5 Reasons Why the Celtics Won’t Defend their NBA Title

The Celtics Take Their Opportunity for Granted

A team can rarely win a championship in any sport and be able to run it back with the same roster, especially with the new CBA guidelines intact. Fortunately for Boston, they get that chance with the majority of every core piece to their championship team returning. If the Celtics lose focus on the opportunity in front of them, they’ll miss a once-in-a-lifetime chance to successfully defend their title.

Old Habits Return

Before last year, the Celtics tended to seemingly overlook the little things. Boston wouldn’t dive for loose balls, or make the extra efforts on defense. Their lack of winning plays often put the team in bad positions, leading to multiple blown years when they had the chance to win a championship. Last season, the team seemed to put those issues in the past with their new mix of players. However, with some returning players from years prior, if those habits return, Boston could end up beating themselves when it’s all said and done.

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Injuries Take a Toll

The Celtics, when healthy, have one of, if not the most talented rosters in the league. And while Boston dealt with mostly good fortune last year in terms of injuries, it rarely happens every season. If any major piece goes down, Boston will be in bad shape moving forward. That goes for any team, but with stars like Kristaps Porzingis being a vital piece in what the Celtics do, it’s hard to overlook that injuries are highly possible for the C’s.

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Steeper NBA Competition in the East

Last year, nearly everyone discredited the Celtics' run to the NBA Championship due to the number of injuries on teams in the Eastern Conference. And while that is true, Boston looked dominant in their postseason run with a 16-3 record across four rounds of play. However, with teams like the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers loading up, the C’s will have their hands full when the postseason comes. Not to mention an Indiana Pacers team who took the Celtics to their limits in each of their four matchups.

Boston Begins to Coast

The Celtics ran through the East last season and handled the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Boston is aware of the talent on its roster, and if it hopes to be as dominant this year, it must remember that any team could win on any given day. If the C’s begin to rely on their talent and overlook the competition, they could find themselves on a downhill slide that no reigning champions want to be on. It will be good news for the rest of the East if the Celtics start to coast.

The Celtics Take Their Opportunity for Granted

A team can rarely win a championship in any sport and be able to run it back with the same roster, especially with the new CBA guidelines intact. Fortunately for Boston, they get that chance with the majority of every core piece to their championship team returning. If the Celtics lose focus on the opportunity in front of them, they’ll miss a once-in-a-lifetime chance to successfully defend their title.