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NBA Rivals Anticipate Celtics Facing This Postseason Test originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics are marching into the postseason as prominent contenders, but they'll have some questions to address on their quest toward the NBA Finals.
ESPN asked NBA coaches, executives and scouts to break down the league's premier championship hopefuls. For Boston, insiders focused on whether the supporting cast can help spark another title run behind Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
While Brian Windhorst commended head coach Joe Mazzulla's "masterful job" of managing Boston's bench, the ESPN reporter noted that rivals anticipate a young roster facing a steep test in the playoffs.
"There's going to be a bad quarter or two, and probably not until the second round, where their young guys are going to show their age," an Eastern Conference executive said. "They probably have enough (star power) to bail them out once or twice, but how they respond to adversity will teach us a lot about how good this roster really is."
Boston's roster boasts plenty of championship experience, as seven players won a title two years ago. The Celtics have since added the likes of Baylor Scheierman and 20-year-old rookie Hugo Gonzalez, and Neemias Queta started six games in his first four seasons before earning a larger role during a breakout 2025-26 campaign.
Tim Bontemps identified center as Boston's "other question" entering the playoffs. Luka Garza and Nikola Vucevic can score behind Queta off the bench, but neither offers an imposing defensive presence.
However, one Western Conference assistant coach believes that trio can support Boston's championship aspirations.
"Can you survive with Queta and Garza and Vuc [at center]?" the coach said. "I think they're the team to beat because I've seen them do it."
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