The start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season is less than 48 hours away, and the first game is an exciting matchup between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics had a very busy offseason, highlighted by the blockbuster trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the rival Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Paul George and two first-round draft picks.

The C's also signed center Mitchell Robinson and point guard Mike Conley Jr. in free agency, while re-signing Neemias Queta, Ron Harper Jr. and Jordan Walsh. Payton Pritchard reportedly signed a two-year extension last week.

So, the roster will definitely look a bit different for Tuesday's season opener. Despite the loss of Brown, a lot of experts are bullish on the Celtics' ability to be a top-three team in the Eastern Conference standings again.

But can the Celtics make a surprise run to the 2027 NBA Finals?

Our friends at Sim Station simulated the entire 2026-27 campaign. Let's take a look at the results below.

Celtics stats

NBC Sports Boston

NBC Sports Boston

Jayson Tatum put up solid all-around stats, but his numbers wouldn't be good enough to return to first-team All-NBA status.

Part of the reason for Tatum's lower-than-expected scoring average could be the fact that Paul George averaged just under 18 points per game and Derrick White scored a career-high 17.3 points per game.

Jaylen Brown's Sixers debut

NBC Sports Boston

NBC Sports Boston

Jaylen Brown finished third on the Sixers in scoring with 25.2 points per game.

It would be his third career season averaging 25-plus points per contest.

NBA Cup

NBC Sports Boston

NBC Sports Boston

The Celtics finished atop East Group C with a 3-1 record.

They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup tournament before eliminating the Detroit Pistons in the semifinals.

The Celtics' rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers is re-ignited in the NBA Cup final, where L.A. wins its second in-season tournament crown.

Eastern Conference standings

NBC Sports Boston

NBC Sports Boston

The Celtics finished with a 47-35 record, good enough for third in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the conference.

They tied the 76ers but owned the tiebreaker, therefore earning homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Two of the best stretches of the season for the C's were a seven-game win streak from Jan. 16 through Jan. 27. They also went 14-4 from Feb. 9 through March 21.

Awards and leaders

NBC Sports Boston

NBC Sports Boston

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won NBA MVP for the third straight year. He becomes the first player to win three straight MVPs since Celtics Hall of Famer Larry Bird in 1984 through 1986.

Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson wins Rookie of the Year.

The scoring champion is Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, who averages 32.4 points per game.

2027 NBA Playoffs

NBC Sports Boston

NBC Sports Boston

The Celtics get their revenge on the Sixers. Philly beat the Celtics in Game 7 of the first round last season, but in this simulation, it's Boston advancing in a first-round sweep.

The Celtics meet the Pistons in the conference semifinals, re-igniting a rivalry that hasn't had a playoff series since the 2008 conference finals. The C's survive by winning Game 7 on the road in Detroit.

Another rivalry series awaits in the Eastern Conference finals, where the Celtics end the Knicks' title defense in a short five-game series. The C's advance to the NBA Finals with a Game 5 victory at Madison Square Garden.

For the first time, despite both teams making a combined 11 NBA Finals appearances since 1999, the Spurs and Celtics finally meet with a championship at stake.

After losing to the Knicks in five games in last season's Finals, the Spurs prevail and win their sixth championship with a dramatic Game 7 victory in San Antonio.

Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama wins Finals MVP after averaging 26.4 points per game in the series, including a stellar Game 4 performance in which he scored 36 points with 17 rebounds.