Celtics' Game 1 win over 76ers proves outside expectations mean nothing

Boston's business-as-usual approach has them back in the title mix, even if they never really left.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:38pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Celtics basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of green and white representing the team's intensity and focus.The Celtics' business-as-usual approach has them back in the NBA title mix, even as outside expectations have shifted.Boston Today

The Celtics entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the East, riding the successes of a 56-win season. But for Boston, this is just business as usual, as the team has spent the year repeating the same message of upholding their standards and playing harder than their opponents. Their dominant Game 1 win over the 76ers was the latest proof that outside expectations mean nothing to this group.

Why it matters

The Celtics have been doubted and written off numerous times, but they've continued to prove that their internal standards and expectations are all that matter. Their ability to tune out the outside noise and focus on their own process has made them one of the NBA's elite teams once again.

The details

After an 0-3 start to the season, the Celtics never wavered in their belief that they were headed in the right direction. Players like Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser emphasized the team's strong internal culture and commitment to playing harder than their opponents every night. In Game 1 against the 76ers, the Celtics lived up to those standards, with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and others delivering dominant performances to blow out Philadelphia.

  • The Celtics started the season 0-3 before turning things around.
  • Boston entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The players

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' superstar forward, who returned from an Achilles injury to lead the team to a 56-win season.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' other All-Star wing, who helped carry the team early in the season with Tatum out.

Joe Mazzulla

The Celtics' head coach, who has preached a message of upholding the team's standards and playing harder than their opponents.

Payton Pritchard

The Celtics' backup guard, who provided a spark off the bench in Game 1 against the 76ers.

Sam Hauser

The Celtics' reserve forward, who emphasized the team's strong internal culture and commitment to their process.

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What they’re saying

“When we lost our third game of the year to Detroit, me and Joe [Mazzulla] were walking off the court, and we said to each other, 'This is only going to make us stronger,' and that we were going in the right direction.”

— Payton Pritchard, Celtics guard

“I think it's just the character of everybody in the building. Even with starting the year without JT, we had a lot of guys in the building who were on the championship team and knew what it was going to take to be successful this season, so kind of feeding off that.”

— Sam Hauser, Celtics forward

“Same standard. I think our standard is being the harder-playing team. But in the playoffs, teams play harder. We got to play even harder, or definitely match that.”

— Jaylen Brown, Celtics wing

What’s next

The Celtics will look to build on their dominant Game 1 performance as they continue their playoff run against the 76ers.

The takeaway

The Celtics have proven that they are unfazed by outside expectations, as their business-as-usual approach has them back in the title mix. Their ability to tune out the noise and focus on their own standards and process has made them one of the NBA's elite teams once again.