The Boston Celtics are tied for the most NBA championships in league history (17).
Then again, it’s crazy to think that they won 11 in a 13-year span, two rings later, then three during the Larry Bird era, and they’ve struggled to be as competitive ever since, winning just one championship since 1986.
Notably, that championship came by one of the most stacked and talented teams in NBA history.
Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo had their rivals in a chokehold with their elite defense and the way they complemented each other, but they still could only win one ring in two trips to the NBA Finals.
Even so, Paul Pierce thinks that the only reason they weren’t able to win more was because of injuries.
Injuries bro https://t.co/qtT7DyKG66
— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) August 27, 2023
One could make a case for Garnett’s injury in 2009 holding him back significantly, and even Kendrick Perkins’ ACL tear could’ve also had an impact on them losing.
Still, this team underachieved, at least according to most expectations, either because of LeBron James and the Miami Heat, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, or Doc Rivers’ well-known struggles in the postseason.
The Celtics were the undisputed best franchise in the NBA during the early stages of the league, but that’s not the case anymore.
And at this pace, they have to be careful not to lose their No. 1 spot as the winningest franchise, as the Los Angeles Lakers have fared much better than them in that regard since the 1980s.
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