Worry not, Boston fans – the Celtics are just following the trends

There’s no query about it – final 12 months’s Boston Celtics was among the finest groups in NBA historical past. They ended with the #1 common season file, successful 64 video games. They completed a complete 7 video games above the subsequent greatest staff total, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, and 14 whopping video games above the #2 staff within the East, the New York Knicks. They adopted that up by going 16-3 within the playoffs, successful their 18th championship in franchise historical past, and their first in 16 years.

That success set excessive expectations for this 12 months’s Celtics, particularly contemplating the roster is basically the very same. Sadly for them, the common season is kind of lengthy. With the elevated competitors across the league, Boston’s losses and missteps are getting numerous further consideration. Among the criticism is warranted, however we have to take a step again and take a look at the larger image.

I gained’t argue that the Celtics have seemed like their traditional selves recently – they haven’t. They’re 14-10 since December 1st, and lots of of these losses have come towards weaker competitors attributable to totally different combos of unhealthy protection, lacking open photographs, and poor execution.

A mid-season droop is nothing new for a staff coming off of a championship, although. Prior to now 10 years, solely two championship groups improved their file the next 12 months – the 23-24 Nuggets and the 15-16 Warriors. Neither of them gained the championship these years.

Solely a handful of NBA groups have gained a championship whereas having not less than one among their gamers win the Olympic gold medal in the identical 12 months, however final 12 months’s Celtics joined that rare-air. Jayson Tatum, Jrue Vacation, and Derrick White all participated on Group USA for the Olympics, successful on the worldwide stage only a short-while after conquering the NBA.

For essentially the most half, when groups have had a participant win a championship and Olympic gold medal in the identical 12 months, they’ve had worse common season data, however related playoff success the next season.

Right here’s a short take a look at the historical past. The Chicago Bulls gained the championship within the 91-92 season, with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen collaborating within the Barcelona Olympics over the summer time and bringing house the gold medal. The next season the Bulls gained 10 much less video games, however they repeated as champions. Chicago additionally gained all of it within the 95-96 season. Once more, Scottie Pippen joined Group USA within the Olympics over the summer time, coming again with the gold. The subsequent season, the Bulls gained three much less video games, and once more, they repeated as champions.

Within the 11-12 season, LeBron James gained his first ring with the Miami Warmth. He then went to London to win the Olympic gold with Group USA. The 12-13 Miami Warmth are the lone staff on this record to lift their win share the next 12 months, although one thing to notice is that the NBA was on a lockout in 11-12, which led to them enjoying solely 66 common season video games versus the standard 82. Between the 2 seasons, Miami’s win-percentage jumped up from 69.7% to 80.5%. Additionally they gained one other ring that season.

LeBron was again at it in Cleveland throughout the 15-16 season, however it was his teammate, Kyrie Irving, who went to the Olympics to win gold after the Cavaliers gained the championship that season. Within the following season, the Cavs misplaced 6 extra common season video games, and went on to lose within the Finals after the Golden State Warriors introduced in Kevin Durant.

Most just lately, the development continued with the Milwaukee Bucks. As a result of COVID-19 pandemic, the 20-21 season was shortened, and the 2020 Olympics had been delayed to 2021. Milwaukee gained the championship that season, after which despatched Jrue Vacation and Khris Middleton to Tokyo to convey house the gold. They gained 5 extra video games the next season, although they misplaced 5 further video games too, bringing their win share down from 63.9% to 62.2%. As Celtics followers could keep in mind, Giannis tried his greatest to convey Milwaukee again to the Finals, however was despatched house after assembly Boston within the Japanese Convention Semis. That leaves the Bucks because the lone staff to not return to the Finals the 12 months after.

So, Boston followers, take a breath. The Celtics had been historic final 12 months. It might really feel like they’ve regressed since they’re on a decrease win-pace than they had been a season in the past, however that’s completely pure. They performed 101 basketball video games as a staff final season, and had an unusually quick low season because of the Olympics and early begin to the pre-season this 12 months. They might tack on just a few extra losses, however that doesn’t imply they’re any much less able to repeating final 12 months’s success.