Bleacher report predicts the Celtics to win 56 games in 2024.
August 16, 2024
While 56 might seem low compared to last season, BR still predicts the Celtics to have the best record in the NBA (and the according 1 seed in the playoffs).
I think, that with the 4th easiest schedule in the NBA, the Celtics still get to 60 wins.
Thoughts?
24 comments
I think a lot depends on health, and we know Porzingis will miss the start of the season.
Zinger probably out until February so I’d take the under. Still like us to repeat, though
as long as we end up with the 1 seed it’s all good
Think they’ll hover around the 58-60 win mark barring further health problems. Accounting for KP being out half the year, Al resting more/relying on bench development (specifically Tillman and Walsh kinda) more than last year
60 fo sho.
56 is a decent hedge against KP’s early season absence
Just to keep in mind, several teams will always drastically underperform their “nothing goes wrong” win totals. The 76ers were 31-8 last year when Embiid played, and finished with 47 wins. The Celtics have a very, very good team that had just come together. History tells us that things usually go even better (2009 Celtics until KG’s injury, 1978 Blazers until Walton’s injury, 1992 Bulls, 2016 Warriors, etc…) or the champs coast through the regular season (2014 Heat, 1987 Celtics, 2001 Lakers, 1990 Pistons) and underperform a bit.
Vegas has them at 58.5 wins right now, and as usual, that’s a tough number (though I thought last year’s 54.5 was an easy OVER). I could see them coming out and rolling to 60+ wins very easily, but I could also see them taking a few injuries, resting guys, and winning 55 games by losing a bunch they could have won if they wanted to try hard.
Friendly reminder: it’s REALLY hard to repeat, so I can understand why a prediction would be under 60 wins.
They’re severely underestimating our record. We have the same roster. The Knicks and Sixers got better, but not by that much. We’re going to stomp every team in the league again, whether KP is healthy to start the season or not.
83-0
Even though this past season was the first time they didn’t just let games slip, they do have a history of doing so. Maybe Jrue being there is enough to deter them from slipping too much, but I think 54-56 is plausible.
Who cares what BR thinks. Anyone of us here can be BR writers tbfh 🤣
82-0, cmon bleacher report.
If they try to win regular season games, 56 is a disappointment. But, having already won a title, if they adopt a “coast until we need to flip the switch” mentality like a lot of championship teams do, this is very reasonable and still might get the top seed in the East, 2nd at the VERY worst
58 seems like my hedge but i understand their take given KP and fatigue after a championship run. I hope the fans give some patience to the team managing this regular season
Pretty optimistic actually, because we don’t even have that many games before January 1, 2025 this upcoming season. They must be assuming that some of our ass whoopings will count as 2 wins!
60 wins is an absolute ton. The Celtics didn’t get better in the offseason and some of their top rivals did. I think 56 is fair.
Sounds right. Longer postseason, some players went to the Olympics etc. The win total won’t match last season.
They gonna be a beast of a second year team. They’re also gonna have an even bigger target on their backs than last year. And Porzingis is out for a while. No telling what he looks like when he returns. Jrue could decline as he ages another year and SOME wear on the tires from the Olympics. Let’s see. I’m pumped but cautious.
One of the best things about winning a championship is you don’t have to give a single fuck about your record next season.
You proved you can win, all you gotta do now is get back to the playoffs with everyone healthy.
65 wins.
Just want home court throughout.
Second breakfast here we come!
I feel like 56 is fairly accurate. Porzingis’ health, probably some coasting like champs do in general, plus the East is just overall better on paper. Winning 64 like we did last year is hard to replicate.
Winning 56 has pretty much always been enough for a top 3 seed, and I don’t think we need anything other than that. 1 seed again would be ideal, but for a team that has proven they can win, a top 3 seed would be good enough. Plus not a lot of teams are 1 seeds in back to back seasons in this era. That kind of sustained success is really difficult in a league with parity. Where it would get dicey is if injuries are a problem and we drop to 4 or lower, but I think the Celtics are too good to let that happen.
I guessed the Celtics would be 21-8 by Christmas around when Porzingis returns, which is pretty in line with what defending champs come out of the gate at in the first 1/3 of the season, and that’s a 59 win pace. Factor in some end of year rest and 56 feels pretty spot on.
Hoping for 60, but it really matters the wins relative to the competition. There is a lot of parity between the league in both conferences. It’s not going to be a cakewalk.
24 comments
I think a lot depends on health, and we know Porzingis will miss the start of the season.
Zinger probably out until February so I’d take the under. Still like us to repeat, though
as long as we end up with the 1 seed it’s all good
Think they’ll hover around the 58-60 win mark barring further health problems. Accounting for KP being out half the year, Al resting more/relying on bench development (specifically Tillman and Walsh kinda) more than last year
60 fo sho.
56 is a decent hedge against KP’s early season absence
Just to keep in mind, several teams will always drastically underperform their “nothing goes wrong” win totals. The 76ers were 31-8 last year when Embiid played, and finished with 47 wins. The Celtics have a very, very good team that had just come together. History tells us that things usually go even better (2009 Celtics until KG’s injury, 1978 Blazers until Walton’s injury, 1992 Bulls, 2016 Warriors, etc…) or the champs coast through the regular season (2014 Heat, 1987 Celtics, 2001 Lakers, 1990 Pistons) and underperform a bit.
Vegas has them at 58.5 wins right now, and as usual, that’s a tough number (though I thought last year’s 54.5 was an easy OVER). I could see them coming out and rolling to 60+ wins very easily, but I could also see them taking a few injuries, resting guys, and winning 55 games by losing a bunch they could have won if they wanted to try hard.
Friendly reminder: it’s REALLY hard to repeat, so I can understand why a prediction would be under 60 wins.
They’re severely underestimating our record. We have the same roster. The Knicks and Sixers got better, but not by that much. We’re going to stomp every team in the league again, whether KP is healthy to start the season or not.
83-0
Even though this past season was the first time they didn’t just let games slip, they do have a history of doing so. Maybe Jrue being there is enough to deter them from slipping too much, but I think 54-56 is plausible.
Who cares what BR thinks. Anyone of us here can be BR writers tbfh 🤣
82-0, cmon bleacher report.
If they try to win regular season games, 56 is a disappointment. But, having already won a title, if they adopt a “coast until we need to flip the switch” mentality like a lot of championship teams do, this is very reasonable and still might get the top seed in the East, 2nd at the VERY worst
58 seems like my hedge but i understand their take given KP and fatigue after a championship run. I hope the fans give some patience to the team managing this regular season
Pretty optimistic actually, because we don’t even have that many games before January 1, 2025 this upcoming season. They must be assuming that some of our ass whoopings will count as 2 wins!
60 wins is an absolute ton. The Celtics didn’t get better in the offseason and some of their top rivals did. I think 56 is fair.
Sounds right. Longer postseason, some players went to the Olympics etc. The win total won’t match last season.
They gonna be a beast of a second year team. They’re also gonna have an even bigger target on their backs than last year. And Porzingis is out for a while. No telling what he looks like when he returns. Jrue could decline as he ages another year and SOME wear on the tires from the Olympics. Let’s see. I’m pumped but cautious.
One of the best things about winning a championship is you don’t have to give a single fuck about your record next season.
You proved you can win, all you gotta do now is get back to the playoffs with everyone healthy.
65 wins.
Just want home court throughout.
Second breakfast here we come!
I feel like 56 is fairly accurate. Porzingis’ health, probably some coasting like champs do in general, plus the East is just overall better on paper. Winning 64 like we did last year is hard to replicate.
Winning 56 has pretty much always been enough for a top 3 seed, and I don’t think we need anything other than that. 1 seed again would be ideal, but for a team that has proven they can win, a top 3 seed would be good enough. Plus not a lot of teams are 1 seeds in back to back seasons in this era. That kind of sustained success is really difficult in a league with parity. Where it would get dicey is if injuries are a problem and we drop to 4 or lower, but I think the Celtics are too good to let that happen.
I guessed the Celtics would be 21-8 by Christmas around when Porzingis returns, which is pretty in line with what defending champs come out of the gate at in the first 1/3 of the season, and that’s a 59 win pace. Factor in some end of year rest and 56 feels pretty spot on.
Hoping for 60, but it really matters the wins relative to the competition. There is a lot of parity between the league in both conferences. It’s not going to be a cakewalk.