Diya Upreti, Jadetimes Staff
Diya Upreti is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Sports News
It's all eyes on the reigning champs Boston Celtics, as the NBA is set to start with the beginning of the 2024-25 season on October 22. Following a successful season and a well-fought victory to claim the title, can they defend their crown despite being weighed down by reality? This season is a unique one with the debilitating question of many of the top players from all over the league, including the Celtics, returning from summer Olympics time in Paris, where Team USA claimed its fifth consecutive basketball gold medal. The rapid changeover from Olympic fellowship to NBA rivalries ought to weaken Boston's will and patience on their quest to remain at the top.
A Short Summer Break
One of the greatest factors that make the Celtics' title defense so intriguing is this unusually short break certain key players of the team have due to Olympic games. Players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown represented Team USA and played a big role in the triumph in Paris. While this paints a perfect little picture of the players on their resumes as upper-crust stars, it brings into light some cause for concern regarding their fitness. Competing at such insane levels without a proper offseason may just have repercussions down the long aisle of an NBA season. This will leave it to the Celtics' coaching staff to take the utmost care when it comes to the players' minutes in order to keep them fresh for the tail end of the season.
The Celtics have, in essence, a great formula to win a championship: solid defense, elite shot-making, and very high team chemistry. Compliments go to the team management, which has successfully kept Tatum, Brown, Derrick White, and Robert Williams III together. Staying together represents a huge step toward contending again, but questions hover on their depth. Losing Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies during the offseason created a hole in their defensive backcourt. Though the Celtics brought in Kristaps Porziņģis, one of the premier scorers in the league, there are still many doubts about his ability to play a full season. Just how these pieces fit will determine whether the Celtics could reign over the Eastern Conference once again.
Competition: Greater Than Ever
Aside from just the problems in Boston, the depth of the NBA has only increased this season. The Eastern Conference seems like it will be a powerhouse on its own, with the addition of Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Pairing him with Giannis Antetokounmpo will be incredibly tough to overcome. The Philadelphia 76ers inherited James Harden in a wild off-season and while they will be tough to beat, Joel Embiid is still their best player. Any of those three teams may be significantly threatening in a quest for a repeat.
That is nothing to say of the Western Conference, and the Denver Nuggets are on the prowl for their six consecutive Western Conference title. The Golden State Warriors has added Chris Paul to a roster full of veterans. It is going to be an all-out dog fight for a banner.
Mental and Physical Fatigue
The NBA season is a grueling 82-game competition and including an Olympic summer only tops up what are already weary bodies and tired minds. Being in the company of the Olympic team certainly trains teammates in harmony off the court but the players involved on Team USA are sure to be rivals as training camps begin in a matter of weeks. Getting multiple players used to team against team instead of playing as teammate can be difficult. Boston has to be up for the challenge. There are incredibly high expectations placed on their shoulders because they are returning champions but also because they are Team USA caliber Olympic players; their adaptability has to be off the charts.
