The Celtics and the curse of the champion

Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics. The NBA has had six different champions in the last six seasons, but the most recent winners hope to break that streak. The Celtics start the season as favorites to defend the title. Joe Mazzulla’s team, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, won the franchise’s 18th championship in June, ending a drought that had lasted since 2008. On an increasingly level NBA playing field, Boston is looking to break the curse that has followed the reigning champion in recent years in an attempt to establish a dynasty.

It will not be an easy task. Not even Larry Bird’s Celtics, champions in 1981, 1984, and 1986, were able to win back-to-back titles. In fact, the most successful team in NBA history has not won two the championship in two consecutive years since 1969, when the legendary Bill Russell was player-coach.

The Celtics’ biggest virtue is that they have managed to keep the group that led them to victory last season intact. In addition to Tatum and Brown, their ideal quintet includes the Latvian giant Kristaps Porziņģis (who has been sidelined with a retinaculum injury and replaced by the veteran Al Horford), the efficient point guard and tough defender Jrue Holiday, and the reliable Derrick White. A balanced and cohesive team, with solid replacements and a coach who is clear about what he wants, is aiming to mark an era.

The Celtics had a triumphant ride last year. They topped the Eastern Conference by a wide margin and lost only three of 19 playoff games, during which they did not have to play the theoretically strongest teams in the championship. This year, they are expected to have a tougher time, even in the regular season.

The New York Knicks, Boston’s rivals Tuesday in the first game of the season, have positioned themselves as the first alternative after bringing in Karl Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mikal Bridges from the neighboring Brooklyn Nets, and Cameron Payne from the Philadelphia 76ers. To do so the Knicks have sacrificed, among others, shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo and power forward Julius Randle, but if Jalen Brunson maintains the level he reached last season, the Conference title may cease to be the utopia of the last two decades.

The 76ers have extended the contract of their star player, Joel Embiid, who is their main asset and their Achilles heel. He is a decisive player, but prone to injuries and requires plenty of rest. The arrivals of Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers, and Caleb Martin from the Miami Heat, will give a new air to the starting five.

The best trade the Milwaukee Bucks would choose would be to be able to ensure Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard remain fit, after the former missed the playoffs last year through injury and the latter suffered an achilles injury in Game 3 of the First Round loss to the Indiana Pacers. With that duo in form, the Bucks are a fearsome rival. The Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton, and the Cleveland Cavaliers of Donovan Mitchell have maintained the bulk of their rosters but seem to be a rung below, as do the Orlando Magic, who have added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. For the rest of the teams in the East, including the Brooklyn Nets, coached by the Spaniard Jordi Fernández, getting into the playoffs would represent a success.

Thunder in the West

In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites, a revelation in the regular season and a disappointment in the playoffs last year and watching to see how the new pieces fit together in Minnesota, without forgetting Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets or Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks, Conference champions last season.

The Thunder are relying on the scoring prowess of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams and the under-the-basket power of Chet Holmgren, last season’s second-best rookie. Oklahoma have added center Isaiah Hartenstein from the Knicks and acquired Alex Caruso in a trade for Josh Giddey with the Bulls, which gives them a stronger appearance than last season.

The Western Conference, if anything, is more evenly matched than the East. For starters the Nuggets, champions in 2023, still have Jamal Murray and Jokic, a lethal duo. They have lost Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, although neither were playing essential roles. A big question is whether their star addition, nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook, is in a position to provide enough quality minutes at the age of 35, even as Murray’s backup.

The Timberwolves have undergone the biggest change in the Western Conference, with the departure of Karl Anthony-Towns and the arrival of Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle. Minnesota have elected to sacrifice one of their stars in exchange for more outside shooting and the versatility they lacked to beat the Mavericks in last year’s Western Conference finals, which they reached for the first time in 20 years. The Wolves were tight on budget to retain Towns and their franchise player, Anthony Edwards, long-term and have made moves to make up for their departures as best they can.

The Mavericks also hope to be in contention again. They were the surprise package of last season — largely due to their trades during the winter window — reaching the NBA Finals, where they succumbed to the Celtics. Tim Hardaway, Josh Green and Derrick Jones have left, but with Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the veteran Klay Thompson (a four-time champion with the Golden State Warriors) they have a fearsome three-pointer arsenal, plus the power of Daniel Gafford and the 2.16 meters of Dereck Lively II under the hoops. Their chances will depend on the success of their stars and the maturity of the latter.

Stephen Curry for the Warriors, Kevin Durant for the Phoenix Suns and LeBron James for the Lakers seem doomed to the role of past glories, as was the case last season. James, however, will continue to add to the record books. His longevity has ensured he will become the first father to play alongside his son, Bronny, on an NBA team. This Tuesday, against the Timberwolves, they will have their first opportunity to do so in an official match.

The new generation of rookies is a mystery. None of them has a dazzling presentation card. The first two spots in the draft went to Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks) and Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards), although experts now view the third draft pick, Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets), as more promising.

In fact, much more attention will continue to be drawn by last year’s star rookie, Victor Wembanyama, who is predicted to mark an era in the NBA but is currently sidelined with the marginal San Antonio Spurs. Wembanyama has gained 11 kilos of pure muscle and watching him play will be quite a spectacle.

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