Greatest Celtics team ever? Joe McDonald says not so fast — remember those 1980s teams?
Some fans believe this version of the Boston Celtics could be the best team in franchise history.
The Celtics rewrote the record books during the 2023-24 regular season in several categories — points (9,887), 3-pointers (1,351), 50-point wins (three) and wins in a row (11) — and were a dominant force both offensively and defensively.
The best team ever? Not so fast. Relax. Take a deep breath and think about it.
That notion is a bit premature at this point. Yes, the Celtics enter Monday just one victory shy of the NBA Finals and they are the odds-on favorite to win it all and raise an 18th championship banner to the rafters of TD Garden. It’s understandable to be excited about this team. Jaylen Brown is motivated to prove people wrong after he was snubbed for All-NBA team again this season. Jayson Tatum is one of the best players of his generation and can now be mentioned in the same breath as Larry Bird, John Havlicek and Paul Pierce.
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Kristaps Porzingis, who is sidelined with an injury, has been a juggernaut at both ends of the floor the entire season. Role players continue to step up and contribute when needed, which is always a key ingredient for a team’s success in any sport. As currently constituted, the Celtics are impressive and it would be monumental if they could win another championship, but there’s more to legendary teams than breaking records. There’s a bigger picture. What this franchise accomplished in the 1980s and how it saved professional basketball is unmatched.
Built and nurtured by Red Auerbach, the Celtics won the NBA Championship in 1981, 1984 and 1986. It lost in the finals twice in 1985 and 1987. The original Big Three — Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish — packed the old Boston Garden on Causeway Street and kept fans glued to the NBA on CBS for an entire decade. The rivalry against Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers was epic and probably saved the NBA. Boston was in a state of sports bedlam during that stretch, thanks to the Celtics. Those teams did it season after season and were the model of consistency and captivated the region.
Nonetheless, the 2023-24 Celtics appear more motivated and dedicated to winning another championship since the team’s last Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2008. That team was an absolute beast. Led by coach Doc Rivers and this generation’s Big Three — Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen — it sparked new enthusiasm in this historic franchise. Since that season, the Celtics have shown spots of near brilliance, but came up short after losing in the NBA Finals in 2010 and again in 2022.
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It could all change for the better in a few weeks.
After Boston’s 114-111 win over the Pacers in Game 3 Saturday night in Indianapolis, the Celtics’ Tatum made sure everyone remembered that Boston trailed by three games at this point last season against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals but battled back before eventually losing in Game 7. The Celtics are focused on Game 4 and only Game 4 of this series against the Pacers Monday night in Indianapolis.
Everything the franchise has done to redefine itself during the last few seasons all comes down to this.
The Celtics revamped their front office, coaching staff, roster and it appears to have finally worked. The team’s chemistry is evident both on and off the court. Coach Joe Mazzulla, a native of Johnston, has everyone in check and the coach knows exactly what to say to these players privately and publicly.
K.C. Jones was the epitome of Celtics Pride. He won NBA championships with the Celtics as both a player and coach. His guidance was instrumental during the 1980s. Even though Mazzulla never played in the NBA, he is demanding on his players and they respond well to his coaching strategies.
“We’re behind him and we trust him,” the Celtics’ Al Horford said recently about Mazzulla.
Those comments are critical to a team’s success, especially in the postseason. It’s hard not to get excited about this team’s potential, but plenty of basketball remains. Plus, if the Celtics are fortunate enough to advance to the NBA Finals, the two remaining teams from the Western Conference — the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves — are both fantastic teams.
If the Celtics don’t mess it up, there should be another Rolling Rally of Duck Boats through Boston in the next month.
As former Celtics (and one-time Providence College) coach Rick Pitino once said: “Larry Bird’s not walking through that door, fans. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door. Robert Parish is not walking through that door.” It was a special era for the Celtics and their fans.
This season could be memorable, too, but it still won’t compare to the team’s decade-long success of the 1980s.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Today's Boston Celtics still have to do more to equal 1980s teams
