What the Celtics can learn from the last five teams that failed to win back-to-back NBA championships originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
In the not-so-distant past, it wasn't uncommon for a team to win back-to-back NBA championships. Of course, winning a title in just one season is tough, but it goes without saying that winning the title two years in a row is definitely tougher.
However, if we look at other sports, being the last team standing in consecutive seasons is easier to achieve in the NBA than it is in the NHL, NFL, or MLB.
For example, in the NFL, the New England Patriots won back-to-back titles in 2003/2004 and the Kansas City Chiefs won in 2022/2023. In the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins won back-to-back titles in 2016/2017 and the Tampa Bay Lightning won back-to-back titles in 2020/2021. In MLB, no team has won back-to-back titles since the New York Yankees won three straight titles from 1998 to 2000.
Since the Chicago Bulls won their second triple-double in 1998, there have been four consecutive NBA championships. The Los Angeles Lakers won three straight titles from 2000 to 2002, then won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. The Miami Heat won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. The Golden State Warriors won back-to-back Finals titles in 2017 and 2018.
But since the Warriors' back-to-back titles, there have been six champions in the past six years.
Interestingly, none of the past five winners have made it past the second round in the following campaign.
Professional basketball has been surprisingly even these days — in fact, the last time the NBA had six champions in a six-year period was from 1975-1980.
1975: Golden State Warriors
1976: Boston Celtics
1977: Portland Trail Blazers
1978: Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards)
1979: Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder)
1980: Los Angeles Lakers
If any team can end this trend and win consecutive championships, the Celtics are well positioned to do it.
Nearly everyone from last season's championship team is back, including all of the top 11 players in minutes per game, as well as the addition of first-round draft pick Baylor Shireman out of Creighton University.
Not only did that team defeat the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the 2024 NBA Finals, but they also ranked fifth all-time in career points differential (11.34 per game) and first in offensive rating (123.2) and became just the 14th team in NBA history to win 80 games in a combined regular season and playoff series.
The Celtics' desire and motivation to win again shouldn't be an issue. There was a ton of criticism and doubt on the road to the 2024 title that the road was easier due to injuries to opponents. These criticisms are mostly foolish. But they continue into the offseason. Jayson Tatum should be motivated by not being able to play as well as he should for the U.S. at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jaylen Brown should be motivated by not being selected for the U.S. national team. Coach Joe Mazzulla, judging by his recent comments, seems as focused as he can be to defend his title.
What can the Celtics learn from their last five championships that didn't come back-to-back? Let's take a look at each one.
2019 Toronto Raptors
Title defense result: Lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals
The big question: Who are the best remaining free agents?
The Raptors' lone title came as a result of acquiring superstar wing Kawhi Leonard in a trade with the Spurs prior to the 2018-19 season. It was a bold move for the Raptors, considering Leonard could have left the team just one year after becoming a free agent. That ended up happening, but he led Toronto to an incredible championship. The Raptors beat an injured Warriors in six games without Kevin Durant in the 2019 NBA Finals. Leonard won Finals MVP and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers a few weeks later.
The Raptors had a strong 2019-20 season but their title defense came to an end with a loss to the Celtics in the conference semifinals inside the COVID-19 bubble in Orlando.
What the Celtics can learn: The Celtics don't have this problem. As mentioned above, they return all of their best players from last season, and some of their top players, including Jayson Tatum, signed contract extensions.
2020 Los Angeles Lakers
Title defense result: Lost to Suns in Western Conference first round
Key issues: Injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis
James missed 27 games in the 2020-21 season, including 20 games due to an ankle injury from March to April, the longest injury absence of his career. Davis only played in 36 of the team's 72 games due to injuries. Those injuries eventually caught up with the Lakers, and they were defeated in six games by the Suns in the first round. Davis played just 19 minutes in Game 4, missed Game 5, and played five minutes in Game 6.
James averaged just 23.3 points per game in the series, well below his career postseason average of 28.4 points per game, and it marked the first time he has been eliminated in the first round.
What the Celtics can learn: If the Celtics' two best players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, miss extended periods with injuries and aren't 100% come playoff time, the Celtics would certainly be in trouble, but with the current Celtics roster being more talented and deep than the Lakers were in 2020-21, it wouldn't look too bad.
The Lakers also did not add enough depth in the 2020 offseason to combat the possibility of injury. Davis has been injury-prone throughout his career, so the Lakers should have been more prepared. They added Montrezl Harrell and Andre Drummond at center in the offseason, but it wasn't enough. The Celtics may need another big man in case Porzingis doesn't play many games in the 2024-25 season. Al Horford is also 38 years old, so his performance could decline. The Celtics are limited in who they can add to their roster (currently in the second apron), but a veteran center would be a valuable addition.
2021 Milwaukee Bucks
Title defense result: Lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals
Key Issues: Khris Middleton injury
Khris Middleton was a key contributor to the Bucks' 2021 title run. He averaged 40.6 minutes and 23.6 points per game in the 2021 playoffs. He was an excellent second option behind Giannis Antetokounmpo on offense. Middleton played in just two games in the 2022 playoffs due to a knee injury. He missed the entire conference semifinal series against the Celtics.
Milwaukee needed just one more scorer to beat Boston that year, and July Holiday and Antetokounmpo were the only two Bucks players to average more than 11 points per game in those playoffs.
What the Celtics can learn: The great thing about the current Celtics roster is that they can withstand injuries to key players and win important games. Star center Kristaps Porzingis missed most of the 2024 playoffs, but the Celtics still went 16-3 and won the championship. Could they repeat that result if the road to the Finals gets tougher in 2025? Maybe, maybe not. But the point is that the Celtics can compete well in any situation.
Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer also refused to change his defensive strategy in Game 7 against the Celtics. He challenged the Celtics, especially Grant Williams, to continue shooting from outside. This strategy proved disastrous, with Boston taking 53 more three-pointers than Milwaukee over the seven games combined. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla proved more willing to make adjustments than Budenholzer.
2022 Golden State Warriors
Title Defense Result: Lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals
Key Issues: Injuries
Injuries were a big factor for the Warriors in the 2022-23 season. Stephen Curry missed 26 games, Klay Thompson 13 and Draymond Green nine. Andrew Wiggins played a key role on the 2022 championship team but only 37 games the following season. These absences made it hard for the Warriors to get back into rhythm. Jordan Poole also failed to make any breakthroughs after the 2021-22 season break, with his field goal, free throw and three-point shooting percentages all declining.
And let's not forget that Green punched Jordan Poole during a preseason practice, causing major confusion.
What the Celtics can learn: Injuries are always a factor, and injuries could hinder the Celtics' title defense. The Celtics were relatively healthy last season with the exception of Kristaps Porzingis. The star center will miss the start of next season and may not play until December or January. The Celtics can afford to give Porzingis time to make sure he's fully ready for the most important games at the end of the year. The Celtics have the talent to be a top team elsewhere.
The Celtics need to be mindful of the minutes of all of their stars next season. Tatum, Brown and others have played so many games over the last few years, including deep playoff runs and the Olympic Games (2021 and 2024). Cutting back on the minutes of some of their stars could help reduce the chance of injury.
2023 Denver Nuggets
Title defense result: Lost to Timberwolves in Western Conference semifinals
Key issue: They couldn't close out Game 7 at home despite a 20-point lead.
The Nuggets don't have the depth they had in their championship year, and Jamal Murray's 2024 playoff run hasn't been spectacular, but they do have league MVP Nikola Jokic and home-court advantage in the first two rounds.
The real reason the Nuggets didn't win back-to-back championships was their historic loss at home to the Timberwolves in Game 7 of the second round, when they became the first team in history to hold a 20-point lead and lose a Game 7. Denver was trailing 60-37 in the second half.
What the Celtics can learn: The Celtics have had some late collapses in recent years, including several in the 2024 NBA Finals, notably in Games 2 and 3. But the Celtics still won those two games with enough game-winning plays late, including Jaylen Brown's clutch mid-range jump shot in Game 3.
So while late-game issues could certainly cost them the playoffs next season, their improved ability to close out games in 2024 should give the team a bit more confidence in those situations going forward.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone also underplayed his young players last season, which resulted in the Nuggets overtaxing their veterans in the regular season and leaving them short on depth and stamina come playoff time.
“How we navigate that dilemma after the All-Star break to get into the postseason. On the one hand, we got the No. 2 seed. On the other hand, watching our guys play in the second half, Game 7, they looked really tired and I think you all probably felt the same,” Malone told reporters at the team's end-of-season press conference.
“So, did it tire out our guys? I definitely think that was a factor. It asked a lot out of us, especially Jamal (Murray), KCP (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope), Michael (Porter Jr.), Aaron (Gordon) and Nikola (Jokic). And we didn't have the opportunity to rest guys late like we did last year. This season was different. That was our decision and we're living with it.”
The Celtics can't fall into the same trap this year. Health, not seeding, should be the No. 1 priority in the regular season. If that means the Celtics give up home-court advantage in the first or second round, so be it.
