Cedric Maxwell Says Boston Celtics Owner Called The Team Overrated To Lessen Pressure On Players: "He’s Trying To Understate It Because The Celtics Are Gonna Be The Hunted Team All Year Long"

The Boston Celtics last season outperformed all expectations as they made it all the way to the NBA Finals. Although they eventually missed out on the championship, the Celtics definitely showed the league why they are a formidable team to play against.

With perhaps one of the best defenses in the league, the Celtics were able to shut down the top teams in the East. Not only that, their young talented players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown proved to be great playoff performers. With one of the most balanced sides in the 2022 playoffs, the Celtics definitely made a statement with their playoff run.

Cedric Maxwell Defends Co-Owner For Calling The Celtics Overrated

What Celtics achieved last season was sensational. Defeating some of the biggest teams in the East, Boston established itself as a true contender. While fans and pundits alike were incredibly impressed with the team, recently, co-owner Wyc Grousbeck claimed that his team was actually a bit overrated.

This coming from an owner is certainly strange. But ex-champion Cedric Maxwell might have some answers about the owner downplaying the team's success. In a recent conversation via NESN, Maxwell explained why Grousbeck made such a statement.

“I think he’s trying to understate it because the Celtics are gonna be the hunted team all year long. So for you to come out and say, ‘Oh my God we’re expecting to win a championship,’ "then you’re putting more pressure on your players, you’re putting more pressure on your organization... And what you do is say, ‘Look, we had some points where we got a little luck last year"

The Celtics certainly came out all guns blazing last season. Given how impressive they looked, many teams understandably will keep a close eye on Boston and will look to dethrone them from the East. These comments from the co-owner might just do the trick, though. 

With the season only a month away, the Celtics will surely not take their foot off the gas and, given the season they had, will look to establish themselves as the top team in the East. Can the Celtics re-create the performance from the 2022 playoffs next season?