Feb 28, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) high fives forward Jayson Tatum (0) after the Cleveland Cavaliers called a timeout during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

NBA Insider Identifies This Slight Weakness in Celtics' Repeat Chances

Originally posted on Boston Celtics on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Apr 7, 2025 10:00 AM ET

The 57-20 Boston Celtics are hoping to win their second title in as many years — but one expert thinks the champs are not invulnerable.

ESPN's Zach Kram posits that a languid offensive pace may be the Achilles heel for the reigning champs, who are on paper one of the best two-way teams in the league.

"It's not easy to find a weakness in the Celtics, who join the [Oklahoma City] Thunder with a top-five offense and defense. But one potential playoff problem for Boston is an overly methodical offense -- and I don't mean the team's reliance on 3-pointers," Kram writes.

More Boston Celtics: NBA Changes Mind on Controversial Jayson Tatum Decision

Boston is the most frequent 3-point shooting team in the league, and one of the most frequent 3-point shooting teams of all time. The Celtics are averaging a whopping 48.3 triple tries a night, almost six more than the nearest club, the Warriors, who are attempting 42.4 treys per.

TRIPLE THREAT

The @celtics are on pace for the MOST THREES in a season in NBA history!

They’re averaging 17.9 3PM a game, the next-highest would be 16.6 (2022-23 Warriors) pic.twitter.com/lqlp6go8cC
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2025

"Rather, it ranks near the bottom of the league in a host of statistics related to offensive speed: 27th in pace, 30th in fast break points, 30th in transition frequency, per Cleaning the Glass; 27th in average time to shoot after a defensive rebound, per Inpredictable; and 30th in average time to shoot after a turnover."

To hear Kram tell it, the Eastern Conference boasts three title contenders: the Celtics, the 62-15 Cleveland Cavaliers, and the 49-28 New York Knicks. In the West, Kram considers the 64-13 Oklahoma City Thunder, the 47-30 Los Angeles Lakers, the 46-31 Golden State Warriors, the 47-31 Denver Nuggets, and 51-27 Houston Rockets to be the conference's major contenders.

The 46-32 Minnesota Timberwolves, who advanced to the Western Conference Finals last year, get short shrift here.

More Boston Celtics: Celtics' Jaylen Brown is Studying Film of Boston Legend to Improve Game

Kram observes that Boston's speed issues haven't proven to be much of an impediment across their past two seasons under head coach Joe Mazzulla.

"The Celtics' deliberate play hasn't harmed their overall offensive efforts over the past two seasons -- but for small stretches, especially when their 3s aren't falling, Boston can get stuck in the mud," Kram writes. "And it might not have the fast-break gear to free themselves and generate easy buckets."

Kram notes that the Thunder, who possess the league's top half-court defense (according to Cleaning the Glass), the Cavaliers and the 38-40 Orlando Magic could all take advantage of Boston's slow speed. Boston went 0-2 against Oklahoma City this season.

"Yes, it's a statement win. ... That one means a little bit more to OKC."

—@LegsESPN on the Thunder beating the Celtics in Boston pic.twitter.com/ybTZ1Mfldb
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 13, 2025