The whispers started early. A 1-3 start from a recent champion is enough to get the hot-take machines running, and the Boston Celtics , the NBA’s model of consistency over the last decade, suddenly found themselves at the center of a ridiculous question: Are the Celtics really in danger of missing the playoffs?

For context, the last time Boston didn’t make the postseason, Jayson Tatum was still a teenager, Kyrie Irving hadn’t yet requested his first trade, and LeBron James was still in Cleveland. Since then, the Celtics have been a permanent fixture in the Eastern Conference hierarchy, with 11 consecutive playoff berths, six conference finals appearances, two trips to the NBA Finals, and a championship in 2024 that restored pride to one of the league’s most storied franchises.

So, yes,

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