When the Boston Celtics began training camp in September, they launched a campaign to become the first NBA team to win back-to-back championships since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.
Just two weeks into the 2024-25 season, they’re set to face those same Warriors on Wednesday night in Boston, stirring up memories of Golden State’s dynasty and Boston’s ambitions to reach similar heights.
Adding intrigue to the matchup is Jayson Tatum’s experience with Team USA over the summer, where Warriors coach Steve Kerr benched him twice. This meeting marks Stephen Curry’s annual visit to TD Garden and is a rematch of the 2022 NBA Finals, where the Warriors claimed their fourth title in eight seasons—a peak the Celtics aim to replicate.
Reflecting on Boston’s journey to the 2024 title, Tatum said on media day, “It was never just about trying to win one. All the guys I looked up to growing up won at least one championship. Now it’s just a conversation of, ‘How great are you trying to be?’”
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After six seasons of league parity, the Celtics are setting out on a path reminiscent of the 2015-16 Warriors—the winningest team in NBA history. The Celtics’ roster, playing style, and even the critiques they’ve faced mirror that Warriors squad, which initially faced doubts despite its success. Despite a dominant 67-15 record in 2014-15, Golden State was dismissed by some as a “jump-shooting team.” Curry, then on his way to back-to-back MVPs, lost the Finals MVP vote to Andre Iguodala, fueling critics who questioned whether his play could anchor a championship team. That criticism was further amplified when Golden State beat an injury-riddled Cleveland Cavaliers team in the Finals.
Boston has faced a similar narrative. After setting NBA records for three-pointers in 2023 and 2024, the Celtics’ title run this year was met with skepticism due to injuries among opponents like Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell, and Tyrese Haliburton. Tatum also narrowly missed out on Finals MVP, which went to Jaylen Brown. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla quipped, “Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didn’t win Finals MVP.”
Determined to avoid complacency, Mazzulla has been vigilant in keeping his team focused. “So many times, people are focused on trying to win. I think it’s just as important as keeping yourself from losing,” he explained, underscoring the importance of discipline.
Just as the Warriors’ “Strength in Numbers” mantra relied on depth, the Celtics employ a similar approach. Reserve guard Payton Pritchard has posted two 20-point games this season, while centers Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemias Queta have stepped up in place of Kristaps Porzingis, sidelined with an ankle injury. Kornet’s recent 19-point outing against Charlotte was a testament to the Celtics’ depth.
The addition of Jrue Holiday to Boston’s roster has proven impactful, much like Iguodala’s arrival in Golden State, providing the Celtics with a strong two-way presence. Boston’s core six—Tatum, Brown, Holiday, Porzingis, Al Horford, and Derrick White—function much like Golden State’s famous “Death Lineup,” composed of versatile defenders who were also offensive threats.
The Celtics’ foundation in Tatum and Brown reflects Golden State’s homegrown core of Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Under Mazzulla, Boston has achieved a league-best 128-44 record since the start of the 2022-23 season, making them strong contenders to repeat as champions, a feat no team has accomplished since the Warriors did it in 2017 and 2018.
However, Boston hopes to avoid the same pitfall that led to Golden State’s famous heartbreak in 2016, when the Warriors lost a 3-1 Finals lead after a record-breaking 73-win season. The Celtics may be following in the footsteps of the Warriors dynasty, but they’re determined not to share that painful chapter.