Celtics are 2-3: Growing Pains or Early Red Flags?

Joel Piton
5 days ago
4 min read

By Joel Piton · 10/17/25 · Sportz Nation

The Boston Celtics sent shockwaves through the NBA on Wednesday night, dismantling the former Eastern Conference top seed Cleveland Cavaliers in a 20-point blowout. For a team that stumbled out of the gate with three straight losses—and even sparked whispers of tanking this season—the victory felt like a much-needed jolt of hope. Was this a turning point, or just a one-night fluke? With Boston now sitting at a record of 2-3, the first five games have been nothing short of a roller coaster, but perhaps Celtics fans have more to be grateful for than the early panic suggested. With five games in the books, let's step back and break down what this Celtics team has shown us so far—the highs, the lows, and the head-scratchers in between.

The opener couldn’t have been more gut-wrenching. A one-point loss to Philadelphia on our home floor set the tone for an uneasy start. No. 3 overall pick Edgecombe introduced himself to the NBA with a thunderous 34-point debut, and Tyrese Maxey added salt to the wound with 40 points on a scorching 7-of-9 from deep. Despite the heartbreak, Jayson Tatum’s absence highlighted in this first regular season game that Jaylen Brown is more than capable of taking over the scoring load when needed.

Then came the following game in Madison Square Garden, a hostile stage, and the gap between Boston and New York was glaringly obvious. The lasting image of that night wasn’t any highlight reel or game altering play, but rather Jaylen Brown's hairline rubbing off against OG Anunoby’s jersey. Sam Hauser was deadly from beyond the arc, but his hot hand couldn’t overcome the Knicks’ size and depth. What made this one sting wasn’t that the Celtics played poorly—it’s that they simply weren’t good enough to match New York possession for possession.

The skid reached three games in Detroit, where Jaylen Brown poured every ounce of effort into trying to will Boston across the finish line. The 29-year-old delivered his 14th career 40+ outing, torching the Pistons for 41 points on pretty efficient shooting, but it still wasn’t enough. After the game, Brown admitted that even a night like that can’t cover up the Celtics’ deeper flaws—most notably rebounding, where Boston currently ranks third-worst in the East. Starting 0-3 doesn’t sound catastrophic, but history tells a different story: the last time the Celtics opened with three straight losses was 2013-14, when Rajon Rondo was the team's captain.

Thankfully, the skid didn’t last long. Boston flipped the script against New Orleans, pounding the Pelicans in a 32-point blowout that finally showcased the team’s depth. Anfernee Simons led the charge with 25 points, Josh Minott impressed in his first starting nod with 15 and nine boards, and Payton Pritchard (18) along with Iowa product Luka Garza (16) chipped in to round out a balanced offensive attack. Derrick White and Brown took a backseat, but that almost made the performance more impressive—it proved that Boston doesn’t always need its heavy hitters to carry the offense. It was a statement win that hinted this roster may be deeper than fans realize. And that depth carried right into their most recent test…

Previously I joked that Boston’s preseason win over Cleveland was a fluke: think again. Even with Darius Garland and Max Strus sidelined, the Celtics left no doubt, hammering the Cavs in a 20 point win and handing them just their second loss of the season. The Garden was electric, and the depth on display couldn’t have been more evident. This was Celtics basketball at its sharpest: precise, balanced, and relentless.

This was a high scoring game from three, and both squads combined for 18 threes in the first quarter—one shy of the NBA record. Jaylen Brown set the tone with 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Sam Hauser provided a sharp performance of his own dropping 21 points and hitting all four of his first-quarter threes. Josh Minott’s play was once again impossible to ignore and he finished with 11 points, 14 boards, and a defensive presence that made the Cavs uncomfortable. Neemias Queta chipped in 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Derrick White made life miserable for Donovan Mitchell—holding him to just 15 points while putting up 19 himself. The Cavs will want revenge when they’re at full strength, but let’s be clear: Boston isn’t at full strength either. Excuses don’t change the scoreboard, and on this night, the Celtics simply outplayed their opponent from start to finish.

So what did we really learn from this win—and from the first five games as a whole?

It’s tough. The grind of an 82-game season is always filled with highs and lows, but it feels especially jarring to watch a team that hoisted the trophy just a year ago stumble out of the gate without its best player. In some ways, Celtics fans feel like Jayson Tatum—frustrated on the sidelines, waiting to get back in the fight. But if these first five games have shown us anything, it’s that this group of young guys is willing to do whatever it takes.

We’ve seen 6’1” Payton Pritchard lead games in both assists and rebounds, proving hustle can outshine height. Josh Minott, once a little-known role player in Minnesota, has emerged as a high-motor wing who crashes the glass and locks down on defense. Neemias Queta is nearly averaging a double-double and has anchored the paint with consistency. Jaylen Brown may not go off every night, but he can carry the offensive load when called upon. And while Derrick White’s shooting woes (31% from the field) are real, his defense has been invaluable—keeping losses close and turning opponents’ best scorers into non-factors.

Boston still has plenty of work ahead, but starting 0-3 isn’t the death sentence it once felt like. Maybe—just maybe—this team will be okay. They’re hungry, they’re scrappy, and they’re out to prove everyone wrong. And sometimes, that’s all you need.