Championship teams tend to require a step backward subsequent regular season, which might be a window for the Celtics to leap within the standings. Playoff positioning might be key for the Celtic’s next playoffs, so a Milwaukee team that coasts its thanks to a lower seed is often just what Boston must grab basketball court for an additional round or two.
That hangover might be especially prominent this upcoming season considering Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton are heading to Tokyo for the Olympics once the Finals are done. That’s getting to add a couple of weeks of high-level basketball to their legs, which can probably contribute to a slow start for Milwaukee next season.
The Celtics have an opportunity to pounce on a sluggish November and December to create a lead and grab a more favorable playoff draw. The Celtics will only have the taxpayer mid-level exception, approximately $5.9 million, to spend on free agents. If the Bucks are the defending champions, they’ll essentially move to the front of the road for the kinds of free agents Boston is fighting for.
The Celtics could provide a chance for a few of these free agents to urge more playing time and raise their value, but the ring-chasers therein group could latch onto the Bucks rather than Boston as they struggle to urge championships of their own. One free-agent signing isn’t getting to break the Celtics, but the competition for talent is what it’s, and therefore the Celtics can’t really afford another strike against them.
