Photo: Brian Fluharty / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
By Chris Ryan
I'm a very believer in trying not forgo the present in anticipation of the future, but let's be honest that's very tough to do with these Boston Celtics.
As the Celtics raised the 2024 championship banner to the rafters, I started to think about where they would put the next one.
Thanks to Team USA basketball coach Steve Kerr, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are more motivated to be great and no longer have the burden of being able to get over the hump and win a championship.
Seeing Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen brought back memories of the last Celtics championship team in 2008, and that group sheds some light on how a dynasty can be derailed, injuries and age.
Pierce was 30, Garnett 31, and Allen 32 in 2008. I firmly believe they would've won again in 2009 if Garnett hadn't suffered an injury that didn't allow him to play in the postseason.
But, their window was very tight do to their big three being in their 30's and role players (outside of Rajon Rondo) who just did particular things well and couldn't take on additional responsibilities.
Jaylen Brown just turned 28 and Jayson Tatum will be 27 in a few months.
The Celtics model will likely attempt to mirror the New England Patriots (18 year championship span, 6 titles) or San Antonio Spurs (15 year championship span, 5 titles) where this current group with Derrick White, Al Horford, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis have a 3-4 year shelf life. Then the Celtics will likely look to acquire young talent who are either able to support Tatum and Brown in 5-6 years or ready to lead the team.
A must win for the Patriots?
The New England Patriots season has taken on a vibe that the remaining 10 games for this squad is in many ways much more the 2025 preseason than the 2024 regular season for the 1-6 squad.
This is a rebuild, that being said, can this franchise stomach a 1-16, or 2-15 finish or perhaps more importantly, can they continue to play games where they aren't competitive?
Patriots have only been competitive in three of the seven games they've played.
There's been on-field incompetence, mixed messaging, and off-field issues.
"If you want to go to heaven, sometimes you have to go thru hell, and it may feel that way right now," Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo told me earlier this week.
For Mayo and his coaching staff it appears extremely important that they find rock bottom, and then start to show that they are turning things around.
Will Yankees World Series appearance inspire Red Sox to spend?
In the past there was absolutely no question that seeing the archrival New York Yankees in the fall classic would cause the Red Sox front office to go on a spending spree.
This offseason, we'll see.
The Red Sox are in a position to try to win, but will need to acquire high end starting pitching, relievers and another bat. They have a stockpile of prospects ready to play here or be dealt to address the needs the team has to compete for a championship in 2025.
The Press Pass column drops Fridays and the show airs on iHeart NH Saturday and Sunday at 11a. Chris also covers the Patriots for WBZ-Boston's News Radio and host's New Hampshire Today weekdays from 6-9a on iHeart NH.