Injuries and the collective bargaining agreement are impacting the early seasons of the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets both, if in different ways. And these two teams will collide for the first time in the NBA's 2025-26 regular season this weekend as Boston hosts the Rockets at TD Garden this Saturday (Nov. 1). What can we expect from a Houston - Boston tilt without Fred VanVleet and Jayson Tatum? How are their respective seasons going so far -- and why? And what does a successful season look like for both ball clubs given what we know about each so far?

The hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" sat down with Rockets Wire editor Ben DuBose to talk over all things Celtics and Rockets, as well as getting caught up on all the important news making the rounds early in the season for Boston.

We even discuss the odd coaching connections between the two cities even beyond Ime Udoka, the pros and cons of a buzz cut on NBA performance and why a Derrick White trade to Houston is not likely to happen, so be sure to tune in to this week's pod.

Outro: Whistle by Benjamin Banger - https://tiny.ee/Jk4U or BenJaminBanger.com

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What have we learned about the Boston Celtics in their season opener vs. the Philadelphia 76ers? What things do they still need to work on? And what do we think about the Celtics season now that we have had our first look at how this version of the team on the court in games that count? The hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" wanted to take the pulse of the season now that we have the smallest of sample size to work with.

To that end, they linked up with NBC Sports Boston's Max Lederman to talk all things Celtics, Sixers, and the season ahead, from better play from the big men than expected to the poor perimeter defense, rim protection, and frequent mistakes one might expect from a team in the midst of a retooling campaign.

They also get into the news -- and boy is there some explosive news with regard to Scary Terry and co. -- as well as the historic debut we witnessed of Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe, so be sure to tune in.

Outro: Whistle by Benjamin Banger - https://tiny.ee/Jk4U or BenJaminBanger.com

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Preseason for the Boston Celtics has come and gone, and Opening Night for the NBA's 2025-26 regular season is coming soon. With it comes a tilt with the Celtics' Atlantic Division rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers, at a moment where neither team is on especially solid footing regarding their respective futures. We have a basic idea of what this version of the Celtics will play like after letting Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet go, but little clarity about how that will play out on the court.

Much could be said for the Sixers as well, and Boston has about as tough of a two-week start beyond that with games vs. the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Pelicans, and Cleveland Cavaliers before facing the 76ers again. To get a bead on what Boston should expect from Philly, whether Joel Embiid and Paul George will be healthy, and how the East might look to start the coming campaign, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" sat down with Sixers Wire editor and friend of the pod Ky Carlin.

We even touch on how Joe Mazzulla might have transformed media games around the NBA, so be sure to tune in while we wait for the season to start.

Outro: Whistle by Benjamin Banger - https://tiny.ee/Jk4U or BenJaminBanger.com

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The Boston Celtics have played their first preseason game of their 2025-26 campaign, and with it, we can begin to talk about how the roster looks on the court together for the first time. Playing as fast as they were billed to be, Boston showed they can play another style of basketball when the rawness of their talent base demands it.

But they also showed some of the sloppiness and inexperience one might expect to see on a team with so few vets and so many new faces, hinting that there are still things to be ironed out even in the reduced expectations a retooling season brings. With that in mind, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" linked up with CelticsBlog contributor Mike Dynon to take stock of what we saw from the youth movement and the vets, as well as the remaining concerns we have about the roster.

We also get caught up on the news while navigating some minor technical difficulties, so please be patient with any glitches while you tune in.

Outro: Whistle by Benjamin Banger - https://tiny.ee/Jk4U or BenJaminBanger.com

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Media day for the Boston Celtics has come and gone with the team upbeat about the season ahead, and training camp has started. What have we learned about this version of the team as we inch closer to preseason basketball, if anything? It is the norm for players to be optimistic about the season ahead at what serves as the first official team act of any NBA campaign (often, irrationally so), but one can often pick up subtle clues about the direction and plans of a ball club as well with a trained ear. Did the Celtics give us such clues about the season ahead?

The hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" took some time to sit down with Boston Dot Com's Khari A. Thompson to dive into everything we're hearing and seeing from media day and the first day of training camp, as well as what we've been hearing about how Boston alumni who have left the team are doing in their new homes.

We even take the pulse of the New England Patriots along the way for good measure, so be sure to tune in while we wait for the Celtics to take on the Memphis Grizzlies in preseason action next week.

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Which rising Boston Celtics prospects will make a leap forward this season? In something of a retooling season for the Celtics as star forward Jayson Tatum rehabs a torn Achilles tendon, the usual emphasis on deep postseason runs in pursuit of NBA titles has downshifted into a campaign that will focus on trying to find some diamonds in the rough among Boston's younger players.

More established players on the Celtics roster like Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Josh Minott, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh are looking to cement a spot in future Boston rotations. And the incoming trio of 2025 NBA Draft prospects Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Williams, and Max Shulga and two way forward RJ Luis are looking to polish their game as they look to grow their skills with the Maine Celtics.

To talk about what a successful development season might look like for each and the team as a whole, "Havlicek Stole the Pod" cohost Justin Quinn and guest Bryce Simon of "Pistons Pulse" and "Game Theory" sat down to hash out the finer details of a very different campaign for the Celtics. Check it out below!

Outro: Whistle by Benjamin Banger - https://tiny.ee/Jk4U or BenJaminBanger.com

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What should we expect from the Boston Celtics veterans this season? Much attention has rightfully been focused on the incoming and existing members of the roster who will be developmental projects for the season ahead, and rightfully so, given the importance of making the most out of this so-called "gap" year for the Celtics.

But while finding a diamond in the rough or two is important, keeping the winning culture of the team strong while continuing to expand the roles and capabilities of the vets should also be a significant part of the season ahead. What will that look like on a more granular level when talking about surefire starters like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White? What about players who may see their roles from past seasons and contexts change, like Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, Sam Hauser, Chris Boucher, and Xavier Tillman Sr.?

The hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" sat down with Forbes and Hardwood Houdini Celtics beat writer Bobby Krivitsky to talk through what we expect to see from Boston's veterans in the campaign ahead, and get caught up on the trickle of late offseason news still percolating up. Check it out!

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While there may yet be games to be played in this summer's FIBA EuroBasket tournament, for Boston Celtics big man Neemias Queta and his Portuguese National Team, the ride has come to an end. But Queta and Portugal literally made history together, with the latter having one of the best EuroBasket debuts in the history of the event vs. the Czech National Team on the way to Portugal's first tourney win in EuroBasket play as well.

The Lisbon native of course kept up the impressive play while picking up another W vs. Estonia, and held his own against several NBA big men in the tourney. What can his play in EuroBasket tell us about his future with the Celtics next season?

The hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" sat down with YouTuber and league analyst NikNBA to talk over what he's seen from Queta in EuroBasket play in terms of expanding his game -- and more importantly for Celtics fans, what might translate to the league he plays in with Boston. Check it out below!

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There might yet be weeks to go before the Boston Celtics and the rest of the NBA start their training camps, but that doesn't mean the news cycle is slow. In fact, we still have Boston big man Neemias Queta and his Portuguese National Team staying in the mix in FIBA EuroBasket play, some hints that the free agency gridlock keeping vet Celtics alum Al Horford from signing with the Golden State Warriors may soon relax, and a HUGE scandal brewing in the wider NBA.

That scandal, which alleges that Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his team colluded to create a no-show endorsement gig for Kawhi Leonard to pay him more than the cap allows, could have wide-ranging impacts on the entire Association.

To get an idea how this significant cap kerfuffle might impact the Celtics and the rest of the league, cohosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" took some time on a recent episode of their show to talk it over, along with the rest of the news still reaching us at this late date in the offseason. Check it out!

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How is the NBA's Western Conference looking in a likely down season for the Boston Celtics? Did the Celtics miss a chance to capitalize on the parity era and a weaker West by downshifting their roster after Jayson Tatum got hurt? Or is the Western Conference looking tougher than ever, making it a good moment to retool Boston's roster for the future?

To try to get a handle on how the league's West standings may look by the end of the 2025-26 regular season, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" linked up with Thunder Wire editor Clemente Almanza. We give our over-under projections for the West based on preseason projections and the moves each team have (and in some cases, have not) made, as well as touching on the trickle of news still making the rounds late in the month of August.

Tune in to join us as we get our collective bearings on how the Western Conference may look come April 2026 in what might turn out to be a very turbulent season on that side of the standings.

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