Merry Christmas, Celtics followers. Boston would not have a sport on the NBA’s marquee day for the primary time in a decade, however we suspect it’s going to solely be a one-year vacation hiatus. Heck, if the league may flex the Celtics into the Cavaliers’ spot on Thursday, they in all probability would.
As a substitute, you possibly can spend the twenty fifth savoring the strides these Celtics have made since a jarring summer time overhaul. Take into consideration how hazy the longer term appeared after all of the summer time modifications, and distinction that with the optimism that flows about where this team is headed.
It’s straightforward to get caught up within the wins and losses — the truth that Boston sits seven video games over .500 and in third place within the Jap Convention with a 3rd of the season within the rearview is encouraging by itself — however the actual victory right here is simply how vivid the longer term seems.
Jaylen Brown has muscled himself into the MVP dialog whereas making 30-point nights seem routine. Jayson Tatum has attacked his rehab from Achilles surgical procedure and has an opportunity to not less than ponder a return in a season most thought he’d miss solely. Boston’s whole cluster of younger wings, together with current draftees Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez, have all impacted winning excess of anybody may have anticipated thus far.
Joe Mazzulla is pushing all the precise buttons, and whereas he’d be the primary to counsel that nobody cares, he deserves to be within the way-too-early dialog for Coach of the 12 months. And in the event that they maintain their foot on the accelerator heading into calendar yr 2026, the Celtics may give president of basketball operations Brad Stevens even more motivation to seek big man help that might bolster the roster for a stretch run.
The Celtics are 18-11 with the sixth-best level differential within the NBA (+5.9). They’d be on tempo to hit Phil Jackson’s 40/20 rule (40 wins earlier than 20 losses) if not for a pair stumbles towards inferior opponents. They nonetheless may get there given a positive energy of schedule by the early portion of 2026.
However once more, taking a step again: Even when Boston does throw itself into competition greater than most anticipated this season, the longer-term future is much more tantalizing. It’s honest to daydream about what a Tatum/Brown combo is able to when, 1) Tatum has totally shaken rust from his Achilles rehab and a couple of) Groups can’t load up on Brown once more with Tatum again on the ground.
Huge man Neemias Queta has thrived in elevated minutes. Walsh has been a revelation, looking like an All-Defense stalwart whom opposing coaches and gamers can’t cease gushing about. After which there’s 19-year-old Gonzalez, together with his limitless motor, who makes the sorts of successful performs that endeared Marcus Good to followers all through his Boston tenure.
There have been so many questions surrounding this crew coming into the season. Might Brown thrive within the 1A function? Might Mazzulla get probably the most out of an overhauled roster that misplaced a ton of expertise? Might Queta fill the big-man function after the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet? Would any of Boston’s younger wings emerge as viable rotation choices in the long run?
The reply to every questions has principally been an emphatic, “Sure.” Past some long-distance capturing slumps for Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, there hasn’t been a lot to stress for these Celtics by the primary two months of the brand new season.
Loads has to proceed to go proper this season for the crew to be actually aggressive this season. But it surely feels OK to daydream, given each the wide-open nature of the East and Tatum’s potential return. Nothing about what the Celtics are doing feels fleeting. In actual fact, it feels just like the crew could be even a bit extra constant in all sides of the sport.
The Celtics have already posted wins over all their prime East rivals. They’ve overwhelmed Orlando, Detroit, Cleveland, New York, Toronto and Miami whereas going 13-4 since November 12. Boston owns each the No. 2 offensive ranking and the No. 2 web ranking (+9.8) within the NBA in that span.
If Santa Stevens can depart one other massive man beneath Boston’s tree — even when it doesn’t occur till January or early February — the crew may additional shore up the rebounding woes which have conspired towards its middling defensive ranking.
It’s usually mentioned that the NBA season doesn’t begin till Christmas. However that might diminish what the Celtics have achieved these days. There may nonetheless be some bumps within the highway this season and it’s honest to tread cautiously with expectations. But it surely doesn’t appear far-fetched to assume that Boston may re-emerge as a legit title contender no later than the 2026-27 marketing campaign.
So, take pleasure in a quiet Christmas. It’s in all probability the final one with out the inexperienced crew for some time. The Celtics really feel forward of schedule. And that’s the very best present they may have given their followers this vacation season.
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