Celtics and Pacers: No Stars, Same Goal. NBA 2025-26

New Flags and New Challenges: Pacers and Celtics Prepare for the 2024-25 Season

In the Indiana Pacers’ training complex, three new flags have been added above the main court. These represent the retired jersey numbers of Reggie Miller (31) and Mel Daniels (34), as well as a flag for Herb Simon, team governor since 1983, and another for Jim Morris, a key figure in the Indianapolis community. Also, a new flag commemorates the Eastern Conference championship of the 2024-25 season. This was placed last week, shortly after the team began its training camp.

It wasn’t one day, and the next day it was already there.

Aaron Nesmith, Pacers player

Although the Pacers are planning a ceremony at the stadium before their inaugural game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 23, coach Rick Carlisle has made it clear that they will not focus too much on the past. “It was a great run and many incredible things happened. But you have to turn the page,” he stated.

This transitional environment is experienced at the Pacers’ training camp, who are still recovering from an unexpected arrival at the NBA Finals, but also dealing with the disappointment of losing in Game 7 and Tyrese Haliburton’s injury in the first quarter of that game. Haliburton’s injury, a torn Achilles tendon, is the most recent in a series of injuries that have altered the course of the Eastern Conference for the 2025-26 season. The last two Eastern Conference champions will lose their star players for most, if not all, of the season. Jayson Tatum, star of the Boston Celtics, suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the conference semifinals. Boston had reached the conference finals for three consecutive seasons, and in four of the last five. Meanwhile, Indiana had reached consecutive conference finals and seemed to be in a solid position to return with its young core and playoff experience. This implies that both Boston and Indiana will face an entire season without their star players, although the Celtics have not ruled out Tatum’s return. These two Eastern powerhouses will have lower expectations than usual.

I think it’s exciting. We’re not the hunted anymore. But we have the mindset of ‘We’re going to prove people wrong’ and compete at a high level.

Derrick White, Celtics player

In addition to losing their stars, both teams have also lost other key players. The Celtics traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and lost Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency. The Pacers lost Myles Turner in free agency, while the Milwaukee Bucks, in response to a torn Achilles tendon, cut Damian Lillard. This opens the Eastern Conference, where several teams believe they have a chance to reach the Finals, especially after Indiana’s outstanding performance last year.

You have to focus on what you have and not on what you don’t have. We want to develop and maximize.

Rick Carlisle, Pacers coach

Although winning is the goal of both teams, the projections are not optimistic about their chances, even in a weakened conference. According to ESPN BET, the Celtics currently have the seventh-best odds of winning the East, while Indiana has the ninth-best. However, both the Celtics and the Pacers have no intention of “tanking” to get the best possible draft pick. Their goal will be to win as many games as possible, stay competitive, and hope that different players thrive in their new roles.

It’s not going to be part of the [rebuilding] lexicon on our team, and that’s how we’re going to focus on the future.

Brad Stevens, Celtics President of Basketball Operations

The mindset is the same for last year’s Eastern champion.

There has been no internal conversation about that. We want to compete at the highest possible level.

Rick Carlisle

Mazzulla and the Celtics: Adaptation and Development

Joe Mazzulla, who took over as head coach of the Celtics on the eve of training camp three years ago, has become one of the youngest coaches in the league. His intensity and humor have defined his style, and the Celtics have been known for their dedication to three-point shots. Mazzulla, instead of adhering to a single philosophy, seeks to maximize the talent available in his squad, an approach similar to Carlisle’s. “I may have to coach in a completely different way than the previous year. In previous years, you had a more veteran and experienced squad, with four or five All-Stars together. So your process is different,” Mazzulla stated. With a gap in the annotation, Derrick White could take on an even more important role. White, known as one of the best two-way guards, could become the clear second option on offense, behind Jaylen Brown.

I know if I focus on ‘I need to score 25 points’ or something like that, I know I won’t play well. If I just do what I do and play within the offense and do it, I could score 25 points a night, who knows? And my goal isn’t, ‘Oh, JT is out, I can do more.’ I still have to be who I am and do things to help us win games.

Derrick White

Both Mazzulla and White pointed to the Pacers as a model for how a less talented but hard-working Boston team can find ways to win games. Indiana provided the model last season, especially in the playoffs, when they wore down their opponents with a relentless style of play, covering the 94 feet of the court during the 48 minutes of each game.

It’s a copy-and-paste league, and you see the success with that and now everyone’s trying to do it their way. You’ll probably see a lot of that throughout the league, and you’ve definitely seen it like last year: the pressure. Everyone’s trying to pick up the field and these teams are just trying to create turnovers.

Derrick White

The Pacers have gotten used to hearing that sentiment all summer. Nesmith, during his return trip after the season, heard comments from fans who were inspired by the Pacers’ style of play.

Many people have approached me this summer and said: “You’ve made me a fan of NBA basketball again.”

Aaron Nesmith

Carlisle has heard the word “inspiring” associated with the Pacers frequently during the summer.

Actually, it’s a credit to the players. You have to have special guys who are willing to pick up the whole court… that was great to be a part of that.

Rick Carlisle

Therefore, despite the absence of some key players from last year, the principles of the offense and the Pacers’ system are unlikely to change. Carlisle has confirmed that Bennedict Mathurin will enter the starting lineup and Andrew Nembhard will take on more responsibilities in ball handling. Although the Pacers will lean on some of Nembhard’s strengths, such as playing downhill instead of as much pick-and-roll as Haliburton, the Pacers stand firm in their principles.

We are doing the same things. We are still trying to push the pace, play randomly. Many different guys touch the ball. Many different actions.

Andrew Nembhard

However, the Pacers will walk a tightrope by relying on that style of play, knowing that the league will be more prepared for it than in recent seasons.

When you disrupt the industry like we did, it’s going to disrupt back. And so, we have to be ready for that. More teams are going to be more physical and, therefore, we have to be ready to step up another level.

Rick Carlisle

Haliburton, while waiting for a rebound, cheers on his teammates during a shooting contest, demonstrating his commitment to the team even off the court. Despite being out of action for the season, Haliburton plans to attend the games, both home and away.

We will listen to his voice. He’s always going to have great energy. One thing about Ty, he has a positive and constant spirit about life. He just loves it. He gets up early. He’s here before anyone else in the morning. He’s approached this rehabilitation like a beast. It will be important for him to be a part of this every day.

Rick Carlisle

Haliburton has set the 2026 season opener as his target for a return. Tatum, for his part, has not ruled out playing again this season. For both teams, the most important thing this season will not be what happens on the court, but the respective recovery processes of their injured stars. The Celtics and the Pacers will use this situation as motivation to make this season a special year.

It really doesn’t matter what people believe or what they say. They haven’t believed in us in three years. We surprise them every year. I don’t see what makes this year different.

Aaron Nesmith