NBA insider Brian Windhorst reported for ESPN, "Even if Horford doesn't re-sign -- he doesn't plan to retire and would like to return, sources said -- Boston is facing a payroll, with luxury taxes, next season of $464 million, according to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks."

Suddenly here we are, longing for those times when we thought the worst-case scenario for the Celtics meant falling behind the Knicks.

Jaylen Brown has yet to shake the knee injury that hindered him for the final two months of the regular season. But he believes he’s getting close. The Celtics star shared a positive update on his status ahead of Boston’s second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks.

Mazzulla, Brown and Horford all said that Boston didn't play up to its standard defensively. This is true, particularly in the second half. But both sides of the floor are connected, and Mazzulla pointed out that the Knicks were able to play with pace in part because of the Celtics' poor offensive execution.