UPDATE: The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers are gearing up for a challenging season without their star players, Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, who are both sidelined due to significant injuries. As the NBA season approaches, both teams are adjusting their strategies to compete in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
At the Pacers’ training facility, three new banners hang, including one for the 2024-25 Eastern Conference Championship. This banner was raised quietly last week just as training camp commenced, highlighting the team’s transition from last season’s success to current challenges. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle emphasized the need to move forward, stating,
“There’s not going to be a big thing about it… you got to turn the page.”
Meanwhile, the Celtics face a similar scenario. Tatum suffered a torn Achilles in the conference semifinals, a devastating blow for a team that has consistently reached the conference finals in recent years. Carlisle confirmed Haliburton has been ruled out for the entire season, while the Celtics have not made a definitive announcement regarding Tatum’s status, although he is actively participating in light workouts.
Both teams are now confronted with significantly lower expectations. According to ESPN BET, the Celtics hold the seventh-best odds to win the East, while the Pacers are in ninth place. Despite these challenges, both teams are committed to competing rather than tanking for draft picks. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens stated,
“That’s not going to be part of the lexicon [on rebuilding] in our building.”
As the Celtics navigate this season, they have made notable roster changes, including trading away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and losing Al Horford in free agency. The Pacers also face losses, missing center Myles Turner due to free agency complications. Both teams will rely on their younger players to step up in the absence of their stars.
Celtics guard Derrick White expressed a resilient mindset, stating,
“We’re not the hunted anymore… we’re going to prove people wrong.”
This sentiment resonates with both teams as they embark on a season of potential surprises, fueled by the motivation of their sidelined stars.
The Pacers aim to maintain their fast-paced style of play, with Bennedict Mathurin stepping into the starting lineup and Andrew Nembhard taking on more ball-handling responsibilities. Carlisle noted the need to adapt as opposition teams become more familiar with their strategies, saying,
“We got to be ready to bring it up another notch.”
Meanwhile, Haliburton, despite being out for the season, remains an integral part of the team’s spirit and energy. He has been spotted actively engaging with teammates during practices, even as he focuses on his rehabilitation. “We’ll hear his voice,” Carlisle remarked, highlighting Haliburton’s positive impact.
As the 2025-26 NBA season kickoff approaches on October 23, 2025, when the Pacers face the Oklahoma City Thunder, both teams are determined to rise to the occasion, embracing the challenge of competing without their key players. With the spotlight now on the younger talents, both franchises are aiming to surprise critics and fans alike, proving that even in adversity, they can forge ahead to make this season memorable.