Fri Oct 04 20:11:03 UTC 2024: ## Celtics Fueled by Olympic Snub, Set for Fiery Rivalry with Sixers

The Boston Celtics are entering the 2024-2025 NBA season with a chip on their shoulder, fueled by a controversial incident during the Paris Olympics. Former Sixers center Al Horford revealed that the lack of playing time given to Jayson Tatum on Team USA, despite his recent NBA Finals victory, left him and the entire Celtics team feeling motivated.

“I personally was not happy about it,” Horford told ESPN. “Those guys, they’re very special to me. And even though it was nothing against me, it motivated me and all of us for this season.”

Tatum, a superstar in Boston, found himself sharing the court with other star players and struggling for consistent minutes on Team USA. While this didn’t impact his individual success, it seems to have ignited a fire in the Celtics’ locker room.

Despite winning the championship last season, the Celtics feel they still have something to prove. They finished the 2023-2024 season with a dominant 64-18 record, far ahead of any other Eastern Conference team. Their rivalry with the Sixers will continue to heat up, with their first meeting scheduled for Christmas Day.

The Celtics won the regular season series against the Sixers 3-1 last season, and the two teams are expected to engage in a fierce battle this year. Horford, now in his fourth season with the Celtics, is ready to lead the team’s charge against the Sixers, making the upcoming season even more intriguing.

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