On Tuesday, the Boston Celtics will kick off their title defense against the New York Knicks, but the celebrations will begin earlier at City Hall Plaza, leading up to the hanging of their record 18th title banner at TD Garden. TNT will be broadcasting a live presentation of ‘Inside the NBA,’ featuring their beloved team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal.

The show is set to run from 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., featuring various activities like contests, giveaways, and games. A pre-game performance will be delivered by the rising music star Shaboozey, known for his hits such as “A Bar Song,” “Start a Riot” (featured in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), and “Drink Don’t Need No Mix.”

Mispronunciation: How Chibueze became Shaboozey

The origin of Shaboozey’s stage name is quite unique. Born Collins Obinna Chibueze to Nigerian parents in Fairfax, Virginia, he derived “Shaboozey” from the frequent mispronunciation of his surname, Chibueze, which inspired his catchy stage name.

Shaboozey is building his own space in the music world and craving his lane in the Alternative Country and Hip-Hop space. Also, the event is free and open to the public. The show will also include a post-game performance from the pop artist Benson Boone. The Video boards will display the entire event where the Celtics will put up their record banner while also receiving their Championship rings.

Celtics are favorites to win back-to-back Championships

The NBA has witnessed six different champions in the past six seasons, highlighting the competitive balance in the league. However, the Boston Celtics have the potential to change that narrative this year. They could become back-to-back champions, a feat not accomplished since the Golden State Warriors did it in the 2017-18 season.

The Celtics look locked and loaded for the 2024-25 season and they’re heavy favorites to win this season as well. Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown have elevated their games to a level where other teams are reconfiguring their rosters to compete with Boston. The Knicks, for instance, are preparing to deploy Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, reflecting a broader trend of teams prioritizing wing defenders to match up against the Celtics’ dynamic duo.

Despite their strong positioning, the Celtics do have some vulnerabilities. They will be without center Kristaps Porzingis, who is currently rehabbing from a foot injury and is expected to be sidelined until around Christmas. Meanwhile, Al Horford, their backup, is 38, and the options behind him aren’t particularly strong. However, this might not be a concern until the later stages of the season.

Do you think the Celtics can secure back-to-back championships and end the six-season streak of different champions? Let us know in the comments!