Celtics Shake Off Slow Start, Reclaim Defensive Identity After Early Panic

A 1-3 start is all it took for critics to sound the alarm on the Boston Celtics. For a franchise that has spent the last decade as one of the NBA’s most consistent winners, the notion that Boston might miss the playoffs felt premature — but in the modern sports cycle, overreaction is inevitable.

The Celtics’ early struggles immediately triggered speculation about a post-title slump. The last time Boston missed the postseason, Jayson Tatum was still in college, Kyrie Irving was a Cavalier, and LeBron James ruled the Eastern Conference. Since then, Boston has been a fixture atop the standings, making 11 consecutive playoff appearances, six Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and winning a championship in 2024 that reaffirmed its elite status.

Yet this season’s rough opening raised fair questions about how a reigning champion handles adversity. Missing key players, especially Tatum, early in the schedule magnified every weakness and slowed their chemistry. For a team accustomed to precision and rhythm, even a small disruption felt jarring.

Still, as the noise built outside, inside the locker room, the Celtics focused on recalibration. And within a few games, that focus started paying off.

1. Adjusting Without Tatum: Searching for Balance

Boston’s 2025–26 campaign began with one of the toughest opening stretches in the league — matchups against the Rockets, Knicks, 76ers, and Cavaliers tested their depth immediately. Losing Tatum early to injury only compounded the challenge, forcing head coach Joe Mazzulla to retool his offensive strategy on the fly. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White became the focal points on both ends, tasked with leading scoring efforts while maintaining Boston’s defensive standard. The result, initially, was uneven. The Celtics’ trademark ball movement stagnated, the spacing that fueled last season’s success wavered, and the team’s offensive balance vanished. Boston’s early losses weren’t due to lack of effort but rather timing and cohesion. Shots fell short, rotations misfired, and chemistry — once seamless — looked disjointed. The defending champions suddenly resembled a team still searching for its rhythm, not one ready to repeat. But over the past week, that rhythm has returned. Boston responded with decisive wins over the Cavaliers, Pelicans, and 76ers, re-establishing its defensive identity and regaining offensive flow. The Celtics now sit at 3-4, but with performances suggesting far more stability than their record implies.

2. Reconnecting With Their Core Strengths

What makes the early-season panic so misplaced is that the Celtics haven’t abandoned the formula that made them champions. Their identity — versatility, depth, and discipline — remains intact, even if not yet at full strength. Jaylen Brown has expanded his game as a playmaker, showing improved patience in double teams and better court vision when driving to the rim. Derrick White continues to be Boston’s defensive compass, stepping up as both leader and shot-maker when the offense stalls. The bench, often a source of midseason criticism in years past, has started to deliver consistency. Payton Pritchard’s energy and decision-making have earned him a solid rotation role, while Sam Hauser’s shooting continues to stretch defenses. Big man Neemias Queta has emerged as a surprising contributor, providing rim protection and rebounding that stabilize the second unit. Defensively, the Celtics look like themselves again. In their three recent wins, they’ve held opponents below 110 points, showcasing the same communication and switch-heavy pressure that fueled their 2024 title run. Even without Tatum, the system has held firm — a sign that Boston’s culture and structure are built to withstand temporary setbacks.

3. Looking Ahead: A Reminder of Who They Are

If anything, the Celtics’ early stumble has served as a reminder of how difficult it is to sustain excellence in the NBA. Injuries, travel, and the weight of expectations can make even the best teams vulnerable. But in Boston’s case, the response to adversity has underscored their maturity and resilience. Mazzulla has emphasized defense-first basketball, and the team has bought back in, prioritizing communication and tempo over panic and blame. Players speak about staying grounded — a sign of a championship group that understands the long view of an 82-game season. As Tatum works toward a return, the Celtics appear well-positioned to regain their dominant form. Their mix of veteran leadership and adaptable depth remains among the best in the league, and the recent stretch of balanced play has quieted early doubts. The “Celtics missing the playoffs” narrative, once a fleeting hot take, now seems like what it always was — a reactionary blip in the long rhythm of a contending season.