How the Boston Celtics are preparing for the 2024-2025 season

(Credit – @celtics on Instagram)

The 79th NBA season is steadily approaching, officially starting on October 22.  The Boston Celtics have had a great run in preseason games, kicking off their preseason opener in Abu Dhabi with a 107-103 victory against the Denver Nuggets.  Their second game proved even stronger on October 6, with the Celtics winning against the Nuggets with a final score of 130.  During this game, they hit the 100-point mark before the third quarter even hit its final period. 

Experts expect another season of masterful plays from the team based on these last two games alone, given their blowout wins.  Still, it’s worth looking into the Celtics’ preparations and recent history for a better picture of their upcoming 2024-2025 season. 

Celtics are shaping up for another winning season

(Credit – @celtics on Instagram)

In a press conference at the Auerbach Center, Celtics president Brad Stevens noted that the team’s training camp had already started in the final week of September.  Stressing how the margin of error was very small to defend the championship, Stevens has put the onus on coach Joe Mazzulla to secure the win this coming season. 

Key Celtics players also shared their optimism and ambition for the coming season, especially with Jaylen Brown carrying a Finals MVP title and Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White taking home the gold in the Paris Olympics.  As pushed by Mazzulla, efforts are focused on looking at the championship as if they are starting from scratch instead of already having last year’s win in tow. 

The team are not resting on the laurels of their previous 64-18 record, as there are up-and-coming teams that will potentially make leaps worth looking out for.  The Cleveland Cavaliers’ new coach and the considerable lineup changes in the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers are not factors to underestimate.  That said, the motivation behind the Celtics’ training efforts remains promising on top of the great preseason showing they’ve displayed.  If things continue as they are now (or even improve), the team is poised to continue its reign. 

The Celtics’ performance and what to watch for 

Celtics insiders Chris Forsberg and Tom Giles have high hopes in their predictions for the team’s 2024-25 season.  With their panel of experts, the expectation is for an even more impressive turnout than last year.  Considering how the All-Star weekend from the previous season saw the team take a 43-12 record, it’s interesting to see experts bet on an even better performance.  While the panel notes the possibility of fewer wins, there’s still little question regarding their dominance on the court, fueled purely by their skill and focus. 

This highlights the importance of consistency if the team aims to avoid injuries and complacency, which can be its downfall.  If you’re interested in seeing how their performance will affect NBA betting odds, popular betting platform Thunderpick lets fans stay updated by using Live Mode to watch the games and place bets on in-play events based on Thunderpicks’ predictions, in-depth analysis and results.  When the season starts, Thunderpick will likely have the Celtics as one of the clear favorites to retain the NBA Championship.

Team statistics for the Celtics also stand as definitive markers on which to build.  Their 2022-23 regular season saw a solid 57-25 standing yet failed to navigate the lows that pulled them from the top of the league record.  This is primarily due to their recurring problem with consistency, tying back to the need for more consistency both on and off the court.  Once they hit their stride, it will be a matter of maintaining solid offense and defense throughout the season. 

A strong roster alone may not be enough because of rising opponents, especially with the compilations added by the team being in the process of having a majority stake sold.  The balance will close in 2028, but this undoubtedly adds pressure to the mix as the team aims to defend its championship.  From this, coach Mazzulla will have to use his players wisely. 

Although Team USA brought home gold, the Olympics had several strategic choices worth avoiding in the upcoming season.  Where the Olympic team largely kept Tatum on the bench, his 26.9 point-per-game average from the 2023-24 NBA season should be maximized for the upcoming run.  Additionally, Brown was completely snubbed for the national team yet emerged as the game leader from the preseason Abu Dhabi game with 21 points.  He also managed a field goal percentage of 51.6% in the previous regular season, even though guards statistically display lower FG% than forwards.  Of course, Celtics fans will also know that Brown is a wing who has easily taken the Small Forward role in many games. 

Overall, the Boston Celtics are in top form and taking the necessary measures to keep every team member in high spirits, good health, and in tip-top shape.  What remains to be seen is how consistent they can be, though things look as promising as ever. 

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