Expectations were not high for the Boston Celtics this year. Last season (2013/2014), the team won less than a third of their games and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season. This year, second year coach Brad Stevens had to deal with the uncertain status of point guard and team leader Rajon Rondo. Physically, Rondo broke his wrist during a fall at home, after returning from a torn ACL the previous season.  Many were uncertain if Rondo was still the right player to lead the team’s comeback, and if not him, then who?  Their questions were at least partially answered In December when the Celtics sent Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks, and then acquired point guard Isaiah Thomas from the Pheonix Suns in January. But, how would the team do, and how long would their fans have to wait to see improvements?

Despite, not having a winning record, there was a lot to feel good about this year. The Celtics fought hard every game during the regular season. Because of their play as a team, along with the superb coaching of Stevens, the young Celtics finished the 2014-15 NBA season with a record of 40-42. This was a 15 game improvement from the previous season. This record was also enough to earn the Celtics the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, having been in a close race with the Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, and the Brooklyn Nets for the final two remaining playoff spots in the East.

Fans of the team were ecstatic when the Celtics returned from their one year hiatus from the NBA playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the Celtics had to face the top seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs and Celtics battled hard against one another, but in the end, the Cavaliers had one thing that the Celtics lacked – all-star caliber players. While the Celtics got off to an excellent start in each of the games, the Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love and the rest of their roster, were able to defeat the Celtics in four games. Still, the experience of improving their record and making the playoffs has left Boston and their fans, hopeful and excited for the future.