The Boston Celtics could be in for another challenging season, with a bunch of questions surrounding what comes next for one of the NBA's most popular teams. Boston is heading into the fresh season with expectations that remain high, but the margin for disappointment can be small when a team is expected to compete near the top of the league. A season that falls short of those expectations can quickly turn the fanbase angry.
That's kind of where the Celtics find themselves. More sports: Pistons Hit With Troubling 2026 Projection, But There’s Hope Boston received 17 points in ESPN's ranking of the teams most likely to disappoint this season, placing fifth overall. The Celtics trailed only the Lakers, Pistons, Warriors and Heat, meaning they were the final team to receive more than 10 points from the panel.
The Celtics are entering the season after trading All-Star Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and draft compensation, a major change to a team that won 56 games last season. The ranking doesn't necessarily suggest that Boston is headed for a disaster. Instead, it reflects the possibility that the Celtics could fall short of what fans and analysts expect from them.
That's actually a familiar kind of pressure for Boston. The Celtics aren't being judged simply on whether they can put together a respectable regular season. The standard around the organization is much higher, especially when championship contention is the expectation.
Falling short of that bar can make an otherwise solid season feel like a total disappointment. ESPN's panel appears to be factoring that into its prediction. Boston's 17 points put the Celtics ahead of every team outside the top four in the rankings.
The Lakers led the group with 32 points, followed by Detroit with 27, Golden State with 26 and Miami with 22. Sports news: Wizards and AJ Dybantsa Could Have a Breakout Year So, the Celtics aren't viewed as the team most likely to disappoint, but they're still one of just five teams singled out by the panel. Now, Boston has the chance to make that prediction look foolish.
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