The Boston Celtics, fresh off a championship-contending campaign last season, are bracing for a challenging 2025-26 NBA season without their star player, Jayson Tatum. The All-NBA forward suffered a devastating Achilles tendon tear during last season’s playoff matchup against the New York Knicks, sidelining him for the entire upcoming season. With Tatum’s absence and significant roster changes, NBA experts are forecasting a steep decline for the Celtics, predicting they’ll be scrapping for a play-in tournament spot rather than contending for a top seed in the Eastern Conference.
According to a recent ESPN poll of NBA experts, the Celtics are no longer viewed as championship contenders. Instead, analysts project them to finish among the play-in tournament competitors, a far cry from their recent dominance. The grim outlook stems from a series of catastrophic injuries across the league, with Boston among the hardest hit. “Three torn Achilles during last season’s playoffs have dramatically changed the trajectory for the Bucks, who parted with Damian Lillard after his torn Achilles in the first round; the Celtics, who dismantled their championship core after Tatum suffered the same injury in the second round; and the Pacers, whose bright future was put on hold when Haliburton tore his Achilles during the NBA Finals,” the ESPN report noted.
The loss of Tatum, combined with the departure of two starters via trades, has left the Celtics’ roster significantly depleted. Despite these setbacks, optimism persists within the team’s locker room. Players and coaches believe they can outperform expectations and make a deeper playoff run than last season, when they fell to the Knicks in the second round. However, the external perception is far less rosy, with experts skeptical of Boston’s ability to compete with the Eastern Conference’s elite, such as the healthy rosters of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic.
Stepping into the spotlight will be Jaylen Brown, who now faces the daunting task of becoming the Celtics’ primary option for the first time in his career. Brown, a proven star in his own right, will need to elevate his game to new heights to keep Boston competitive. “Jaylen Brown has a lot of pressure on him next season,” said one NBA analyst. “If he can rise to the occasion, Boston could blow this prediction out of the water.”
Head coach Joe Mazzulla, known for his resilience and strategic acumen, is also determined to defy the doubters. Despite the roster overhaul and Tatum’s absence, the Celtics are banking on their depth and the emergence of younger players to surprise the NBA. “Boston is hoping to be the surprise team in the NBA next year,” a team source said. “Even though they traded away two starters and don’t have Tatum, they still believe in the players they have on the roster.”
As the 2025-26 season approaches, the Celtics face a pivotal moment. Can Jaylen Brown and the revamped roster prove the skeptics wrong, or will Boston indeed be relegated to the play-in tournament scrum? With training camp on the horizon, all eyes will be on TD Garden to see if this storied franchise can channel its underdog spirit and shock the NBA world.
