The NBA is roughly midway through the 2025-26 NBA season, and with that passage comes some clarity on what teams really are compared to what we thought they were heading into their current campaigns, particularly the Boston Celtics. Plenty of preseason and early-season narratives have become clearly incorrect, Others have emerged to take their place, but have yet to be proven -- and some will need the rest of the regular season and then some to test.

We know the Celtics aren't tanking, ethically or otherwise, that Joe Mazzulla can coach developing players, and expect to see Jayson Tatum return from injury at some point in the regular season. And the question is no longer whether Jaylen Brown can lead a team, but how far, and with what individual accolades. But do the Celtics (and more specifically Brown) really get such a bad whistle? Does Joey Mazz have a shot at Coach of the Year (and does he care)? Most importantly, do we really think this is a contending team?

To get a better view than just the media perspective, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" linked up with Richard White, Boston sports fan, and father to Celtics guard Derrick White. Don't miss this special pod where we, uh, contend with Boston Celtics narratives.

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

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The Boston Celtics have a top-five Most Valuable Player candidate in Jaylen Brown and have cracked home court advantage in the Eastern Conference standings. The San Antonio Spurs have made the Oklahoma City Thunder look mortal again, but also lost to the Brooklyn Nets. The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be frauds, and the hot start of the Detroit Pistons is slowing down while the Denver Nuggets are somehow staying afloat despite a number of injuries.

At the midway point of the 2025-26 NBA regular season schedule, which teams are contenders, which are pretenders, and what do we think the Celtics are? To get some answers to these questions, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" sat down with Oklahoma City Thunder Wire editor Clemente Almanza.

We also touch on the big trade sending Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, the rumbles about Boston interest in Los Angeles Clippers big man Ivica Zubac, and more, so be sure to tune in.

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

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The Boston Celtics and the rest of the NBA are closing in on the midway point of the 2025-26 NBA regular season, and the players who signed new deals this offseason are becoming available to be dealt or will be soon. And with that, the rough outline of how the season might play out (and what teams can do to change those outcomes via trades) is coming into focus.

Teams that don't have the horses to compete for titles will need to make hard choices under the current, punitive collective bargaining agreement (CBA), while others that are overachieving may need to decide whether their current successes are worth investing assets in. For the Celtics, what are the team's needs in the trade market? Bigs? Wings? Cutting salary regardless of the return? A mix of goals? The hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" sat down with HoopsHype's Cyro Asseo to talk about what Boston ought to do at the trade deadline, but also about wider trends in the league impacting the trade landscape and what other moves might be coming.

We also get caught up on the news as Boston nears the end of the longest road trip of the season, so be sure to tune in.

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

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