The Boston Celtics have been one of the more consistent teams in the NBA right now. They currently hold the longest active streak of playoff appearances in the NBA with 11. The last time they missed the playoffs was in the 2013-14 season. But that was after the team traded away Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. However, with Jayson Tatum‘s injury, many experts around the league believe this will be a gap year for the Celtics. But can they continue their streak of playoff consistency? Let’s take a look.
The NBA’s Winning Streak Is on the Line in Boston
During the stretch of 11 playoff appearances, the Celtics have made the Finals two times and won a championship. What is even more impressive is that they have made the Conference Finals six times. During that period, three different coaches have sat on the sideline: Brad Stevens, Ime Udoka and now Joe Mazzulla. Despite different coaches and philosophies, the Celtics continue to win games and make the playoffs. They have also won 50+ games six times.
Now, the question is, can they survive the injury to Tatum? What about trading players like Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday? Only two starters remain from their championship run two years ago: Derrick White and Jaylen Brown. This season, the Celtics will rely on internal improvement to keep the boat afloat. But will that be enough? The biggest challenge will be finding someone to man the center position. Currently, Neemias Queta appears to be the most logical solution, given his solid performance at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
Should the Celtics Tank?
There are certainly good reasons for the Celtics to call it a night and just forget the 2025-26 season. This might be the only time they will get a quality first-round pick to add to their talent pool. The Celtics control their 2026 and ’27 first-round picks. But the hope is that they will be back into contention next season, making the 2027 pick a late first.
The 2026 NBA Draft is shaping to be one of the deepest. The Celtics certainly cannot get a top-five pick, but picking somewhere between 10 and 18 will benefit them. In the new, second-apron era, teams need as much cheap talent as possible. The Celtics found out firsthand that they cannot keep that many players on high-salaried contracts this summer. Due to the injuries and trades, the Celtics are at risk of ending their longest streak of playoff appearances in the NBA.
Copying the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors went through a similar phase en route to their 2022 NBA championship. After making the Finals for five straight seasons, the Warriors suffered injuries that plagued their 2019-20 season. Steph Curry was limited to only five games, and the Warriors quickly shut him down for the remainder of the season.
GSW was able to get back into contention after two years thanks to an influx of young talent. With Tatum probably missing the entire season, the Celtics might decide to pull the plug early on. Of course, that depends on early results. But if they are losing more than they are winning by January, it might be best to just build for the future.
Can the Celtics Squeeze Into the Playoffs or the NBA’s Longest Streak Will Come to An End?
The Eastern Conference is a wild ride, and it looks to be wide open. Right now, barring injuries, there are only two teams that are locks to make the playoffs. Those are the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. After that, there are more questions than answers.
Several teams will be fighting for the remaining six spots, including the improved Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic. The Milwaukee Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo, while the Philadelphia 76ers will hope for a healthy season to get back in the playoffs. Teams like the Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat should bet on consistency and continuity. And then we have wild cards like the Toronto Raptors and the Charlotte Hornets.
Because of the lack of talent and winning teams in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics might be able to continue their NBA-best streak of playoff appearances. But anything is possible. Another injury to a key player, and the Celtics might wait for the 2026-27 season.
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