NBA Notebook: Ownership change and tougher path to repeat biggest Celtics 2025 stories

Joe Mazzulla began his preparation for the 2024-25 season by studying why no champion since the 2017-18 Warriors repeated. None of them exited the second round, and whether bumps and bruises carrying over from an extended postseason run, along with the Olympics for several players; getting the best shots from opponents, or whatever comfort can set in following a long run, it all culminated in some soul searching between Sunday and a meeting on Monday at Auerbach Center.

“We met yesterday as a team, watched film,” Mazzulla said on Tuesday. “There are obviously points of the season, you’re always going back-and-forth on what you’re trying to emphasize versus what you can fix now, what needed to be fixed then, what needs to be fixed 10 games from now. So you lump those into different categories. Yesterday, coming in on an off day, we were able to do both. We were able to focus on Toronto ... and then, here’s what we gotta get better at, here’s what we gotta emphasize right now, fix right now.” 

They responded with a 54-point win that featured attention to detail, their signature win of the season at Minnesota and a ho-hum blowout of the Rockets 1,000 miles south the next day. Jrue Holiday looks like himself again, Kristaps Porziņģis returned from a four-game absence with his ankle sprain to further solidify the team's slumping defense and Sam Hauser shot 12-of-24 from three over a three-game stretch. Mazzulla, speaking before the game in Houston, reiterated that the team's process was correct through December.  

Yet when the Celtics lost 4-of-6 late in the month, something they hadn’t done previously in the 2024 calendar year, the Oklahoma City Thunder throttled the Grizzlies to secure their 11th straight and tie Boston’s cumulative 2024 record at 61-21. The surging Cavs and Knicks stood close behind them at 57-24 and 55-27. Cleveland’s advantage in the standings this season grew through the Celtics’ recent lull and New York could've moved past them this weekend if its win streak continued. Boston faced a Western conference gauntlet to begin the new year. There was some reason for concern -- worse shooting, defense and tougher competition around the league evident as the Celtics tried to repeat. 

“We gotta get back to emphasizing the defensive side of the ball. It’s kind of slipped over the last few games,” Jaylen Brown said on Sunday. “Teams are pressuring us and being physical with us. We gotta do some of the same stuff to them … we’ve had some great moments this season and maybe some comfort has slipped in. I mean offensively, we’re fine. I just think defensively, we gotta find ways to get more stops and be more consistent protecting the basket, helping each other, communicating and we just haven’t emphasized that enough.”

A defensive masterclass at Minnesota to shut down Anthony Edwards quelled some concerns about that side of the ball, Holiday's presence transforming that side of the ball. Boston rose back to 10th in three-point shooting this week (37.1%). Last month's wakeup call, better health and bigger games have the Celtics back on track into 2025 so far. 

In the bigger picture, the most consequential news of the new year looms when the team decides on its new principal owner. That’ll only mark the beginning of a seemingly dragging process that Wyc Grousbeck maintains will involve him staying on board through the full transfer of the Grousbeck family’s share. Whether Steph Pagliuca consolidates control or a larger outside buyer jumps in, it’s an underlying story that’ll decide this core’s ability to stay together long-term. Brad Stevens has described business as usual through the sale, but there's a sense that this season’s result will weigh heavily on how likely the team is to actually assume the scheduled $500 million payroll plus luxury tax they’ve guaranteed. 

The team hasn’t made that their mission on the floor. They’ve preached longevity and development, being able to contend year-in, year-out, as much as a do-or-die run with the clock ticking upstairs. That’s understandable. Beyond CBA and ownership machinations being hard to convey as tangible to this year in the locker room, it’s not an effective coaching strategy to say: hey, we better win this year because some of you might be out of here. The Timberwolves showcased the kind of difficult move new cap rules could force contenders to make with their Karl-Anthony Towns trade. 

“I never thought (about) that,” Holiday said on media day. “I guess the money side and him selling, that’s him, that’s his situation. For me, I try to control what I can control and that’s coming in here every day trying to reach the ultimate goal, which is winning another championship. I guess, best of luck to Wyc? I don’t really know what to tell him.” 

Instead, Mazzulla has largely maintained a similar dynamic to last year through solidified roles, spurts of opportunity off the bench and experimentation. They might’ve lost a game to Memphis, in part, by putting Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta on the floor together. It gave them a look at something different, as have games where they tried Jordan Walsh, five in a row now, along with Drew Peterson, Jaden Springer and starting Xavier Tillman Sr. That flexible approach powered them through 2023-24, allowing for rest among the regular contributors and confidence among the bench players. 

They also haven’t had much of a choice this time. The major difference in this season compared to last: Between Holiday’s shoulder, Porziņģis’ recovery from left leg surgery and other ailments since, along with Jayson Tatum’s bout with knee pain, the Celtics have rarely played at full health this season. And the bench hasn’t proven as reliable aside from Payton Pritchard’s explosion. Sam Hauser spent much of the start of the year nursing a bad back while Tillman, Walsh and Peterson couldn’t carve out regular roles off the bench. Even Queta, who thrived to start the season with Porziņģis out, is fourth in line at center, leaving him out many nights.

“The matchup plays a big part in that,” Mazzulla said. “Who we are playing against. We went to Drew Peterson against a (Cavaliers) team that was more susceptible to going zone against us. Sometimes, you’re looking at what he’s done when he’s in Maine. Obviously, it’s a balance of having an understanding that everyone on the bench has to impact winning at some point, so it mostly goes into what the lineups look like for us.” 

That’s something Stevens and the front office will assess over the next month, rarely a complacent group even with clear obstacles to making moves this time around. They have a roster spot, some draft capital and sizable enough contracts to at least acquire one player they like. Lonnie Walker IV, an intriguing training camp competitor, reportedly remains in the mix to return and add a boost later this winter. Later this month, when the season hits its halfway point, his contract and luxury tax hit would slash in half compared to in camp. The same goes for unrestricted free agent and valuable 2024 contributor Oshae Brissett, who expressed a desire to get back into the league on his vlog this week. 

Otherwise, this team looks as intimidating at full strength as they did one year ago. Down shooting years for multiple players are something to watch, as is their increased volume of threes. Strong competitors have emerged in Cleveland and Oklahoma City. Milwaukee and New York remain dangerous. The Sixers and Pacers are clawing their way back. The Cavs’ 70-win pace might even inevitably position the Celtics below home court status. Stevens and Mazzulla anticipated it’d be tougher this time, and it’s already looking that way into the new year an a season that could be this group's last chance to run it back in full depending on who oversees the franchise's finances going forward. 

“I think the important thing is being proud of what we did last season,” Tatum said in September. “Last year was amazing. We were an incredible team and we made history. This year, not necessarily feeling like we have to defend the title. We’re trying to go win it. We had a target on our back the last couple of years. Nothing has changed in that aspect. If anything, we know how great it felt to win and what it took. We’re trying to go win it again, not necessarily defend it. Just like anybody else, we want to go win the championship.” 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Boston (26-9): Got back on track with a 54-point win over the Raptors on New Year's Eve in Jrue Holiday's return from his shoulder ailment before beginning their difficult western conference road trip with a 118-115 win over the Timberwolves where they shut down Anthony Edwards for 15 points. Kristaps Porziņģis returned one day later for a runaway win over the Rockets without Jaylen Brown, who missed both games with his own shoulder sprain. Jordan Walsh logged significant minutes for the fifth straight game as the Celtics continue to assess what they have in their young depth forward before next month's trade deadline. With Baylor Scheierman looking more likely for the redshirt rookie season Walsh went through with Maine last year, there's opportunity available at the wing. Drew Peterson has been present with Boston more often lately and Marc Stein reported that Boston could potentially reunite with Lonnie Walker IV, who's playing for Žalgiris and has an NBA buyout available in his contract until Feb. 18. He'd cost far less in luxury tax now. The Celtics visit the Thunder in the biggest game of the season for both teams to this point on Sunday at 3:30 EST.  

Brooklyn (13-21): Acquired D'Angelo Russell in a trade that sent Dorian Finney-Smith to the Lakers, reuniting Russell with the Nets team he starred for early in his career before going to Golden State in the Kevin Durant sign-and-trade. Russell made an All-Star Game with Brooklyn in 2018-19. The Nets also received Maxwell Lewis and three second-rounders from LA in the deal as they remain open for business to begin their rebuild. It wouldn't be stunning to see Russell on the move again ahead of the deadline, though Brooklyn and Russell could both benefit from him leading the team for the rest of the season before his $18.7 million deal expires. He's still only 28. The trade also reunited Russell with high school teammate Ben Simmons. Russell scored 22 points in a loss at Toronto on Wednesday before starting with Cam Thomas back in the lineup on Thursday to beat the Bucks. Brooklyn reportedly had talks with Memphis about a Finney-Smith trade that left some bad blood, according to Brian Windhorst. Cam Johnson could return them a haul.

Chicago (15-19): Will retire Derrick Rose's No. 1 jersey next season after he became the youngest MVP in NBA history, won rookie of the year and made three all-star teams, returning the Bulls to relevancy atop the east before a string of knee injuries derailed his career. Rose joins Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Bob Love and Jerry Sloan as the five Chicago players with their uniforms retired. 

Cleveland (30-4): Won their ninth straight game, all coming by double-digit margins, keeping pace 4.5 games ahead of the Celtics despite Boston starting its own three-game streak. The 2015-16 Warriors, who set the NBA wins mark with 73, won 32-of-34 to begin that year. Cleveland's pace puts the team on track for between 72-73 wins. The staggering start is hard to imagine sustaining through the end of the regular season, but they're nearly halfway there with an offense that nearly matches the record-breaking efficiency last year's Celtics posted (123.2 off. rating). Kenny Atkinson won coach of the month in the East for December and said the team isn't focused on breaking the Warriors' record. 

“It's the old Bill Walsh thing: The results will take care of itself,” he said. “We're just going to keep going, keep focusing on our habits and our improvement day to day. Everyone says you should set goals. It's like, 'Let's just focus on the day, really be intentional about our process every day.' And no one's talking about championships. Now, I will say I do talk about playoffs with this team 'cause that looks like something [we're] pretty sure can happen if we keep going this way. But, for the most part, it's still not focusing on a win total at all.”

Denver (19-14): Michael Malone announced that Aaron Gordon (calf) would remain out through at least Saturday as the Nuggets cautiously approach his latest bout with the injury that cost him 10 games earlier in the season. Denver won three straight prior to Friday's loss to the Spurs despite Gordon's absence, Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokić trading double-digit assists in the starting lineup together in two of the wins. Jokić, still a slight MVP favorite according to Basketball Reference, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's explosion, further solidified his case with 41 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists opposite of Victor Wembanyama on Friday. The Celtics visit Denver on Tuesday. 

Detroit (16-18): Jaden Ivey's left leg crushed beneath Cole Anthony as they pursued a loose ball in the Pistons' win over Orlando on Wednesday and Ivey suffered a fractured fibula, needing to be carted off the court before undergoing surgery. He'll miss most of the season, ESPN reported, though he miraculously avoided ligament damage that would've prolonged his recovery. The Pistons announced he'll be evaluated in four weeks. The injury left teammates and JB Bickerstaff visually emotional after his growth continued to begin Detroit's turnaround season at only 22 years old, averaging 17.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 4.0 APG on 46% shooting (40% 3PT). The Pistons have won 5-of-6 and 7-of-10, moving up to ninth in the east ahead of Chicago. 

Houston (22-12): Amen Thompson served his two-game suspension for his role in the melee with the Heat last week between the Rockets' win over the Mavs and loss to Boston on Friday. Jabari Smith Jr. broke his left hand at shootaround before the Celtics game and will miss 6-8 weeks while Tari Eason missed his eighth straight game that night with management of a lower leg injury that's cost him time throughout this season. The absences propelled Jeff Green, 38, into the starting lineup against Jayson Tatum and company on the perimeter, a result that went about as poorly as expected. As injuries mount and Houston remains in the third seed out west, it'll be difficult to resist additions ahead of next month's trade deadline even as the team has stressed patience with its young core. Before Friday's game, Ime Udoka reacted to his former Celtics winning the 2024 championship.

Indiana (16-17): Have won 7-of-10 and rebounded from their bad loss at Boston last Friday with the most dominant offensive performance against the Celtics' defense all season, hammering Boston with dribble penetration and pulling away with a 123-114 win on Sunday that left the Celtics soul-searching defensively. Tyrese Haliburton, struggling for much of the year prior, poured 31 points on Boston with aggressive drives and carried it forward to a 128-point performance over Miami where he posted 33 points and 15 assists. The team waived former UConn guard Tristen Newton, their 49th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, from his two-way deal on Wednesday. The Timberwolves claimed him off waivers. 

Clippers (19-15): Kawhi Leonard is expected to make his season debut at Intuit Dome on Saturday against the Hawks, officially listed as questionable after missing the team's first 34 games with continued management of knee swelling that flared up into the playoffs in the spring. He joins a team that's stayed afloat behind strong James Harden, Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell seasons, along with an array of defensive role players who filled Paul George's departing max salary slot over the summer. Leonard's sustainability over the long run will matter more than what he does in his return this weekend, but more eyes will now focus on the Clippers as a potential championship contender. Law Murray from The Athletic first reported Leonard's targeted return date last month. 

Lakers (20-14): Moved into the top half of the west winning 7-of-10 this week and their top headline became Charles Barkley's clap back at JJ Redick's criticism of Inside the NBA during a bizarre halftime rant on Thursday. Redick said he didn't care when asked for a response. The Lakers parted ways with D'Angelo Russell after his addition powered their 2023 west finals run, a surely difficult call though one that added an intriguing player in Dorian Finney-Smith. Redick briefly played with Finney-Smith at the end of his career and had previously praised him in a tweet. The 31-year-old forward shot 45.9% from the field and 43.5% from three in 20 games with Brooklyn to begin the season and arrived alongside Shake Milton, a solid rotation guard who could fill the bench role that Russell had been relegated to for most of this season. Finney-Smith shot 3-of-9 from three in his first three Lakers appearances, beating Portland and Atlanta after a loss to the Cavs. He came off the bench for 20-24 minutes in each game. LeBron James turned 40 on Monday. 

Miami (17-15): Will explore Jimmy Butler trades again roughly one week after Pat Riley declared the Heat will not trade their star this season. Butler took 11 shots combined in his first two appearances back from a curious absence from the team's last road trip due to conditioning. After the second game, a bad loss to Indiana, Butler declared he's lost his joy playing for Miami and probably can't reclaim it playing for the franchise. That and other instances of conduct detrimental to the team to begin the season led the Heat to suspend Butler for seven games on Friday, a move that's expected to end his six-year run with the franchise that included two Finals runs and a trio of iconic conference finals with the Celtics. It's a startling breakup with what looked like his final home, even if the signs started over the summer with Riley's critical comments of Butler following the team's first-round loss to Boston in April. It's unclear who will sign up for the Butler experience in his age-35 season as he pursues a two-year, max contract extension. He has a $52-million player option for 2025-26. Shams reported that the Heat had spoken to multiple suitors on Friday and a deal could happen quickly. The NBPA will appeal Butler's suspension. 

Milwaukee (17-15): Giannis Antetokounmpo led the NBA in the first round of All-Star Game voting with 1.7 million votes atop the east's front court category alongside Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns. LaMelo Ball and Donovan Mitchell took the lead in the backcourt with Damian Lillard, Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown next in line overall in the conference. Out west, the projected starters are Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Dončić with Steph Curry just behind Dončić in backcourt voting for the San Francisco showcase. Starters are decided 50% by fans with the rest split between players and media. Coaches choose the reserves. 

Minnesota (17-16): Anthony Edwards missed a potential game-tying three at the buzzer to cap a bizarre performance against the Celtics where he only managed 15 points in 36 minutes. Boston schemed aggressively against him and his comments following the game proved more confusing, expressing how he wants to score the ball and not pass all game at this stage of his career. The Wolves shot 50% from the field, 53.8% from three and 90.9% at the free throw line, but 15 turnovers and Edwards' 5-of-16 night doomed them. Rob Dillingham will miss 1-2 weeks after an MRI revealed a grade two right ankle sprain for the rookie. 

New Orleans (6-29): Ended an eight-game losing streak against the Wizards behind CJ McCollum's 50 points, which tied a career high, while Zion Williamson (hamstring) was visible doing some on-court work after practice this week. They're 12.0 games behind the play-in picture in the west, which would require a monstrous second-half turnaround to prevent some retooling or a potentially larger overhaul by the trade deadline for this franchise that never got off the ground this season. Williamson hasn't fully practiced yet since his injury on Nov. 6. Williamson donated $100,000 to the victims of the New Year's Eve attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Yves Missi is in the lead for rookie of the year.

New York (24-11)/Oklahoma City (29-5): Lost their nine-game win streak at Oklahoma City on Friday and fell 2.0 games behind the Celtics for second in the east after inching within 0.5 games back last weekend. New York hosts Oklahoma City on Friday in what'll mark Isaiah Hartenstein's return to Madison Square Garden. He posted 14 rebounds and seven assists against his former team in the Thunder's win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the emerging MVP favorite in some circles, has led the Thunder to 14 straight wins, a franchise record, and a 6.5 game lead in the west by averaging 33.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 5.6 APG alongside 2.4 SPG and 1.2 BPG on defense. He shot 55.5% from the field and 37.3% from three over that stretch. On Sunday, they host the Celtics having defeated them in a thriller there in the last matchup between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum last season. The Thunder lead the Celtics by 3.5 games in the league-wide standings and sit 1.0 game back of Cleveland for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Orlando (21-15): Their nightmare injury season continued when Jalen Suggs fell with a back injury during the Magic's 106-97 win at Toronto on Friday. The non-contact injury forced Suggs to leave the floor in a wheelchair, but Jamahl Mosley called it back spasms after the game that locked him up as he pursued a loose ball. He'll be evaluated on Saturday. The many absences have allowed Tristan da Silva (25 points), Goga Bitadze and Cole Anthony to step into larger roles and give Orlando some hope of staying afloat.

Phoenix (15-17): Hard to believe in them as a Jimmy Butler suitor with Bobby Marks reporting that the Heat have no desire to take back Bradley Beal in a trade, who can also block any deal with his no-trade clause. That should eliminate even the chance Beal could go to a third team in such a trade. The Suns have no other viable path to land Butler as the most expensive team in the NBA, way above the second apron line, which bars them from combining multiple players to land one in a deal. Phoenix has lost 7-of-10 and sit 1.5 games behind Minnesota outside of the postseason picture in the west after losing to Dallas, Golden State and Memphis this week. 

Sacramento (16-19): Have won three straight under Doug Christie since firing Mike Brown. The Athletic reported that the controversial move last month wasn't at the behest of De'Aaron Fox. Fox, whose future with the Kings remains in flux after being unable to agree to an extension beyond next season with the team, hasn't asked for a trade and there's some doubt league-wide that he'd move before the deadline, but teams have reportedly monitored his availability going into this summer -- with the Rockets a clearly interested suitor. That adds pressure to the Kings to turn their season around over the next month, sitting only 2.0 games behind Minnesota outside of the playoff picture in the west. 

San Antonio (18-16): Victor Wembanyama played his 100th career game this week and his all-time standing through that milestone stacks him up with some of the greats. Over that stretch, he scored more points than LeBron James did, more blocks than Dikembe Mutombo and more threes than Steph Curry. His career stats to date: 22.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 3.7 BPG and a 34% mark from deep on 6.6 attempts per game. The Spurs have won 6-of-10, and look like they're on their way to a postseason appearance.