Boston Celtics are among those easily counted off by many critics given their roster structure. The most notable issue is the absence of Jayson Tatum who will be out for the whole 2025-26 season.
In ESPN’s survey, they got the third most votes as the team to face most turmoil next to Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.
In NBA.com’s Eastern teams’ power rankings, they were ranked 12th, calling this season as a gap year for them. It wrote:
What talent remains in Boston is all on the perimeter. As things stand, their bigs are Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and Xavier Tillman, with Niang probably set to play a lot of minutes at the four. That group is going to struggle matching up with the frontlines of the top six teams in these rankings.
Tatum’s absence is not just the main issue here. The team’s overall strength is being questioned.
General manager Brad Stevens have to blow up their core to remain under the second apron. They had cut salary and so, it meant letting of the players that helped them win the 2024 title.
Kristaps Porzingis is with the Atlanta Hawks now. Jrue Holiday has been sent to the Portland Trailblazers. Al Horford remains a free agent.
Jayson Tatum might rescue them
Some bookmakers are not that skeptic about the Celtics in the upcoming season. They have the 16th best odds to win the title according to early odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. Sixteenth means well within the playoffs.
This should qualify as a good outlook. The Eastern Conference is still wide open according to analysts. If they can secure a playoff spot, they might really get a chance as according a Boston insider, Tatum’s rehab is going promising.
Hosts of The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand radio show shared that they had dinner with head coach Joe Mazzulla and there, the latter revealed Tatum’s progress.
“The Celtics are very happy with how hard Jayson Tatum has been working at his rehab, and his level of focus and intensity in the rehab process,” Marc Bertrand said.
Mazzulla reportedly said that Tatum is ultra focused about his recovery and he has experts keeping close eyes on him.
“(Tatum) did not leave town. He has been here the entire time. … Since the injury, he has not left town and he has been inside the building at the Celtics’ facility with their people and their team almost every single day for months.”
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