We back!
The Celtics 2024-2025 season is almost officially upon us. I know because it almost always coincides with me entirely giving up on the Patriots.
On Tuesday night the C’s raise banner 18 to the rafters prior to their season opener against the New York Knicks. Boston are heavy betting favorites to be in this same exact position next season as well. With next to zero roster turnover and their two young stars only now entering their prime, there’s every reason to believe the Celtics will not only be as good as last year’s title winning team but perhaps, even better.
And while declaring that “the Celtics are good” does not a clairvoyant make, there are some things about this upcoming season that are not etched in stone. Things that require prognosticators to take a few risks, dig deep into their souls and be, dare I say….bold?
Without further ado here are the CLNS Garden Report staff’s BOLD predictions for the upcoming season.
Jimmy Toscano: Knicks finish at top of the Eastern Conference
Wow! They said to go bold and he went there! Listen, I think the Celtics are the best team in the NBA. I also think there might be a bit of a playoff hangover. I think some guys are going to get extra rest. I think they’re going to have a target on their back all season and may slip on a couple games.
I think the Knicks will be try-hards in the regular season and push for that No. 1 seed. Fine, let them have it. It will be close, and it will be a dog fight if these two teams meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. I really hope it happens. I am going to take the Celtics in that series because I think if both teams are healthy, the C’s talent wins out. I am interested though because we can all agree the C’s had a bit of an easy run through the playoffs (they earned it) and this year could be different. You know which team I’m not scared of though? The Sixers. Knicks and Pacers intrigue me more. Everybody else is just there.
Sherrod Blakely: 2 Celtics make All NBA-1st Team
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are going to get their flowers this year as a dynamic duo with both being named to the all-NBA First Team.
John Zannis: Joe Mazzulla wins Coach of the Year
Well if this isn’t a walking, talking ‘apology cam’ I don’t know what is.
Full disclosure, while very late to the party, I’ve been all in on Mazzulla since midway through last season (please don’t look this up.) Many fans and some media have pushed back against Mazzulla ball (why are they shooting so many threeeeeeeees?!?!) and bristled at his sometimes combative and overly sensitive responses at press conferences.
Does this sound like someone we know?
I’ve drawn this comparison before but Mazzulla has been downright Belichickian in his approach to coaching. Do what I say and we will win. Simple as that. The man we at the Garden Report dubbed “Coach GPT” has figured out the formula and now has total buy in from his players who respect both his method and his madness. Fans eventually came around last season, and this year the rest of the league will too. Yes, Mazzulla inherited an uber talented roster, but he is a far bigger reason than any of us initially realized (or were willing to realize) for the team’s success.
Joe Mazzulla led the way to start the #Celtics parade today.
⚡️ @Prizepicks @Gametime pic.twitter.com/YHdMscwCyp
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) June 21, 2024
Noa Dalzell: Payton Pritchard becomes a double-figure scorer
Pritchard established himself as a legitimate rotational player last season, serving as a reliable backup point guard, and thriving when given an increased opportunity – even earning a Player of the Week nomination last March. I expect Pritchard to take another offensive leap this season, and actually become a guy who averages, at minimum, 10 points per game. That’ll probably be padded by him starting more games than he did last year (), such as whenever Jrue Holiday or Derrick White get the night off (whereas last year, the Celtics simply inserted Al Horford into the starting lineup.whenever one of the other starters sat).
So far this year, Pritchard has been in a great groove, shooting 48.8% from three in the preseason. Through 5 preseason games, advanced analytics actually show he’s been one of the league’s best players – according to Hoops Hype’s Global Rating, he was actually the NBA’s MVP.
Manning/Blakely: Payton Pritchard will win Sixth Man of the Year
Will he play enough minutes? That’s the question here, but past frontrunners for this award are either headed for more front line roles (Immanuel Quickley) or injured to begin the season (Malcolm Brogdon). Only Naz Reid or Donte DiVincenzo stand out as major threats to Pritchard here, who averaged 26.0 points and 9.8 assists per 36 minutes with 1.3 turnovers.
Manning: Luke Kornet will start the season at center
Zannis: Luke Kornet averages double digit points in KP’s absence
Dammit Bobby, you win. I have moved off my stance that Kornet is merely a replacement level 3rd ceeeenteeeeeer and now believe he might actually be (gulp, you can do it) kind of ok in his own right.
There I said it. Don’t @ me!
I won’t go as far as Bobby to suggest he should start while Kristaps Porzingis is on the shelf but I’m also not going to go “Full Zannis” if it happens. Not yet at least.
Reality is, what Luke does best adds a dimension to the Celtics offense. He’s not a leaper like Rob Williams obviously but at 7′ 2″ he is a legitimate vertical threat. I think, as we’ve seen throughout the preseason, Kornet’s teammates have learned to capitalize on this and will feed him for easy lobs and buckets down low. Luke is also the chocolate to Tatum’s peanut butter on that second unit. They just go great together.
Kornet lead the flock in tonight's @JetBlue Play of the Game 🕊 pic.twitter.com/BaX6HBqvr6
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 29, 2022
Josue Pavon: Luke Kornet loses his part-time starting job to Xavier Tillman
For many reasons, last year’s 2023-24 campaign was an emotional season for Xavier Tillman. Still, one unforgettable year raised his confidence to an all-time high ahead of 2024-25. With Kristaps Porzingis on the mend and Luke Kornet starting in his place, Tillman outshines Kornet to secure the gig permanently and on the second night of back-to-back sets.
Blakely: Celtics top 70 wins
Boston will dominate like we’ve never seen before, and finish with at least 70 wins.
Noa: Lonnie Walker IV starts an NBA game this season
I don’t know if it will be in Boston, but I really do think Walker will show the basketball community that he is the real deal. After a stint in the G-League, someone’s going to scoop Walker up – whether it’s Boston giving him the 15th roster, a midseason trade opening up some additional room, or another team swooping in sometime this fall after seeing Walker put up some serious numbers in Maine.
Eventually, I think Walker punctuates an up-and-down beginning of the season with a substantial NBA role – not only do I expect him to make an NBA roster spot, but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t emerge as a high-impact player that even starts an NBA game this year.
Zannis: Lonnie Walker averages 20 minutes and 10 ppg on a rival contending team
What do you get for the team that has everything? How about a veteran shot creator to help bolster your second unit? Seemed to good to be true at the time of Walker’s signing and turns out, it was. Cap math and the spending civil war between Wyc Grousbeck and his dear old dad Irv seems to be the reason the Celtics chose to waive Walker rather than pay upwards of $10 million in tax penalties to keep him on the roster.
Now it’s possible Walker accepts a stint with the Celtics G league affiliate in Maine until Boston can move some cash around (buh bye Jaden Springer) to make signing Walker to a guaranteed deal more palatable.
However, I think there will be a few teams, particularly some in the Eastern Conference, who might not let that happen. I see Walker signing with one of the Celtics meany nemeses (Miami perhaps?) and playing a vital role with said team. A Lonnie Walker revenge game is also in the cards where Walker hits a late dagger at TD Garden and stares down Wyc after doing it a la Roger Clemens with Toronto. Twilight of my career my ass
Noa: Jordan Walsh establishes himself as a real rotation player in Year Two
I still think Walsh will spend some time in Maine this season, but the preseason showed us 1) that the 20-year-old has substantially slowed down and is beginning to really figure out the game at the professional level, 2) that Joe Mazzulla has liked what he’s seen behind the scenes, and that he views Walsh is someone that can really excel in a particular role. I wouldn’t have seen it coming after Summer League, but Walsh has been substantially better, and I’d imagine he eats the Oshae Brissett / Svi Mykhailiuk minutes from last season.
Manning – Jordan Walsh will spend more time in Boston than Maine
Josue: Celtics top the 2019 Rockets’ NBA record for most threes attempted in a game (70) by 5+
There isn’t another NBA team with as many reliable three-point shooters as the Celtics. Equipped with eight 35.0% or better three-point shooters, three of whom shot better than 40.0% last season, there will be nights where a bottom-feeding team isn’t closing out the way they should.
Boston will make them pay, but will all those threes translate into a win? (The 2019 Rockets lost 145-142 to the Nets on 1/16/2019)
Jimmy: A Celtics bench player wins the NBA three-point contest
It’s either Hauser or Pritchard who get the call and win this thing. I don’t think two C’s bench players can both be in it, but the NBA Dunk contest manages to find four bench players now, so who knows. The main point here is, how lucky are we? The Celtics might have two of the deadliest shooters in the NBA.. and they both come off of the bench. It’s a wild thought, really. And that’s why this team is considered one of the best rosters in recent history and a favorite to repeat. Who is getting worse from last year? I can’t find anyone, though I’m sure Zannis could list eight or nine. Certainly, Hauser and Pritchard could have larger roles and on any given night can get hot and shoot the team to victory.
Zannis: Tatum’s scoring average plummets to lowest point in 5 years.
There goes Zannis again with his constant negativity! Well, this is a classic bait and switch. The headline gets you amped up, spoiling for a fight, but then you read on (please read on) and you see it’s actually a compliment.
Tatum had a remarkably rough offseason for someone who just won his first NBA title. From getting teased for his eerily familiar postgame celebrations to being called overrated to getting benched in the Olympics.
The expectation from a lot of aggrieved Celtics fans is that this will fuel Tatum on a revenge tour through the Association in 2024-25. Not me. While Tatum is too often concerned with how he is perceived I also believe that winning an NBA title was the Luxe spa getaway treatment he needed to finally find inner peace. As my colleague Jimmy Toscano says in reference to critics of the Celtics championship run “bye bye haters.”
I’ve always believed that the best version of Tatum is not “Top 5 Tatum” putting up 30 on 22-23 shots per game. It’s the one that fully gives the game what it needs. He began to morph into this type of players last season, particularly in the playoffs. This year, the transformation will be complete. Respect comes in the form of another chip not individual honors. Look for Tatum to finish closer to 24 ppg, 10 rebounds and 7 assists on 50/40/85 splits while finishing top 3 in MVP voting.
Noa: Jaylen Brown leads the Celtics in scoring (and emerges as a Top 5 scorer in the NBA)
That’s no knock on Jayson Tatum, who’s led the Celtics in scoring these past few years and even surpassed a 30 point per game average in 2023. But, Brown is fresh off of a Finals MVP, in the self-proclaimed best shape of his career, and is oozing with confidence. At 27, he’s in the thick of his prime, and if he’s ever going to have a massive scoring night, it’ll be today.
I expect Brown to be more aggressive this season, and to earn some of the individual accolades he didn’t earn last season (namely a spot on the All-NBA team). I also think Tatum’s evolution as a playmaker could lead to a slight hit to his scoring, too – but an uptick in assists. It’ll probably be close, but Brown will ultimately end up as the top scorer on the best team in the league – and a fringe Top 5 scorer overall.
Jimmy: Hard hats go viral
Every time I turn on the news now, I’m seeing someone tossing on a hard hat. It signifies showing up, getting dirty, doing what it takes to get the job done, and not taking the easy way out. The truth is the hard hat was born on The Garden Report a few years ago. OK, maybe not. But we’ve been adopting them on our show *after playoff wins* for the last few years. I am altering the rules because I can. The Garden Report hard hat can now be worn at all Celtics games and during all games watching from home, or wherever you watch games. It can only be worn after the game if it’s considered a hard hat win. If they lose, it comes off. Those are the rules. With these rules in place I have no doubt in my mind that the hard hat mentality carries this team to another championship and we’re all wearing them at the next parade. Hey a guy can dream…
NBA Finals Predictions
Jimmy: Celtics 56-26, 2nd in East; NBA champions over Suns
OK, I know picked the Suns last year and regretted it. So naturally, I’m going to do it again. They’re kind of under the radar this year due to their disappointing display last season and being swept in the first round by the Wolves. But I just think Durant, Booker, and Beal – if healthy – offensively can be the best trio in the NBA on any given night. And Durant may have one last run left in him here. That said, the Celtics have the best roster and I’m not going to be the guy to pick against them.
Noa: NBA Champions over Thunder in 6
No team has done it since the Warriors went back-to-back in 2017. But, this Celtics team is primed to win a second consecutive NBA championship this year, and I think with Joe Mazzulla’s unique leadership at the helm, they’ll get it done.
There’s a couple of teams who could plausibly come out of the West, but I think the Thunder are going to make the leap and get it done. The offseason additions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso were both pretty underrated, and I expect SGA, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams all to improve in their second season as a trio. I actually have SGA as my MVP prediction for next season. The Thunder and Celtics will battle in a long series (6 or 7 games) that the Celtics ultimately pull out.
Manning: 65-17, Celtics over Thunder in 7
There’s no team out there that should scare the Celtics, which along with returning their championship team nearly in its entirety should allow for all the confidence in the world in them repeating. The one team that comes closest to appearing daunting is the Thunder, who are close enough to Boston to take advantage of a break and win the championship. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can push Jayson Tatum, Jalen Williams provides a similar impact to Jaylen Brown, while the healthier centers between these two teams have a chance to dominate if anyone is missing on the other side. The Celtics have struggled with younger, quicker, more athletic teams at times over the last few years, and Oklahoma City beat them decisively at home in the only one of two games with Shai available before adding Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein this summer. A fully healthy Boston team would sneak past a Thunder team that would likely face a harder, more exhausting path to what would be a classic Finals.
Zannis: 64-18, Celtics Over Nuggets in Finals 4-1
One of the dumbest sports takes in my lifetime was the attempted takedown of the Celtics for their “easy path” to an NBA title. Two things here. It was easy (not Boston’s fault) and it would have been easy regardless of who they played. Boston was THAT much better than the competition last season and they are again this year.
Sure teams in the East tried to ‘load up’ to challenge Boston, and there are about 5 teams in the Western Conference all capable of making it to the NBA Finals. I’m going with the Nuggets because despite injuries and other factors they were still a 4th quarter collapse from a trip to the Western Conference Finals where they would have smoked the Mavs. Doesn’t really matter tho, no one out west is close to the Celtics either. Boston becomes the first NBA repeat Champion since the Warriors in 2017-2018 and there won’t be much left to say about them after that.
Josue: 62-20, Celtics beat Thunder in Finals 4-2
The Celtics’ experience of reaching three NBA Finals in four seasons will take over in their best-of-7 NBA Finals matchup against the Thunder. However, it’ll make for a very entertaining series, with Kristaps Porzingis’s role more important than ever.