The Boston Celtics followed up winning their 18th NBA Championship in 2024 with a 61-21 record this season, leading many to expect them to cruise to the Eastern Conference Finals.
After defeating the Orlando Magic 4-1 in the first round and taking a 20-point lead over the New York Knicks in game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, it looked like they may do just that. However, the Knicks rallied to force overtime, eventually winning game 1 108-105.
In shocking fashion, the Knicks staged another 20-point rally to take game 2 with a 91-90 victory, taking a 2-0 series. As the series shifts to New York game for game 3, the Celtics face what is as close to a must win as you can get.
A Lot On The Line For The Celtics
The Celtics have the league’s third-highest payroll with four players – Jayson Taum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday – owed at least $97 million. That payroll is set to become the highest in the NBA next season. If a second round exit is the most this team can muster, they may see a few big changes.
“What’s on the line is what’s going to happen to this team,” ESPN NBA Insider Brian Windhorst explained. “Now this is a conversation I didn’t think I was going to be having on May 7 or whatever today is… May 8… I thought this was going to be a conversation for July, but next year, the payroll is $460 million when you compute the taxes.”
That payroll is only going to increase next season.
“If they keep their draft pick, they’ve got a first round pick this year, and they fill out their roster, I don’t even know if they’re going to be able to bring Al Horford back,” Windhorst added. “It’s going to top $500 million.”
New Dynamics With New Owners
Spending over $500 million isn’t very easy to justify in any situation but if the Celtics are able to rally to take four of the next five games and win this series, it would certainly would make spending that much money and easier pill to swallow, especially with new owners trying to make a good impression on the fan base.
“They’ve got new owners,” Windhorst said. “They’re buying it for $6 billion. They need to take on all these partners just to put half this money together. I don’t know what’s going to happen there but there’s a possibly this team isn’t going to come back.”
There’s clearly quite a bit on the line for the Celtics. If the Celtics do indeed go out in this series, it could be an opportunity for new ownership to cut costs.
“No matter what they may not be able to come back because they’re the most expensive sports team in the history of the game,” he continued. “If they don’t get out of this series, I don’t know how you can justify spending $500 million.”
If the Celtics don’t want it to come to that, they’ll have to start by taking game 3 in Madison Square Garden in what should be a raucous environment Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is at 3:30 p.m. EST.