probably did 

They lost 1st round. When you have two top 10, possibly top 5 players on the team, that?s a wasted season.

When you lose a series you should win, yes it is kind of a waste. I'm not on the tank train as the season was fun.
But.....this is 3/4 of Joe's tenure when they hot the playoffs. He's not a good playoff coach and it leads to underachieving when the lights are bright.

That starting lineup is a fireable offense in game 7. He is the master of panic 2.0

[Vermont Green]

I hope both Tatum and Brown work on their handles in the off season.  We had way too many turnovers.   This has always been an issue with Jaylen.

BOS averaged 11.9 TOV per game in the series, 3rd best for all teams in the first round.  OKC and PHI were tied for best with 10.7 TOV per game.  It is similar if you look at opponents points off TOV.  BOS was 3rd best at 12.9 pts/gm given up off TOV (90 total for the series), PHI 2nd best at 12.7 pts/gm given up off TOV (88 total for the series), and OKC leading the way with only 10.3 pts/gm given up off TOV (41 total, they only played 4 games).

For the regular season, BOS gave up 1,201 opponent points off TOV, lowest in the league.  Just a little better than OKC at 1,209 opponent points given up off TOV.

Turnovers are always ugly, but this is not a problem for the team.  Mazzulla stresses this (minimize turnovers, especially the live ball type) and apparently the team listened.  Hard to find fault in Mazzulla or the players in this.

[slamtheking]

Should have tanked like Indiana. Wasted season.

So all that joy they gave you for 5 months of the year, the development of the young guys, all wasted?

I guess I?m a journey > destination person?I collect enjoyable moments. A bad end doesn?t remove those moments for me?I loved this season. I wouldn?t call it a waste at all, but I can understand for championship or bust folks it could be seen as a waste because either you?re contending for a championship or you are tanking to collect assets for a championship. I enjoyed this season, much more than Indy fans probably did 

They lost 1st round. When you have two top 10, possibly top 5 players on the team, that?s a wasted season.

When you lose a series you should win, yes it is kind of a waste. I'm not on the tank train as the season was fun.
But.....this is 3/4 of Joe's tenure when they hot the playoffs. He's not a good playoff coach and it leads to underachieving when the lights are bright.

That starting lineup is a fireable offense in game 7. He is the master of panic 2.0

I agree that this is on Joe as an incompetent coach -- particularly in the playoffs. 

what I find really funny is that the biggest Joe apologist on this site has posted in this chain twice and both comments point out that the season was a waste primarily due to Joe. 

[rondohondo]

I hope both Tatum and Brown work on their handles in the off season.  We had way too many turnovers.   This has always been an issue with Jaylen.

BOS averaged 11.9 TOV per game in the series, 3rd best for all teams in the first round.  OKC and PHI were tied for best with 10.7 TOV per game.  It is similar if you look at opponents points off TOV.  BOS was 3rd best at 12.9 pts/gm given up off TOV (90 total for the series), PHI 2nd best at 12.7 pts/gm given up off TOV (88 total for the series), and OKC leading the way with only 10.3 pts/gm given up off TOV (they only played 4 games).

Brown had like 10 offensive fouls and averaged more turnovers(3.6) than assists (3.3).

That's turrrrrrible

[Celtics4ever]

They lost 1st round. When you have two top 10, possibly top 5 players on the team, that?s a wasted season.

Only fans in title town think that way.   The rest of the country does not compete every year at the highest levels.

I think the series loss was a disappointment, but give full credit the Sixers coming to play and playing high level D.    I think the season was a big success.   We over achieved many thought we could struggle to be a .50% win team.   The team was fun to watch and competitive most nights.

The real failure here was people thinking we have a clear path to the finals based on an overachieving team and a guy rushing back from a injury.    That is on us, not the team.

[slamtheking]

I hope both Tatum and Brown work on their handles in the off season.  We had way too many turnovers.   This has always been an issue with Jaylen.

BOS averaged 11.9 TOV per game in the series, 3rd best for all teams in the first round.  OKC and PHI were tied for best with 10.7 TOV per game.  It is similar if you look at opponents points off TOV.  BOS was 3rd best at 12.9 pts/gm given up off TOV (90 total for the series), PHI 2nd best at 12.7 pts/gm given up off TOV (88 total for the series), and OKC leading the way with only 10.3 pts/gm given up off TOV (they only played 4 games).

Brown had like 10 offensive fouls and averaged more turnovers(3.6) than assists (3.3).

That's turrrrrrible

and to be fair, a lot of those were bogus offensive foul calls, not his usual dribbling off his foot or throwing a bad pass.  He got called for that offhand push off a lot and while it IS a foul, it's one that [dang] near every other player never got called for when they did it.  if he gets the same whistle as other players making that move, 1.5-2 less TOs a game on average.