Celtics chase second straight title in tough playoff field

The NBA champion Boston Celtics launch their bid for a title repeat in a playoff landscape altered by the emergence of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder, and the intriguing threat of the new-look Los Angeles Lakers.

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The Celtics, virtually unchanged from the team that lifted the franchise's record 18th title last season, completed the best regular-season by a defending champions since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, finishing second in the East with a 61-21 record -- third best in the league.

They led the NBA in three-pointers with nearly 18 per game and rolled into the playoffs winning 25 of their last 30 games.

But the Celtics say they'll be working from a clean slate when they open their post-season campaign against the Orlando Magic on Sunday (Monday Phl time).

The Celtics are optimistic that last year's NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Jaylen Brown will be ready to go against Orlando after receiving injections to treat a knee injury that sidelined him for the last three games of the regular-season.