Aura.
That’s the feeling I get in the crisp 60ish degree autumn air (at least according to my iPhone’s weather forecast as I write this).
We’ve all finally made it.
All of the trips to the “beach,” sweltering summer days, and Liberty Bibberty-filled Wild Card Series commercial breaks are in the rear view. The longest Boston Celtics hiatus in literally 10 years is finally over.
You have preseason hoops to watch tonight.
You deserve it.
This certainly wasn’t the easiest summer to have to endure the 159-day
gap between Celtics games. The season ended in heartbreaking, yet predictable, fashion.
Fans were forced to sit and think about what their team did for a few weeks before rumors that Boston was in on Giannis Antetokounmpo began to swirl. That will-they-won’t-they saga was taxing enough, even before the entire day of the eventual trade to the Miami Heat was filled with intel that the Celtics were the ones in the lead — until they weren’t.
Giannis went to Miami, and the Cs were left with an awkward “let’s try and smooth things over with Jaylen Brown after we tried to ship him to Milwaukee” situation.
Their solution?
Do Jaylen like he was Tommy from Goodfellas. Frankly, it felt like the Goodfellas-ed me, too. When I saw the notification pop up on my phone, I couldn’t believe the return for the longest-tenured Celtic since Paul Pierce and 2024 NBA Finals MVP. Paul George, two first-round picks (which may wind up being awesome), and two seconds.
Fast forward to today, and a majority of the fanbase is eagerly anticipating George’s fit with the Celtics and how well he’ll compliment Jayson Tatum as a secondary option.
Frankly, they’re doing what they should in this spot. The Cs still project to be an awesome team to watch, follow, support, and cover this season.
No one can tell you any different right now. The possiblities are endless. Who’s to say that Boston won’t be an absolute analytics-fueled wagon this season?
Not me, that’s for sure.
The beautiful thing about the preseason is that it’s can’t-lose basketball. If the team looks great, then it’s “the rest of the league better watch out.” If they’re bad, “it’s only preseason, the games don’t matter anyway.”
More than anything, it’s a great opportunity to learn — especially when you’re dealing with a transformed roster like Boston’s. We’ll all get our first glimpse at the short-term effects of optionality and whether or not Brad Stevens nailed the summer.
If you have people in your life who are going to be watching “football” tonight, give them a hug and wish them well as you embark on this Celtic pilgrimage.
