The Boston Celtics took down the Dallas Mavericks 119-110 for his or her thirty fourth win of the season on Monday night time, closing out the sport with authority and staving off a comeback try from Dallas. Boston has tallied back-to-back wins to kick off their west coast journey after their 116-107 win over the Rockets on Sunday.
By way of their first 42 video games, the Celtics have delivered nicely on their potential as a contender, pacing the East and the league with a 32-10 report. Boston isn’t carried out rising and studying with their roster, however how a lot has the workforce improved compared to the previous few seasons?
With an ample pattern to work with, it’s time to take a look at some numbers. Final season the Celtics have been 30-12 by means of the primary 42, and the yr earlier than that, they have been .500 with a 21-21 report earlier than their miraculous in-season turnaround beneath Ime Udoka. Each years, Boston ended up as a prime two seed adopted by deep playoff runs, and based mostly on some projections, the Celtics very nicely could end with over 60 wins on the season; per Cleansing the Glass, Boston is at present on a 63-win tempo this season.
When it comes to superior stats, Boston has stored the ball rolling, constructing off the previous two seasons with very comparable offensive, defensive, and web scores. The most important distinction is how potent on offense the Celtics have change into whereas nonetheless taking part in a few of the greatest protection within the NBA, resulting in a league-leading 9.8 web ranking. Boston has dominated the glass, particularly on the defensive finish, main the league in each rebounds per sport and defensive rebounds per sport, they usually’ve ranked prime two in blocks per sport and block makes an attempt.
This uptick is in no small half to the roster adjustments Boston revamped the summer season, and it’s arduous to argue with the outcomes thus far. Kristaps Porzingis has been a large addition, Jrue Vacation has carried out nicely in filling the void left by Marcus Good, and Derrick White has continued to search out one other degree to his sport on each side of the court docket as a key cog within the Celtics beginning lineup. With All-Star weekend just below a month away, it’s additionally value noting that Boston’s beginning 5 is getting some severe recognition throughout the board.
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo lead their respective conferences within the third fan returns of #NBAAllStar Voting introduced by AT&T.
Followers account for 50% of the vote to resolve All-Star starters. NBA gamers and a media panel account for 25% every. pic.twitter.com/fyGeQXgEhH
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 18, 2024
After 13 seasons, the Celtics have an actual likelihood of getting greater than two All-Stars with Vacation, White, Brown, Tatum, and Porzingis all within the top-10 in votes at their place by means of January 18th. If Boston has three or extra gamers named to the All-Star Sport, it is going to be for the primary time for the reason that Large Three period trio of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
From 2007-2011, the Celtics had at the very least three gamers each season earn All-Star honors, with 4 gamers making the ASG roster between Allen, Garnett, Pierce and Rondo in 2011. That yr, Boston tied the report for many All-Stars from one workforce, a feat that has occurred 9 instances in NBA historical past, most just lately being in 2018 with the Golden State Warriors. As of now, the Celtics have the possibility to make NBA historical past if their total beginning 5 makes the ultimate lower. The NBA will announce the All-Star Sport starters this Thursday, January twenty fifth.
Past the roster adjustments and general efficiency thus far this season, the most important query is the mentality of this workforce and breaking out of unhealthy habits, together with the workforce’s late-game offense and execution. After their slim loss to the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, Boston’s late sport offense turned topic of conversations once more after a number of missed photographs. It’s a good concern to have, particularly with Boston’s monitor report of late sport collapses in years previous. So, how have the Celtics fared thus far within the clutch?
By way of the primary 42 this season, Boston is 13-8 in clutch sport conditions, tied for fifth most wins within the league. By comparability, the Celtics have been 12-5 in clutch video games final yr and a dreadful 8-16 in clutch video games through the 2021-22 season. When clutch conditions inside the ultimate minute, Boston had a report of 9-5 in 2022-23 and 9-8 this season, simply barely above .500; the Celtics are additionally 2-3 in extra time. Regardless of this, the Celtics even have a greater clutch web ranking this season than the final two years, and even with considerations over late sport offense, Boston’s clutch offensive ranking was prime 5 within the league for the primary half of the season.
The variety of clutch video games is barely regarding, however that could be a byproduct of a troublesome schedule. Boston was tied with the Orlando Magic for fifth strongest power of schedule by means of the primary half of the season; as for his or her remaining video games, Boston has the best remaining power of schedule exterior of the Magic, per Tankathon. Both manner you slice it, the Celtics have stored discovering themselves in shut video games, but it surely ought to assist that their schedule softens up fairly a bit after January.
General, the Boston Celtics have been markedly improved this season, they usually nonetheless have ample time to enhance by way of chemistry and rhythm with the second half of the schedule already underway. Even with all the success the Celtics have, it appears like this unit has one other degree of basketball it may well attain, and it’ll be enjoyable watching them attempt to unlock it in time for the postseason.
