Are the Boston Celtics falling behind their conference rivals?

Yahoo SportsYesterday2 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The Boston Celtics, after a promising start to the 2025-26 season, faltered in the playoffs, losing a 3-1 series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers. Analysts suggest the Celtics may now be trailing behind rivals like the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Key points

Celtics lost a 3-1 lead in the playoffs
Joe Murray suggests Celtics are behind rivals
Celtics roster is younger and less experienced

Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ersNew York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers

Before the 2025-26 season got underway, Boston Celtics fans weren't expecting much. Brad Stevens had parted with a sizeable amount of the championship-winning core from 2024, and the messaging was that the season would be somewhat of a "gap year." However, a younger, less experienced version of the Celtics quickly found its identity, proving itself capable of going toe-to-toe with any team in the NBA...And then the playoffs rolled around. It was in the postseason that Boston's inexperienced roster quickly gave the fanbase a reality check. Despite building a 3-1 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston let go of the rope, losing three consecutive games (two on their home floor) to drop the series and end their chances of a Cinderella run to the Eastern Conference Finals. With that in mind, Joe Murray of 98.5 The Sports Hub recently explored the notion that Boston may have fallen behind some of the other heavy-hitters in the Eastern Conference. He noted that the Celtics are likely behind the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. In fairness, you could probably add the Cleveland Cavaliers to that list. You can hear Joe Murray's full take by watching the embedded video above. Watch or listen to the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on: YouTube: Spotify: Apple: Substack: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Are the Celtics falling behind their conference rivals?*

Q&A

Why did the Boston Celtics lose their playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers?

The Celtics built a 3-1 lead but lost three consecutive games, including two at home, which ended their playoff run.

Which teams are considered rivals to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference?

The New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are currently viewed as rivals that the Celtics may be falling behind.

What changes did the Boston Celtics make before the 2025-26 season?

The Celtics parted ways with several key players from their 2024 championship team, leading to a younger and less experienced roster.

Are the Boston Celtics falling behind their conference rivals?

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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