CelticsBlog predictions: Who’s under the most pressure this postseason?

Pressure usually feels obvious this time of year. You know who it’s on, you know what’s at stake, and you know exactly who’s going to hear about it if things go sideways.

This Celtics team is a little different. The expectations are obviously real and earned, but they’re not overwhelming. The core has already proven it can win, the supporting cast has spent the year exceeding assumptions, and the entire season has carried a “found money” feel to it. Which makes the pressure question harder to pin down than usual.

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We asked the CelticsBlog staff where it actually sits heading into the postseason, and whether it’s even there at all.

Apr 12, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) and Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic (4) talk during the first half against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images | Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

Which player is under the most pressure for the Celtics this postseason?

Jeff Clark: Frankly, I don’t see any Celtics players under pressure. Sure, there’s the pressure of the playoffs. There’s the pressure of not wanting to waste a year of Tatum and Brown’s primes. But this whole season has been found money. They have the veteran crew that’s been through the battles and won the whole thing. Then they have the young crew that is too young to know that they aren’t supposed to be this good. And they have a maniac coach that has them all locked in and on the same page. That’s a great combo.

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Bill Sy: In a gap year that saw the front office get under the luxury tax, I don’t think there’s much pressure on anybody.  Joe Mazzulla is the frontrunner for Coach of the Year (despite renouncing the honor), Tatum is less than a year from his Achilles tear, Brown has proven himself as an MVP candidate, and every role player has played above expectations.  If there’s anybody that has anything to prove, it might be Nikola Vucevic.

You have to imagine that when Brad Stevens traded for him, the deal came with the prospect that he could re-sign with Boston in the summer.  He showed…

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Publish date : 2026-04-16 08:21:00

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