Celtics Still Chasing a Title-With or Without Tatum
At the start of the season, few outside Boston had the Celtics circled as serious title contenders. A tough offseason saw the team lose key pieces, and the news that Jayson Tatum would miss most of the year only added to the skepticism.
But inside the Celtics’ locker room, the mindset never shifted. The expectations?
Still sky-high. The goal?
Still a banner.
Just ask Neemias Queta.
“Yeah, obviously - we play for the Celtics. Anything else other than a championship, it’s not going to go. We’re not happy with it,” Queta said after Boston’s 119-104 win over the Pacers on Wednesday night.
That win pushed the Celtics to 27-16, good for second in the Eastern Conference. And while the standings might surprise some, they don’t surprise the Celtics themselves.
This is a team that’s stayed locked in, even without its superstar. And a big reason for that is the culture head coach Joe Mazzulla has built.
Mazzulla hasn’t just kept the ship afloat-he’s kept it moving full speed ahead. With Tatum sidelined, Boston has leaned on guys like Jaylen Brown and Queta to carry the load.
And they’ve responded. The Celtics are finding different ways to win, grinding out games, and staying true to their identity: tough, unselfish, and relentlessly focused on the ultimate prize.
Queta, now in his third season with the team and a member of the 2024 championship squad, knows exactly what it takes to win in Boston. He’s been around long enough to understand that the standard doesn’t drop just because a star player is out. If anything, it rises.
That’s the message Mazzulla has been drilling into his players all year. Adapt.
Compete. Find new ways to win.
And above all, never lose sight of the bigger picture.
With Tatum still working his way back, the Celtics aren’t waiting around. They’re building momentum, banking wins, and setting themselves up for a strong postseason run.
And when their best player does return? This team could be even more dangerous-battle-tested, battle-hardened, and still chasing Banner 18 with the same relentless drive that’s defined the franchise for decades.
Championship talk isn’t just lip service in Boston. It’s the expectation. And even in a season that started with more questions than answers, the Celtics are showing they’re still very much in the hunt.