The Boston Celtics opened their 2025-26 playoffs with a dominant win, and the reaction around the league is already pointing to a familiar conclusion about their ceiling.
After a 123–91 Game 1 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, ESPN analyst Vince Goodwill made the message clear about where things stand for Boston and Jayson Tatum.
“When he’s (Tatum) playing off of Jaylen Brown, when he’s a secondary scorer, the sky’s the limit for him and his ball club,” Goodwill said on Monday’s episode of Get Up.
If Tatum continues trending the way he is right now, the Celtics have a level few teams can match.
Jayson Tatum Sets the Tone for Game 2
The Celtics never trailed against the 76ers on Sunday, and Tatum was at the center of it from the start.
He finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, controlling stretches of the game before Boston pulled away for a comfortable win. It was his first playoff game since returning from a torn right Achilles tendon suffered last season, and it came in just his 17th game back this year.
Tatum scored 21 points in the first half alone, helping Boston build a 64–46 halftime lead that essentially ended the game early.
“I’m still rehabbing,” Tatum said. “I still attack rehab every single day except for when we have off days. Still trying to ramp up.”
Even while still working back toward full rhythm, his impact was crucial.
Boston already looks as deep and balanced as any team on either side of the playoff field. The Cleveland Cavaliers have been as good as advertised wearing the top rocker (up 2-0 against the Toronto Raptors). But if Tatum reaches full form once again, the gap between the Celtics and the rest of the East could grow.
Celtics Continue Playing to their Strengths
Boston didn’t need a heavy scoring load from Tatum in the second half. Brown added 26 points, while big man Neemias Queta chipped in with 13 off the bench. The Celtics shot 16 three-pointers and rotated 12 players in a game they controlled from start to finish.
“That was Celtics basketball,” Brown said. “We’ve been the harder playing team all year. That can’t change now that the playoffs started.”
The 76ers were short-handed without Joel Embiid, who continues recovering from surgery. Tyrese Maxey was trying to be Philadelphia’s beating heart — doing his best to shoulder the load with 21 points and eight assists while the rest of the offense looked depleted all afternoon.
Boston’s aggressiveness on defense is owed a lot of the credit, holding Maxey to contested looks and forcing Philadelphia into a 4-for-23 shooting night from three-point range.
That’s not a recipe for success when the Celtics come out cruising in front of their home crowd.
Game 2 shifts back to Boston on Tuesday night, where the Celtics will try to build a 2–0 series lead before heading to Philadelphia.
For Boston, the bigger picture remains centered on Tatum’s continued progression. He is still working back from major injury, but Game 1 showed why expectations around this team remain high.
The Celtics looked deep, balanced and in control — reminiscent of their 2023-24 NBA championship roster.
And with Tatum playing at this pace so far, the NBA Finals ceiling conversation is already back in focus.
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