Will Celtics actually miss playoffs? This overreaction is premature
The whispers started early. A 1-3 start from a recent champion is enough to get the hot-take machines running, and the Boston Celtics, the NBA’s model of consistency over the last decade, suddenly found themselves at the center of a ridiculous question: Are the Celtics really in danger of missing the playoffs?
For context, the last time Boston didn’t make the postseason, Jayson Tatum was still a teenager, Kyrie Irving hadn’t yet requested his first trade, and LeBron James was still in Cleveland. Since then, the Celtics have been a permanent fixture in the Eastern Conference hierarchy, with 11 consecutive playoff berths, six conference finals appearances, two trips to the NBA Finals, and a championship in 2024 that restored pride to one of the league’s most storied franchises.
So, yes, this overreaction is brutal. Because if anything, the Celtics’ shaky start says less about their decline and more about the growing pains of a defending champion learning to adjust after early adversity.
The slow start that sparked the panic
The 2025-26 season didn’t exactly start with confetti and parades for Boston. Their opening slate was brutal, with games against the Rockets, Knicks, 76ers, and Cavaliers all testing their depth early. Losing Jayson Tatum to injury immediately shifted the team’s offensive structure. Suddenly, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White had to carry a heavier scoring load while also being primary defensive anchors.
Boston’s 1-3 start wasn’t a reflection of effort as much as it was rhythm. The ball wasn’t moving the way it did during its 2024 title run, and the offense lacked the balance that made them lethal.
The result? Disjointed offense, defensive lapses, and the kind of frustration that fuels hot takes about missing the playoffs. But to their credit, the Celtics have already started to steady the ship.
Over their last few games, Boston has looked like itself again, beating the Cavaliers, Pelicans, and 76ers while finding their defensive identity. They’ve climbed back to 3-4, rediscovering their spacing and tempo. And though their record doesn’t scream dominance, the trends behind the numbers suggest a team poised to surge.
Rediscovering the Celtics’ DNA
What makes the “Celtics missing the playoffs” narrative laughable is that Boston hasn’t lost its core identity. This is still a team built on versatility, switchable defense, and veteran execution.
Jaylen Brown has taken on a more assertive playmaking role, looking more comfortable driving into double teams and creating for others. Derrick White has been the steady hand, anchoring Boston’s defense and hitting big shots when needed.
Then there’s the bench, often the source of midseason complaints for this franchise. But in recent games, the second unit has started to mesh. Payton Pritchard has finally cemented his place in the first team, Sam Hauser continues to space the floor effectively, and big man Neemias Queta has shown flashes as a serviceable rotational defender.
Defensively, the Celtics are trending back toward elite form. They’ve held opponents under 110 points in each of its three wins and have re-established the team-first communication that made them terrifying during their championship run. Even without Tatum, the Celtics look organized and composed, forcing teams into bad shots and controlling the glass.
Why the Celtics aren’t going anywhere
Let’s be clear, this isn’t a rebuilding roster. This is a team that knows how to win in April and May, and that counts for more than early-season hiccups in October.
Tatum’s injury undoubtedly disrupted their rhythm, but once he returns, Boston immediately regains an MVP-caliber scorer who can carry them through offensive droughts. His absence has also allowed other stars to expand their game, particularly Brown, who looks more self-assured in late-game situations. When Tatum and Brown share the floor again, the offensive balance will return naturally.
There’s also the matter of pedigree. Championship teams often stumble out of the gate, just ask the 2018 Warriors or the 2014 Spurs. Early-season complacency, rotation experimentation, and minor injuries all contribute to slow starts. What separates elite teams is their ability to correct course before it’s too late. The Celtics have already shown that adjustment capability.
And when you look around the Eastern Conference, the idea that Boston would somehow fall out of the top eight becomes even more absurd. The Bucks and 76ers are strong, sure. But beyond that? The Hornets, Hawks, and Magic are still inconsistent, and Miami looks less formidable than in recent years. The Celtics, even at half-strength, are a playoff lock.
The real question isn’t if they’ll make the playoffs, it’s whether they can return to championship form once Tatum is fully healthy.
A wake-up call, not a warning sign
If anything, this slow start might be the best thing that could’ve happened to Boston. It reminded them that success in the NBA isn’t a carryover from the previous season’s trophy, it’s something you earn again every night.
This isn’t a group in crisis. It’s a championship core learning how to handle early adversity. By the time April rolls around, nobody will remember their 1-3 start. They’ll remember the team that found its rhythm, fought through injuries, and played its best basketball when it mattered most.
So no, the Celtics aren’t missing the playoffs. They’re reloading. They’re getting healthy. And when Jayson Tatum returns, Boston will once again be one of the most dangerous teams in basketball, the kind of team no one wants to face in a seven-game series.
Sometimes, a little early-season chaos is exactly what a champion needs to wake up. The Celtics just hit the snooze button. Now, they’re ready to get back to work.
Warriors’ Young Guard Delivers on Bold Promise to Replace Curry
Brandin Podziemski backed up his bold words with a breakout performance.
Days after declaring that he intends to one day inherit the keys to the
Starting in place of Curry, Podziemski led the
Though the Warriors were without Curry, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford and Moses Moody, Podziemski emerged as their most impactful player, finishing with a team-best plus-6 in the plus-minus column.
Kerr Praises Podziemski’s Aggression and Poise
Warriors coach Steve Kerr lauded Podziemski’s assertiveness and rhythm in leading a short-handed lineup.
“He was great,” Kerr told reporters. “He’s been really aggressive throughout camp. I know he didn’t score particularly well in the first two games, but this is more like what he’s looked like in practice and scrimmages — super aggressive, very confident with his shot, moving the ball.”
Kerr said the performance reflected Podziemski’s natural feel and tempo.
“He just has a good feel and a good flow, a good pace to his game,” Kerr added. “He was definitely aggressive and playing at a high level. I think he knew without Steph and Jimmy, he needed to be more aggressive.”
Podziemski spearheaded a Warriors rally in the third quarter that trimmed a 17-point deficit to five. He scored 14 points in the period, adding three assists and a steal during the surge that brought the visiting team to life.
Stepping Into the Leadership Role
Getty Brandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Stephen Curry after scoring a fastbreak.
After the game, Podziemski said his approach was to read the moment and elevate his play in the absence of the team’s veteran stars.
“Just have an understanding of who’s out, who I’ve got on the floor with me, what I’ve got to do as a point guard to make sure everybody gets their touches — but also play within myself,” he told reporters. “I think I did a good job of evenly distributing the load throughout the guys I was out there with.”
Podziemski’s blend of scoring, control, and leadership is precisely what he envisions long term — a future where Curry and the Warriors’ aging core eventually pass the torch to him.
“When they leave this thing, they’ve got to leave it with somebody,” Podziemski told The Athletic earlier this month. “How can I have their trust? And they can go to [owner] Joe [Lacob] and [general manager] Mike [Dunleavy] and be like, ‘Hey, we want to leave it with him. He’s going to continue what we’re leaving.’”
He acknowledged that leadership requires more than just skill. “There are a lot of other things than just talent that you need to be in that position,” he said.
Warriors’ Future on Display
Warriors owner Joe Lacob has called Podziemski a “future All-Star,” while Kerr often refers to him as the team’s “connector” — a player whose instincts and decision-making tie everything together.
“I want to be a third option for this team,” Podziemski said. “I want to be a guy where Steph and Jimmy are out, like they can rely on me to help win games.”
On Sunday night, he did exactly that — proving that his confidence isn’t misplaced and that his vision for the Warriors’ future may not be so far-fetched after all.
