New Year’s resolutions for the Celtics

Don’t let the Celtics’ recent struggles distract you from the fact that 2024 was one of the most gratifying years in franchise history.

After years of buildup, they finally did the dang thing. Coming tantalizingly close so many times made the ultimate triumph even sweeter.

Now, having said that, they’re not playing consistently great basketball at the moment (put Tuesday aside). So, with that in mind, here are some New Year’s resolutions for the Celtics as the calendar flips to 2025.

This year can end with the same bliss, but a few things need to change for that to happen.

Play like the underdog and with desperation.

The Celtics are favorites in nearly every game they play. It’s human nature to sleep on inferior opponents, but great teams have a knack for not succumbing to human nature.

Pretend the Pelicans are the Nuggets. Pretend the Wizards are the Cavaliers. When the Celtics were still searching for that elusive title, it felt like they had a collective sense of desperation. They need to get that back.

Show more versatility offensively.

I like 3-pointers more than anyone else I know. Heck, my Twitter bio says: “Fan of 3-pointers and one-liners.” It’s not that the Celtics should veer away from the 3-ball — it’s just that they need to add more to their repertoire.

When teams know what’s coming, it’s much easier to defend. Unpredictability is the hallmark to any elite offense. You have to respect the 3, the mid-range and the paint, because all three are threats.

As statistician Dick Lipe notes, the Celtics are starting to make strides in that area. They need to keep trending in that direction, while continuing to drain 3 after 3.

Be pests defensively.

What would Marcus Smart say about this? How about Tommy Heinsohn or Bill Russell (RIP to both)? Obviously, the league has changed, and offenses are better than ever, but that isn’t an excuse to play lackluster defense.

The Celtics are active defensively at times, but they struggle mightily in others. Granted, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are critical parts of the equation, and they’ve been out, but the overall energy needs to shift.

The Celtics are at their best when they’re in opponents’ faces, pressuring the ball and wreaking havoc. Then they turn that defense into offense, and the 3-pointers flow naturally.

In December alone, they allowed 115, 120, 127, 117, 118 and 123 points. It’s safe to say that’s not where it needs to be.

Play faster.

This goes back to the last point: I maintain that the Celtics should play faster than they do. They’re more athletic, more skilled and more versatile than just about every other team, so they should use that to their advantage.

They’re currently 21st in pace, which I personally think needs to change. Once you get easy layups, you find a rhythm, and the rest comes naturally. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and more can all play fast, so there’s no reason not to do it.

Make a conscious effort to earn the No. 1 seed.

At the start of the season, we all naively assumed the Celtics would get the No. 1 seed with relative ease.

Then the Cavaliers decided to become unstoppable. Now, the Knicks are winning and looking very legit. If things keep trending the way they are, the Celtics could end up sliding to No. 3 and having to face both teams as the lower seed. A hypothetical path of the Bucks, Knicks, Cavaliers and Thunder as the road team is far from a cakewalk.

While I’d still like Boston’s odds in any of those series, life on the road doesn’t typically end well for NBA teams. So, show a little urgency. Try to get the No. 1 seed. If you end up with the 2 or 3-seed, so be it, but don’t rest guys late in the year. Seeding matters in the NBA.

If the Celtics do these things, and return to their roots, they’ll be just fine and have an excellent chance to repeat. If not, 2025 may not end in another parade.