Don’t be fooled by December slump — Boston Celtics had good 41 games

The Boston Celtics have performed 41 video games, precisely half of their common season, and the outcomes have supplied a Jekyll-and-Hyde kind of distinction. Whereas the primary month-plus was superb, the second month-plus has been much less satisfying. However don’t let that get you down. The general image for Celtics followers continues to be higher than for any of the opposite 29 groups.

Let’s overview.

From Opening Evening on October 18 by means of November 30, the Celtics posted an 18-4 document and an .818 successful share – a 67-win tempo that will’ve equaled the second-best season in franchise historical past.

The important thing stats for these first 22 video games:

Shot 49.8% total (1st within the league)
Shot 40.8% threes (1st)
Shot 85.3% free throws (1st)
Factors per recreation 121.9 (1st)
Level differential +8.6 (1st)
Help % 63.8 (tied sixth)
Turnovers 13.5 (tied sixth finest)
Assists-to-turnovers 2.04 (1st)
Offensive score 121.5 (1st)
Defensive score 112.4 (twentieth)
Web score +9.1 (1st)
A spotlight was the crew’s nine-game win streak in November.
Total, the offense was electrical, the protection beneath expectations.

On December 1, the C’s misplaced at residence to Miami, beginning a downward pattern. They have been 8-6 in December and are at present 3-2 in January, for an 11-8 document throughout roughly the previous six weeks. That equals a successful share of .579 – fairly a drop-off from .818, but when they have been to solely win at a .579 price over their remaining 41 video games, they might nonetheless end the season with 53 wins, two higher than final 12 months.

Listed here are the stats for these most up-to-date 19 video games:

Shot 45.5% total (twenty second)
Shot 32.8% threes (twenty seventh)
Shot 79.7% free throws (eighth)
PPG 114.6 (nineteenth)
Level differential +2.7 (sixth)
Help % 63.1 (4th)
Turnovers 13.6 (tied eighth finest)
Assists-to-turnovers 1.89 (tied seventh finest)
Offensive score 112.0 (twenty fourth)
Defensive score 109.3 (third)
Web score +2.8 (sixth)
Within the week earlier than Christmas, the Celtics suffered their first regular-season three-game shedding streak within the 2022 calendar 12 months.
The offense dipped as capturing cooled means down, however the protection re-emerged, thanks partly to Rob Williams’ return from damage.

So the place does that depart us? Sitting fairly, truly. They’re working their means out of the December droop. Listed here are the numbers from your complete first-half of the season (by means of video games of January 9):

The Celtics nonetheless have the league’s finest document at 29-12 (1st at .707).
They’ve gained three straight and 7 of their final 10.
13-7 on the highway (1st at .650). Of notice: solely 4 groups in your complete NBA have a successful highway document.
13-4 vs. the West (1st at .765).
22-0 (1st) when capturing a better FG% than the opponent.
Shut video games are nonetheless an issue: 1-3 in OT, 1-2 in video games determined by three factors or much less.

As well as:

Shot 47.8% total (tenth)
Shot 37.1% threes (eighth)
Shot 82.6% free throws (1st)
PPG 118.5 (2nd to Kings at 118.8)
Level differential +5.9 (1st)
Help % 63.5 (tied 4th)
Turnovers 13.6 (tied sixth finest)
Assists-to-turnovers 1.97 (1st)
Offensive score 117.1 (tied 1st)
Defensive score 110.9 (seventh)
Web score +6.2 (1st)

So even with the droop, the Celtics total stay the cream of the league. Have there been some unhealthy losses? After all.

Misplaced to the Cavs twice in extra time inside one week
Misplaced twice in Chicago by double digits (though the Celtics have overwhelmed the Bulls twice in Boston)
Had been dominated by the Warriors on the highway in a discouraging Finals rematch on nationwide TV
Had been swept by the Magic in a two-game weekend sequence in Boston. The Celtics have been out-executed down the stretch each instances
Had been destroyed by the Thunder on the highway by 150-117, one of many worst losses in franchise historical past *(nonetheless, for a bit perspective, the Warriors just lately misplaced consecutive residence video games to the Pistons and Magic. The identical week, the Bucks misplaced huge at residence to each the Wizards and the Hornets. Each crew has NBA expertise. It occurs.)

Now let’s wrap this up with a overview of a few of the finest wins.

At Miami: Second recreation of the season, with the Warmth searching for payback after shedding the Japanese Convention Finals, the Celtics managed the sport a lot of the means and fended off a late Warmth surge to win 111-104.

At Memphis: Jayson Tatum completed with 39 factors and 16 rebounds to win an early-season showdown with fellow MVP candidate Ja Morant. Boston led by 11 at halftime, then allowed the Grizzlies to creep again and lead by one after three. It was a recreation the C’s probably would have misplaced a 12 months earlier than, however they held robust down the stretch to drag out a three-point victory.

At Phoenix: The expectation of a detailed recreation couldn’t have been extra unsuitable. Boston pulled away early and led by as many as 45 factors, cruising to victory.

At Lakers: It was a laugher that Boston led by 20 within the third quarter, till it all of a sudden wasn’t humorous. LA erupted with an enormous run to guide by 13 with 4 minutes left within the fourth quarter. Moderately than give up, the Celtics roared again to ship it to extra time, then used a 12-0 run to safe a rollercoaster win.

Bucks on Christmas Day: This chapter within the rising rivalry was keyed by the Celtics racking up 77 second-half factors, gifting followers a blowout win on the Backyard. The hassle additionally broke the aforementioned three-game skid.

At Dallas: Bouncing again from the embarrassment of giving up 150 factors to OKC, the Celtics smothered Luka Doncic and crushed the Mavs 124-95 on nationwide TV. Tatum – not Luka – posted a triple-double.

Conclusion: there’s each motive for Boston followers to be optimistic. The Celtics are on a league-best 58-win tempo, rank at or close to the highest in virtually each necessary crew class and, in the event that they keep wholesome, are in robust place to make this a season to cherish.

Do you have got some ideas concerning the first 41 video games? Weigh in right here with your individual mid-season evaluation.