Celtics Regular Season Thread 2026-27

[Jiri Welsch]

Starting to worry the Celtics may have the same issue they did last year. Namely, they can beat bad teams but are not good enough to actually win against the top teams.

What gives you that impression? Just team construction or evidence from this season?

The early evidence, I suspect.  We've played two teams that are above .500, and lost to both of them.  The teams we have beaten are a combined 10-29.

Yes, and some of those wins have been pretty lackluster performances.

[slamtheking]

Starting to worry the Celtics may have the same issue they did last year. Namely, they can beat bad teams but are not good enough to actually win against the top teams.

What gives you that impression? Just team construction or evidence from this season?

The early evidence, I suspect.  We've played two teams that are above .500, and lost to both of them.  The teams we have beaten are a combined 10-29.

Yes, and some of those wins have been pretty lackluster performances.

preseason, I had this team pegged as the 5 seed (behind NY, Philly, Cle and Det) and possibly as low as 7 depending on how Kawhi holds up in Toronto and how Hali and Zubac hold up in Indy.  Even with the nice record they have now I'm not seeing anything that's making me question that evaluation.  If they can consistently hang with the top teams this season and win almost all their home games against that competition and a fair number of road games, then they may be better than I think they are.

My concern that's been developing is that the JB trade may be the beginning of the downward spiral of this team.  it's not that PG hasn't been better than expected because he has and Tatum has looked really good for the most part, it's that the rest of the roster isn't looking better than last season and for the most part, is either equal to or worse than they were last year.  I don't think Brad has the assets to move for another JB-level player to add to Tatum going forward without gutting all the picks and youth on the roster and we'll end up like current Miami --> 2 top players and not much else resulting in a team underperforming expectations.

[Roy H.]

...  the rest of the roster isn't looking better than last season and for the most part, is either equal to or worse than they were last year.

I almost started a thread on this last night, as I was thinking the same thing.  It seems like none of our players (outside of Tatum, obviously) are better than they were last year.  That's despite the argument that having JT and PG would lift the role players more than JB did, as they're superior passers and shooters.

On the broadcasts they keep talking about our depth, but we don't have *good* depth, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of upside there, either.

[Ilikesports17]

Starting to worry the Celtics may have the same issue they did last year. Namely, they can beat bad teams but are not good enough to actually win against the top teams.

What gives you that impression? Just team construction or evidence from this season?

The early evidence, I suspect.  We've played two teams that are above .500, and lost to both of them.  The teams we have beaten are a combined 10-29.

Meh. Its not like theyve been great against bad teams either save the two Bulls games. Could have easily lost to Brooklyn,injured Orlando and even Milwaukee last night.

I think the team is just not doing well right now. If their level continues like this they wont even beat the mediocre teams. I dont suspect it remains this way tho. If it does, then so be it, built around the wrong guy. Blow the whole thing to smithereens.

[Vermont Green]

...  the rest of the roster isn't looking better than last season and for the most part, is either equal to or worse than they were last year.

I almost started a thread on this last night, as I was thinking the same thing.  It seems like none of our players (outside of Tatum, obviously) are better than they were last year.  That's despite the argument that having JT and PG would lift the role players more than JB did, as they're superior passers and shooters.

On the broadcasts they keep talking about our depth, but we don't have *good* depth, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of upside there, either.

This is true...so far anyway.  If you do some simple comparative analysis (which rarely results in accurate conclusions in sports), the team added Tatum and George while subtracting Jaylen Brown (I am ignoring Mitch Rob for now).  Tatum and George are > than Jaylen Brown.  So if the 2026 team is < the 2025 team, the entire reason is the rest of the team.

I would say that pretty much everyone of the rest of the team is playing below what they did last season.  Pritchard, White, Queta, all of them.  The question is what is causing it.  Is it just a slow start due to early season adjustments to new players?  Are other teams defending "the rest of the team" better?  Is it regression to the norm?  Did these "rest of the team" players play better off of Brown than Tatum?

I don't know the answer.  My gut feeling is that they will all play better and the team will gel and be better overall.  But I can't say I am 100% confident of that.

[Goldstar88]

...  the rest of the roster isn't looking better than last season and for the most part, is either equal to or worse than they were last year.

I almost started a thread on this last night, as I was thinking the same thing.  It seems like none of our players (outside of Tatum, obviously) are better than they were last year.  That's despite the argument that having JT and PG would lift the role players more than JB did, as they're superior passers and shooters.

On the broadcasts they keep talking about our depth, but we don't have *good* depth, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of upside there, either.

Completely agree. Mitch Robinson has been a disappoint so far. Baylor and Hugo look about the same as last year. Pritchard is off to a slow start. Same for D-White, overall. Hopefully some guys step up because this team doesn?t look that deep or talented.

[Who]

Is the depth that bad?

PG - Pritchard - elite backup PG
 C - M Robinson - above average to elite backup C
SF - Hauser - above average backup SF

SG - Baylor - average backup SG
SF - Hugo - below average to average backup SF
SF - J Walsh - below average backup SF

Now one of those guys needs to be a starter.

That is a good bench in my eyes. More than good. A very good bench. You have high level bench pieces in Pritchard (guard), MR (big) and an above average bench piece in Hauser (wing). Then you have a 4th bench piece in Baylor who is average / solid.

How many teams in the league have 4 bench guys that good? I imagine it is a short list.

Plus some playable guys behind the main 4 bench pieces in Pritch, MR, Hauser, Baylor -- Hugo, J Walsh, L Garza ... Conley, R Harper Jr, Devin Carter. Again, more quality in the deep bench than most other teams have.

[Roy H.]

Is the depth that bad?

PG - Pritchard - elite backup PG
 C - M Robinson - above average to elite backup C
SF - Hauser - above average backup SF

SG - Baylor - average backup SG
SF - Hugo - below average to average backup SF
SF - J Walsh - below average backup SF

Now one of those guys needs to be a starter.

That is a good bench in my eyes. More than good. A very good bench. You have high level bench pieces in Pritchard (guard), MR (big) and an above average bench piece in Hauser (wing). Then you have a 4th bench piece in Baylor who is average / solid.

How many teams in the league have 4 bench guys that good? I imagine it is a short list.

Plus some playable guys behind the main 4 bench pieces in Pritch, MR, Hauser, Baylor -- Hugo, J Walsh, L Garza ... Conley, R Harper Jr, Devin Carter. Again, more quality in the deep bench than most other teams have.

I think you're ranking most of those guys based upon reputation, though, not necessarily what they've shown this year.

[Who]

Is the depth that bad?

PG - Pritchard - elite backup PG
 C - M Robinson - above average to elite backup C
SF - Hauser - above average backup SF

SG - Baylor - average backup SG
SF - Hugo - below average to average backup SF
SF - J Walsh - below average backup SF

Now one of those guys needs to be a starter.

That is a good bench in my eyes. More than good. A very good bench. You have high level bench pieces in Pritchard (guard), MR (big) and an above average bench piece in Hauser (wing). Then you have a 4th bench piece in Baylor who is average / solid.

How many teams in the league have 4 bench guys that good? I imagine it is a short list.

Plus some playable guys behind the main 4 bench pieces in Pritch, MR, Hauser, Baylor -- Hugo, J Walsh, L Garza ... Conley, R Harper Jr, Devin Carter. Again, more quality in the deep bench than most other teams have.

I think you're ranking most of those guys based upon reputation, though, not necessarily what they've shown this year.

True ... but what they've done over the last 12+ months is more reflective of their talent / capacity than what they have done for the last 8 games.

I trust them to come good.

[dannyboy35]

  The consistent effort by the team is admirable. But this team just doesn?t have the talent to go anywhere.

[Who]

  The consistent effort by the team is admirable. But this team just doesn?t have the talent to go anywhere.

This team reminds me of LeBron's Cavs in 08-10. One superstar surrounded by a quality supporting cast and strong depth. No supporting stars around him.

Tatum is our superstar. No clear All-Star next to him.

[Silas]

  The consistent effort by the team is admirable. But this team just doesn?t have the talent to go anywhere.

This team reminds me of LeBron's Cavs in 08-10. One superstar surrounded by a quality supporting cast and strong depth. No supporting stars around him.

Tatum is our superstar. No clear All-Star next to him.

If PG stays healthy and continues to play like what we have seen for the first 8 games....he will be an all-star this season.  He is averaging 21.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.6 steals on 46% shooting from the field and 41.4% from three....not too shabby.

[lbgreen33]

...  the rest of the roster isn't looking better than last season and for the most part, is either equal to or worse than they were last year.

I almost started a thread on this last night, as I was thinking the same thing.  It seems like none of our players (outside of Tatum, obviously) are better than they were last year.  That's despite the argument that having JT and PG would lift the role players more than JB did, as they're superior passers and shooters.

On the broadcasts they keep talking about our depth, but we don't have *good* depth, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of upside there, either.

Wait, what? did anyone really think we would be a really good team this year? Am I missing something? This is a mid-level team at best, But, are we all forgetting something?? That is what we were last year!! Seems memories are short here? We didn't bring back our Championship team, remember!! Even if we didn?t trade JB we were going to be a mid-level team?? I don't understand what you guys are even talking about?
Brad broke up the team that won the last championship? So, what were you hoping for? Sorry, but if you expected us to all of a sudden be better this year, then I have to ask why??

The JB trade was made for the future, Not for this year!! Come on man, just sit back and enjoy the wins when we get them.  We are not winning the Championship this year, so who cares?
Hopefully Brad can make some moves in the future that put us back into contention. But, expecting anything other than a fun team to watch this year is completely unrealistic.

[Roy H.]

...  the rest of the roster isn't looking better than last season and for the most part, is either equal to or worse than they were last year.

I almost started a thread on this last night, as I was thinking the same thing.  It seems like none of our players (outside of Tatum, obviously) are better than they were last year.  That's despite the argument that having JT and PG would lift the role players more than JB did, as they're superior passers and shooters.

On the broadcasts they keep talking about our depth, but we don't have *good* depth, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of upside there, either.

Wait, what? did anyone really think we would be a really good team this year? Am I missing something? This is a mid-level team at best, But, are we all forgetting something?? That is what we were last year!! Seems memories are short here? We didn't bring back our Championship team, remember!! Even if we didn?t trade JB we were going to be a mid-level team?? I don't understand what you guys are even talking about?
Brad broke up the team that won the last championship? So, what were you hoping for? Sorry, but if you expected us to all of a sudden be better this year, then I have to ask why??

The JB trade was made for the future, Not for this year!! Come on man, just sit back and enjoy the wins when we get them.  We are not winning the Championship this year, so who cares?
Hopefully Brad can make some moves in the future that put us back into contention. But, expecting anything other than a fun team to watch this year is completely unrealistic.

1.  I don't find the team all that much fun to watch.

2.  Having two stars gave us a chance.  Having one doesn't.

3.  Why can't fans be discouraged by the lack of progress and growth from any of our players?

4.  Trading a star player for one good pick swap isn't really the way to build for the future. 

5.  Unless the Clippers pick ends up top five or gets packaged for a star, we are going to end up wasting Tatum's prime. There's no clear path to contention right now.

[lbgreen33]

...  the rest of the roster isn't looking better than last season and for the most part, is either equal to or worse than they were last year.

I almost started a thread on this last night, as I was thinking the same thing.  It seems like none of our players (outside of Tatum, obviously) are better than they were last year.  That's despite the argument that having JT and PG would lift the role players more than JB did, as they're superior passers and shooters.

On the broadcasts they keep talking about our depth, but we don't have *good* depth, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of upside there, either.

Wait, what? did anyone really think we would be a really good team this year? Am I missing something? This is a mid-level team at best, But, are we all forgetting something?? That is what we were last year!! Seems memories are short here? We didn't bring back our Championship team, remember!! Even if we didn?t trade JB we were going to be a mid-level team?? I don't understand what you guys are even talking about?
Brad broke up the team that won the last championship? So, what were you hoping for? Sorry, but if you expected us to all of a sudden be better this year, then I have to ask why??

The JB trade was made for the future, Not for this year!! Come on man, just sit back and enjoy the wins when we get them.  We are not winning the Championship this year, so who cares?
Hopefully Brad can make some moves in the future that put us back into contention. But, expecting anything other than a fun team to watch this year is completely unrealistic.

1.  I don't find the team all that much fun to watch.

2.  Having two stars gave us a chance.  Having one doesn't.

3.  Why can't fans be discouraged by the lack of progress and growth from any of our players?

4.  Trading a star player for one good pick swap isn't really the way to build for the future. 

5.  Unless the Clippers pick ends up top five or gets packaged for a star, we are going to end up wasting Tatum's prime. There's no clear path to contention right now.

Well Roy, that is a whole different conversation! I agree with pretty much your whole list, but, that has nothing to do with why we are a mid-level team this year? Who were you really hoping  would put us over the top from our bench? I mean Walsh is good on defense, that's about it, but it's not like he was a high pick? Hugo, love the kid, like his game for where he was drafted. What bench player is anyone even disappointed in? We don't even have one high draft pick sitting on the bench??  I am not trying to argue with anyone, I am just stating the facts, why were you hoping for anything more than how they are playing? I actually would argue they are overachieving.  I am not defending Brad, but we are what we are! That is all I am saying.