Adam's 2025-26 Boston Celtics Regular Season Recap and Playoff Preview
- Adam Dawson
- Apr 16
- 19 min read
Introduction: Welcome back, as I hope you all are doing well. Yes, it has been almost two years since my last blog post, as it feels good to be back behind the keyboard writing about the Boston Celtics. Deciding to give my thoughts on the Celtics this season as well as looking ahead to their potential playoff run felt like a fascinating topic to write about due to two reasons.
Reason one is simply because the Boston Celtics are not just my favorite basketball team but my favorite sports team in general, as I seem to never get tired of talking about them. Keeping up with the team daily is something that I love doing. Whether it be watching games, podcasts, interviews, or researching and learning more about their franchise history, all of it brings me joy and gives me something to look forward to.
The second reason is considering how nearly everyone wrote them off at the beginning of the season and how improbable this season has been. The Celtics were only projected to win 38 games during the 2025-26 campaign which tells you how much this group has overachieved this year from the top to the bottom of the organization. One word that I would use to describe this Celtics season would be "memorable" as it has been a special ride thus far.
Below is my 2025-26 regular season recap as well as my playoff preview all combined into one post. From step-up guys to playoff questions I do my best to cover all angles of this crazy year up to this point. With all of this out of the way, I hope you enjoy reading my article!
Expectation: A strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.
Beginning my article with the definition of the word "expectation" is only fitting when you start to talk about the 2025-26 Boston Celtics. In fact there were no expectations coming into this season, as some, if not all, considered it a "gap year." Quite frankly, the only guys who felt they could get to where they are today and be the number two seed in the East were the players and coaches in the Celtics locker room.
Revamping the roster to get under certain tax aprons last summer, GM Brad Stevens let go of four crucial pieces that brought success to the team in previous years. Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, and Luke Kornet all were signed or traded elsewhere meaning the Boston roster would indeed look a lot different coming into the season. Oh yeah I almost forgot one more thing... Jayson Tatum, the Celtics star, tore his right Achilles during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semis last season against the New York Knicks. As a result this brought even more uncertainty to the immediate future of the team.
The overall look of the Celtics looked way different when I first watched them play back in October as seeing a bunch of young players seemed odd compared to watching older veterans. When the team started the year 0-3 I remember thinking to myself that this could be a long season. Knowing Jayson Tatum would not be suiting up for who knew how long at that point was also very difficult to grasp, seeing him in street clothes on the bench and on the injury report every game listed as "out" looked really weird and honestly it made me sad.
So yeah, I guess you could say the team had a brand new identity and style of play that we have not seen in quite some time. The fact that they went 56-23 after starting 0-3 speaks volumes not just about the players, but also about the coaching staff and front office.
Jaylen Brown: Jaylen Brown was the superstar this season for Boston, nearly averaging 29 PPG. Brown has had doubters his whole career, whether it be not being able to dribble with his left hand or that he and Jayson Tatum should be split up, I feel like he silenced those critics during the regular season. Being the leader of the team, Brown seemed to push guys like Jordan Walsh a little harder by giving him advice in team huddles during timeouts.
From a playing perspective just from the eye-test I could tell Brown was taking more mid-range shots and getting to the basket a lot more often instead of settling for a three-pointer. Scoring a total of 2038 points this season tells you all you need to know about Jaylen. Making difficult contested shots all year long he put on a masterclass of a performance. Also getting his teammates involved and just trusting them in general was crucial both for the team as well as for the growth and development of the younger players.
Being a two-way player is something JB prides himself on, as he has a very high defensive IQ and can turn steals into points on the other end of the floor, as averaging a steal a game tells you have versatile he is. Brown is one of the best two-way players in the league as he makes an impact on both ends of the court.
Derrick White: Derrick White had his presence felt specifically on the defensive end. Although he had a rather low field goal percentage this season as compared to in year's past, (44.2 in 2024, 39.4 in 2025) but if you know Derrick he impacts the game in more ways than just scoring. The best shot-blocking guard in the league, D-White ended the season averaging 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He usually makes clutch shots when it matters most, as Boston will need this during their run in the playoffs.
Joe Mazzulla: Head Coach Joe Mazzulla has mixed and matched lineups all season long. Pushing the right buttons at certain times during the year has made the team successful. Joe seems to never be satisfied and is always wanting to improve in some aspect of the game, which I think is awesome. Being a front-runner for Coach of the Year, I believe he should win the award... although I may be a little biased. Mazzulla did call the award "stupid" in a recent press conference, which if you know Joe Mazzulla that is just Joe being Joe. Sam Cassell, Tony Dobbins, DJ MacLeay, Amile Jefferson, Matt Reynolds, and the rest of the assistant coaches deserve credit as well. Pushing players like Neemias Queta to reach another level in his game this season has been invaluable and it all starts with the staff.
This year if anything has taught me to believe in my team no matter who is on the floor and sometimes playing with no expectations is the best way to play after all. Jaylen Brown playing like a superstar and the supporting cast doing their part has been fun to watch on a game by game basis. With that being said, you could say the young guys who the majority of NBA fans had never heard of prior to this season had to step up.
The Step-Up Guys: During certain games of the season when players such as Jaylen Brown or Derrick White were out due to rest or minor injuries, NBC Sports Boston's Drew Carter and Brian Scalabrine have a pregame segment in which they vote on which player would "step up" the most for that night's game. Now that we are at the end of the regular season, below are my "step-up guys" that truly stepped up during the whole regular season. Without these players I have no idea where Boston would have ended up this year.
Neemias Queta: Coming into the season there were so many questions about who would be the season-long starting center for this Celtics team. After losing Porzingis, Horford, and Kornet, Neemias Queta or "Neemi" was the first choice to start in the middle. Queta, the fourth center on the 2023-2024 championship roster had questions about whether or not he could hold up as a starting caliber center all year, as he looked lost at times in the two prior years here in Boston. Whether it was being in foul trouble, rebounding, screening, etc. Boston's frontcourt was projected near the bottom in October due to the overall trust of the big man.
After having a stellar EuroBasket during the summer with his native Portugal team, I believe this was one of the many reasons why he grew so much this year alongside Joe and the staff pushing him as well.
Now almost six months later Neemi is in the Most Improved Player conversation. His overall screening and rebounding has taken a massive leap from the start of the year. First his overall rebounding numbers jumped from 3.8 per game last year to 8.4 boards per game this year. Second, his screening on the offensive end has led to him ending the season with 273 screen assists as he is vital in the pick and roll game. His footwork in the post has gotten better too, earning him the nickname "Neem the Dream" as he shoots a little hook shot every once and awhile over a defender. Screening for Jayson Tatum and the rest of the Celtics guards and wings has allowed Queta to be wide open in the paint allowing him to throw down a dunk or a lob. Ending the season with at least 600 rebounds, 90 blocks, and 50 steals tells you how much of a leap he has taken this year.
His chemistry with Tatum is something that I want to see develop more as we get deeper into the playoffs, as Jayson is just now over a month back from his injury and has not played much with Queta prior to this season.
Payton Pritchard: How could I forget about one of the top bench scorer's in the entire league and the reigning 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year? Payton Pritchard is a spark plug for this Celtics team. Whenever they need a boost off the bench Pritchard's number is called first. Having been in the starting five to start the season Payton has since moved back to his normal sixth man role and has thrived there. The majority of his stats whether it be MPG, PPG, RPG, or APG have gone up this year. Obviously we knew he would be a focal point in Joe Mazzulla's offense and as a result he has come up big during certain times this season, taking over games by himself if need be.
Standing only 6'1, Pritchard is at his best when driving to the paint against guys standing around seven feet. Often I will say "the paint is his office" meaning he works well inside and is able to get his shot off over taller defenders. From his shooting to his elite ball handling Pritchard is a certified hooper, you can tell he just loves playing the game of basketball. Personally I believe he is the biggest momentum shifter on the team because of his unique skill to make shots when there is little time left on the clock. He also works well in isolation as he can either step-back and make a jumper or go to the paint for a layup.
Sam Hauser: Sam Hauser is the final piece of the Celtics starting five as he is simply in there to shoot from the perimeter and defend. Hauser has added a more consistent mid-range shot into his arsenal this season as well as a no-dip three. He is a perimeter shooter first and foremost, shooting nearly 40 percent from downtown. Rarely going to the free throw line, the highlight of Hauser's season came in January against Atlanta when he made 10 three's. Sam's game is pretty simple, he does three things well offensively. He is great at coming off screens, pulling up in transition, and spotting up in the corner, as he is not a shot-creator by any means and does not need to be. When Brown or Tatum are collapsed on by opposing defenses Hauser usually gets a pretty good look at a shot if they kick the ball out to him. No doubt he will be called upon during this playoff run as his shot making from deep will be huge.
The Stay-Ready Group: For my next step-up player it is not just one player, but five players that prior to the season NBA fans probably had never even heard of. This is the group of players I was talking about earlier where quite frankly nobody had given much thought to when the season began.
The stay-ready group or The Bus 1 Boys consists of guys like Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., Luka Garza, Hugo Gonzalez, and Jordan Walsh. They have all had times where they have shined this season. Whether it was Walsh in the middle of November to the start of January as the team went 15-5 when he was in the starting lineup, Scheierman since the middle of February, or Garza who has been a workhorse all season on the offensive glass, it has been these guys who have been the most fun to watch.
Ron Harper Jr. earning a full scale two-year contract with the team just a few weeks ago really excited me because he more than deserved it when he was on a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics earlier this season. He came up big in games against Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Orlando. These four games stand out the most to me because it really showed his overall skill-set and what he does well. His potential of being a solid two-way role player is his ceiling. Whether it was blocking shots, coming in for a dunk off a missed shot, or knocking down a three, these are the types of plays that Harper Jr. is capable of making. Ron recently used the word "rewarding" in a postgame interview to describe how far he has come, as I could not agree more.
Whenever any of these five guys are called upon by Joe Mazzulla they are up for the challenge, taking on anyone and outperforming everyone's expectations prior to the season.
The majority of them played in Maine for the Maine Celtics, the Boston Celtics G-League team, as credit should also go to Maine Celtics Head Coach Phil Pressey (Pressey a former Celtic himself) and the rest of his staff for helping develop them into the players they are today.
All five of these boys have one thing in common and that is unselfishness. They bring a level of energy and hustle off the bench and onto the court that is just astounding. Blocking shots, playing great defense, and moving the ball to find the open shot are just a few things this group does well. The one thing I love the most about this group is they play together and cheer each other on, as Baylor and Hugo Gonzalez have become close friends. Whether playing the game Catan on the plane or giving each other a hard time this is what you want to see, guys who like being around each other on and off the court.
The stay-ready group winning game 82 of the season as an encore this past Sunday night against a full strength Orlando Magic squad capped off a season where I truly believe this was one of their best wins of the year. Giving everyone a glimpse on national TV of how the Celtics have played this season was this game in a nutshell. Baylor, Harper Jr., and Garza combined for 84 points, including a Luka Garza game winning three-pointer with 33 seconds left that sent TD Garden into a frenzy!
Baylor Scheierman: Baylor has personally become one of my favorite players on the team. Out of the five or so players in the "stay-ready group" Scheierman in my opinion is the best out of the bunch. For only being 6'6 he crashes the glass from the corner of the floor on nearly every offensive possession as his motor seems to never stop. Drawing charges and offensive fouls on the opposition is what he does best. To sum up "The Fireman" I would describe him as scrappy. Simply put he does all the small things which ultimately leads to positive things on the court. Although he does not score a lot consistently (only averaged 5.7 points per game this season) he shows up big in other ways that you do not see in the box score. Tipping rebounds back out to teammates for second chance scoring opportunities or forcing turnovers by playing solid defense is his calling card.
Of course his thumbs up celebration after making a three is pretty cool too. Having a cast on his left shooting thumb for the better part of the past month or so due to dislocating it, the second year player out of Creighton decided to play through the injury which I admire so much! The celebration has led to him becoming even more popular, as he indeed is a fan favorite.
As the season has gone along the kid from Aurora, Nebraska has gotten better and better as his scoring output has reached 9.3 points per game combined between March and April. Averaging at least 24.3 minutes per game since the month of February he has received more playing time due to his work ethic and style of play.
Over the last week of the season Baylor I feel has become the leader of the "stay-ready group." Having two of his best games of his career to end the year has to feel good. First against New York at Madison Square Garden he had 20 points, including six three-pointers, Then against Orlando he had a career high 30 points to go with 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals in a wild game 82 to end the regular season.
Coach Joe Mazzulla has leaned on Scheierman a good bit this season, particularly off the bench, although he was in the starting lineup for 20 games this year. Since the return of Jayson Tatum he usually checks in near the end of the first quarter or at the start of the second. Now seeing what he can do I have a feeling he will again step up big time when the lights are the brightest. Hopefully he will receive 20 plus minutes per game during the biggest games of the season, as this would be outstanding!
Boston Celtics Regular Season Key Stats and Numbers:
Assuming you know me well you know I love to look at stats. Numbers in sports tell at least part of the story as to why a certain team or player has been successful or not as successful over a certain period of time. Below is a list of key numbers and stats from the Celtics regular season that I found interesting while putting this article together:
Jaylen Brown had 35 games of 30 or more points.
Jaylen Brown led the league in field goals made with 736.
Luka Garza shot 43.3 percent from three.
Neemias Queta recorded 17 double-doubles and had 273 screen assists.
The Celtics were first in the NBA in opponent points per game at 107.2.
Boston finished the season in the top five in both offensive and defensive rating.
Boston was a perfect 10-0 against Pacific Division teams.
Derrick White and Payton Pritchard ended the year with 200 plus made three's.
Baylor Scheierman had a 7.3 net rating.
Jayson Tatum had 10 double-doubles in 16 games.
What to Expect in the Playoffs?
The NBA Playoffs are just around the corner, as they start April 18th. To start I will type that nobody and I mean nobody thought the Boston Celtics would be where they are today as I mentioned multiple times earlier. Locking up the two-seed in the East this past Friday night against the Pelicans is something as a fan that I did not see coming. This team was projected as a play-in team to come out of the Eastern Conference... I mean this season has truly been unbelievable!
Joe Mazzulla has played Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum for longer stretches over the last few weeks of games. This tells me that he will lean a little more heavily on them during the course of the playoffs, although I have no idea how big or small the playoff rotation will be given the way that everyone has played this season. With this in mind, below are a few questions I have regarding the Celtics Playoff Run:
How will Nikola Vucevic Adjust to Playoff Basketball?
Nikola Vucevic was acquired in February from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Anfernee Simons. Not having played in hardly any playoff games in his career, Vooch will be in a new type of atmosphere. Having suffered a finger injury on March 6th and just returning to game action recently we have not had a great look at the veteran stretch big for an extended period. Although he looked better shooting the basketball ever since the second half of the recent back and forth battle against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
He looks more like himself and it could not come at a better time, as he seems to look more comfortable within the offense and has his legs under him. Hopefully he can continue to stretch the floor and allow his teammates to cut toward the basket, as he is a great passing big man and works well out of the post.
How much will the Celtics be in Drop Coverage?
Drop Coverage is a type of defensive coverage to defend ball screens and the pick and roll. The center is primarily used to "drop" and defend the paint while the guard fights over the ball screen and tries to defend the ball handler on the perimeter. As a result this could allow an open shot in the mid-range or behind the three-point line if the defender is unable to get through the screen which could burn opposing defenses. Obviously this depends on matchups and the opposing players abilities.
Take for example the New York Knicks. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns run a great pick and roll together, as they had their way against the Celtics defense pretty much all game this past week running the same action for what felt like over and over again at times.
Aside from the Celtics missing shots and turning the ball over in key situations I felt the Knicks took advantage of their coverages on specific possessions. Brunson is a lights out shooter specifically in clutch time situations and so is Towns, so you could imagine trying to defend against them, as it is very difficult. The Knicks also took advantage of mismatches on switches as well. (Josh Hart vs. Vucevic, Brunson vs. Queta, etc.) The smaller guard will always have the advantage in this situation because he is quicker and can either stop on a dime for a jumper or beat his man and go to the basket for a layup or dunk. Whenever Queta or Vooch are out on an island defending an elite guard I tend to always shake my head knowing it will likely not end well.
My hope is that if we see them again they will adjust their defense accordingly... obviously the Celtics coaching staff knows this, what am I even saying... haha.
Will Tatum continue to look more like his Old Self?
Jayson Tatum this, Jayson Tatum that, Jayson Tatum everything... I am sure I drove my parents crazy with Jayson Tatum injury updates throughout the year.
Yes, "The Anomaly" is indeed back on the floor looking more and more like himself slowly but surely. When he first returned to TD Garden in his season debut on March 6th against the Dallas Mavericks I felt like this was the biggest moment of the season, as when he would return was the main question and storyline for the Celtics this year.
When I say that I have not tracked an injury as much as I did Tatum's Achilles injury would be an understatement. From his surgery, to being in a walking boot, to working out in the pool, to dunking for the first time in the practice facility, I was always so excited when a new update would surface. When he worked out with the Maine Celtics for the first time in February I had a good feeling he would be back this season. Just being able to watch my favorite basketball player of all-time play again was huge for me from a personal standpoint regardless if they won or lost. Credit needs to go to his personal trainer Nick Sang and assistant coaches Amile Jefferson and Tony Dobbins who worked with him throughout his rehab process.
Now back into the fold, at this point the only thing I gripe about is his field goal efficiency which can be troublesome at times since returning. His rebounding has been excellent, averaging a career best 10 RPG. Granted it is a 16 game sample, although it is great to see him sky for rebounds on the defensive end of the floor without much hesitation. His ball handling and overall decision making is solid as he is almost like a 6'9 point guard at times, dishing the ball out when he drives to the hoop and when the opposing defenses collapse on him. The results of his passing and rebounding has paid off, as Tatum had10 double-doubles in 16 games.
He can fall into the trap of taking too many shots and play "hero ball" at times which is nothing new if you have watched Jayson play in years prior. What will be interesting to see is if he continues to trust his teammates in the biggest games of the year, my hope is he has gained trust in the young guys specifically over the last five or so weeks to make shots in big situations.
Playoff Garza... Yes or No?
Luka Garza is a workhorse. There is no player on this team that sweats more than the former Iowa Hawkeye. Garza can do two things very well: offensive rebound and shoot the three. Boston fans want to see "The Garzilla" during this playoff run at some point, including myself. Nikola Vucevic will be the first big man off the bench for Mazzulla's squad but I feel like Luka has played well enough throughout the season to earn some key minutes. Hopefully we will get to see him as I feel like he brings more energy off the bench than Nikola and is a better defender and overall fiery competitor. He busts his chops going for an offensive rebound and just plays his tail off as he huffs and puffs up and down the court. His energy and the way he plays could shift a game or two into Boston's favor if he is given an opportunity.
Adam's Keys to Celtics Playoff Success:
Jaylen Brown Needs to Keep Being Jaylen Brown:
All this means is that Jaylen needs to keep being Jaylen as we enter the playoffs. Just because Jayson Tatum has returned from injury does not mean Brown needs to change his style of play. Getting downhill and finishing through contact is Jaylen's game in a nutshell, as well as being a maestro in the mid-range. JB is in the MVP conversation because this is how he has played all season long, leading this team to where they are. Not to mention his defense, he is an All-NBA caliber player. Good grief Jaylen do not change how you have played all year when it matters most.
Do NOT Overlook Anyone:
Celtics podcasts and shows I watch have drove me up the wall recently because everyone is already mentioning the Celtics and Knicks in a potential Round 2 matchup. Why are we talking about this when the Celtics have not even played a game in Round 1?
Personally I have had the mindset this year of taking it all one game at a time and focusing on the task at hand. Everyone at this point in the year is dangerous and can give them trouble, so please let's not get too ahead of ourselves here. We have seen Philadelphia and Tyrese Maxey win two out of the first three meetings of the regular season between the two teams by a combined four points, as Boston draws the 76ers in Round 1.
Just Play Celtics Basketball:
Finally, just play Celtics basketball. Meaning, trust each other, move the ball, fly around on defense, and do not settle for unnecessary shots. Basically just stick to the style of play that has gotten you here. In prior years I felt they fell into this trap of just jacking up three's. This year when Jayson was out for the first 65 or so games I felt the overall team chemistry was better because nobody was selfish on the offensive side of the ball. Playing for each other and having each other's back on defense is also huge, as covering for someone who cannot get through a screen, getting into passing lanes for steals, or whatever the case may be will be huge in games like these.
Conclusion: In conclusion I guess you could say I love the Boston Celtics, as this is indeed a true statement. With this said I have absolutely no clue how deep they will go into the playoffs, but if I do know one thing it would be to never count out Lucky the Leprechaun and his basketball team. To say I have fallen in love with this group of guys over the course of the season would be an understatement. The combination of togetherness and the new brand of basketball that has taken place on the parquet has been special. Here's to hoping they can go deep into the playoffs and have an opportunity at raising Banner 19.
See you on the Parquet
Adam
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