Celtics will Surprise in 2026

   

 

    We all knew when Brad Stevens moved Marcus Smart and Robert Williams for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, the Celtics created a 2 year window where they had the strongest roster in the league head -toe. Stevens went out and took the league with his fists and the Celtics were a juggernaut of a roster. The clock has officially struck midnight, and Jrue Holiday is in Portland, Porzingis is in Atlanta, and Jayson Tatum is in a boot. I am here to tell you that despite the contrast of the roster from the last prior years the Celtics should not strip it down to the nuts and bolts... The Celtics will surprise in 2026. 

    For starters, Jaylen Brown... Basketball fans across the country have it engrained that the Brown's playoff run in 2024 was lightning in a bottle and what we saw from him last year is what he really is. Jaylen Brown is a volume scorer with elite two way presence on the court. His weaknesses to work on this offseason, with rebounding is brutal to watch, his court vision... his biggest weakness. If Brown can address these he can be a legit number one scoring option in the eastern conference. Brown was hurt before the all-star break this year. The Celtics medical staff had been load managing the player since January to the point where Brown was squeezing in extra games in April to reach the minimum games played for a shot at all NBA.

    It was obvious to see Brown was hobbled in Orlando and New York, he had 3 good games in the entire playoff run. Jalen Brunson, while a good player was COOKING Brown in the 2nd round. As good as Brunson is he is not Doncic, and Brown made him a non factor in the NBA Finals in 2025. If Brown was right then Jalen Brunson does not have the series he had against the Celtics this year. Brown is picking him up at the logo and taking him out of the series. While watching the playoffs with my co host Patrick Huston mentioned "you can tell he's not right, his dunks are layups he's lost his explosiveness" Sums up perfectly where Jaylen Brown was in the 2025 run.    

    The 2026 Boston Celtics are going to look a lot different and they're going to play a lot different. With out All Time Player Jayson Tatum, they are not the relentless scoring MACHINE that they have been in the last few years. This Boston Celtics team has stars, they have scoring options, Payton Pritchard has held his own with the second unit over the last two years, he could start this year. Derrick White, can he be the number 2 option for this team, White is a do it all, gritty player that can shoot it, he is not a sit in the corner and huck it player, White's athleticism was limited in 2025 due to team playstyle. The Celtics need to give him the rock and let him drive. Anfernee Simons an electric scorer from Portland was acquired in the Holiday move. I am HUGE on Simons I believe he is going to be a great player in the league, let him do his thing in Boston where it just means more here. While the Celtics have these players they need to do the little things better than anyone to make some noise in the conference next year. They will not win by just overwhelming teams with talent. They cannot play like a front runner, they have the players to be a strong defensive unit, and finally they need to rebound... it is their biggest weakness. 

    Finally I look at an Eastern Conference where the Knicks imploded firing, a top 3 Coach in conference in Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks had a culture of never give up mentality, out work the opponent and play locked up defense. James Dolan came in through the culture out the window and the Knicks have no back up plan at head coach now. I look at a defending Eastern Conference Champion Indiana Pacers Team that sadly lost their best player for the year in Tyreese Haliburton. I see a Cleveland Cavaliers team that every time it seems they have it put together they collapse when the lights get the brightest. An Orlando Magic team that is coming... Trading for Desmond Bane was a big move for upgrading their biggest weakness which is shooting. Finally a Miami Heat team that looks to be tearing it down.. keep your eyes on Bam Adebayo if there is a way to get Bam to Causeway Boston will be positioned for conference domination for years to come.

    To conclude, the Conference is wide open none of the teams in the east have proven anything to me to believe that they have what it takes to win the East. The Celtics have stars, the Celtics have options, the Celtics will Surprise in 2026.

Brendan Gookin

Signing Off

-baystatesportspod