After successful completion of the previous NBA season, the Boston Celtics are back with high expectations. The defending champions returned to the arena on Oct. 22 for their first regular-season contest after the summer off. This was no standard season opener, though, as it also included the ceremony for last season’s triumph – the team handed out championship rings to the front office, coaching staff and players in addition to raising an 18th championship banner to the TD Garden rafters.
The city basked in celebration as it was the first title for the Celtics since 2008. The famous talk show “NBA on TNT” with Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson Jr. hosted an event within walking distance of the arena, alluring even more fans to catch a glimpse of the festivities. At the game itself, Celtics legends Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen – all members of the 2008 team – arrived to show their support. Even 96-year-old Bob Cousy showed up, a legend in his own right not only as a six-time NBA Champion with the Celtics, but also as a longtime face of the NBA. Regarding non-basketball celebrities, household names like A$AP Ferg, Kai Cenat and Dave Portnoy also pulled through the parquet to demonstrate their excitement for the beginning of the Celtics’ season.
Boston started strong from the beginning of the game. By the end of the first quarter, it was already up by 19 points against the New York Knicks, as superstar forward/guard Jayson Tatum shot 4-for-6 from the 3-point line. Toward halftime, Tatum had 25 points, and the team kept its 19-point lead. By night’s end, the Celtics had beaten the Knicks 132-109, as the entire team showed strength from the 3-point line – sinking 29 total to tie the NBA record for most 3s in a game – as well as great defensive skills.
The Celtics’ go-to starting center, Kristaps Porzingis, is still recovering from a foot injury suffered in the 2024 NBA Finals, and as a result, many expect other bigs to play larger roles. Though Al Horford remains a great starting center, his health must be kept in mind, considering he is the oldest rostered player at 38. Therefore, many fans are expecting backup centers Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta to step up at the beginning of this season – they see an opportunity for such players, and a chance for Boston to flex the talent of its bench.
“They have to know who their roles players are,” said Scituate High School psychologist Stephen Howley. “They will be able to play around with their roster and different bench players.”
Regarding predictions for the postseason, many fans are expecting the Celtics to go back-to-back. But league analysts think that feat is extremely difficult, as the last team to do it was the Golden State Warriors in 2018. If a team was to end that drought, though, local fans say Boston will be the one to do it.
“We have the talent to do it, we have the systems to do it – the East(ern Conference) is wide open,” said Scituate High School math teacher Jonathon Schindler.
Fans have high hopes as we move forward in the season, providing no shortage of expectations for the Celtics to fulfill.