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What defines success for this year’s Celtics?

The Boston Celtics are entering the 2026-27 season with a clear message: depth and flexibility will define their success. In preseason action, the team demonstrated its ability to win without relying on its starters, as bench players like Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Neemias Queta outplayed the Cleveland Cavaliers’ starters—minus James Harden—while also defeating four of Philadelphia’s projected starting five.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla reinforced this philosophy by trusting assistants D.J. MacLeay and Tony Dobbins to manage key preseason games, even reviewing film in the locker room to emphasize strategic adjustments.

The rotation at center also reflects this approach, with three capable players—including Luka Garza—embracing a by-committee system, a critical advantage given the team’s health concerns entering the year.

Key players like Jayson Tatum, Paul George, and Mitchell Robinson are returning from injury-related absences, with all three reporting optimism about their readiness. Tatum and Robinson, in particular, have signaled they’re available for back-to-back games—a notable improvement from last season’s limitations.

George, meanwhile, acknowledged the early-season challenges of regaining offensive rhythm after a lengthy layoff, though he emphasized his physical readiness as a bright spot. The Celtics’ preseason performances suggest they’re poised to leverage their bench as both a strength and a strategic tool, a formula that could prove decisive in a competitive Eastern Conference.

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