The Boston Celtics are the reigning champions of the NBA, which means they have huge targets on their backs.

They knew this coming into the playoffs.

Even though they aren’t the top seed in the East, they are the team that everyone wants to beat.

Their first opponents in the playoffs are the Orlando Magic, and Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla had big praise for them on Sunday after his team beat them 107-98.

Talking to ESPN, Mazzulla spoke about the Magic and all they bring to the table.

“Orlando’s a great team,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “They’re well-coached. They have a little bit of everything. They’ve got versatility defensively. They’ve got two guys that can score at three levels. They’ve got shooting, and they’ve got a ton of versatility. The game-plan execution is very simple.”

Everyone knew the second-seed Celtics had an advantage over the seventh-seed Magic, but they also knew that Orlando was playing with something special: a youthful desire to make an impact in the playoffs.

They know they aren’t the likely winners of this year’s championship, but they want to make a splash, draw attention, and show the world what they are capable of.

What better way to create noise than by taking down the reigning champions?

Right now, the Magic are behind 3-1 in this series, and history suggests they won’t win.

Still, they are gaining the attention of many NBA fans, as well as fellow players and coaches.

The Magic aren’t where they want to be yet, but they are one of the most exciting young teams in the league.

The Celtics see what they are capable of and know they might be a threat for years to come.

Mazzulla loves what he sees from this Orlando team, even if he is fighting hard to beat them.

NEXT:  Jayson Tatum Reveals Honest Thoughts About Playing Through Injury