The Boston Celtics preseason slate for the 2026-27 season carries more weight than just practice runs. Justin Quinn of Celtics Wire notes the upcoming games against the Philadelphia 76ers will be the main event. This is not a normal warm-up. The rivalry is personal after Boston traded star forward Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia not once but twice during last year’s preseason action. That history makes the current matchups feel like a real grudge match even before the regular season tips off.
Will Brown Play Or Sit?
Everyone wants to know if Jaylen Brown will actually take the floor. Quinn writes that the big question is whether Brown plays in the home or away tilts. Fans are wondering if he will save that specific smoke for when the games actually count. The drama is already building before a single dribble happens. The 76ers are a new target for Boston, and the history makes every possession matter more than usual.
The Celtics will also face off against a new-look Cleveland Cavaliers team and the Charlotte Hornets. These games offer a chance to see how the roster changes look in real time. But the Brown situation overshadows everything else. It is the only story that matters to the fans in the stands. The team has to navigate this tension while trying to get ready for the real grind.
Camp Is Going Well
Outside of the noise the Celtics are seemingly having a great camp. The energy on the court has shifted, and everyone on the roster feels the heat. According to reporters, Hauser stated that the “level of competitiveness has been really high” throughout the recent five-on-five drills. He knows the team has had good camps before, but this one stands out. “I know we’ve had some competitive training camps, but this is up there with — this is my sixth one and it might be the most competitive at this point,” Hauser said in comments reported by NESN.
Hauser noted that “So everybody is pushing each other” to get better every single day. That internal pressure is exactly what championship teams need before the regular season starts.
