Boston Celtics Climb Up Power Rankings

It is not just the eastern conference standings that the Boston Celtics have climbed up after their four game win streak as they have jumped to number 7 in ESPN’s power rankings. People were expecting the Celtics to be an improved team this year, but there are very few who expected them to be this competitive, especially this early on in the season.

The Celtics are right in the thick of an incredibly close eastern conference race. The Celtics currently have the 6th best record in the east and are just 3.5 games out of first place. The Celtics are currently playing the best basketball of their season and once Marcus Smart returns to his prime form they will be ready to make a run in the standings.

The Celtics have been one of the more successfully balanced team over their strong stretches and it is showing on the scoreboard. The Celtics have a point differential of +4.4 which is second best in the east by the slightest of margins. The Cavaliers are leading the way with a mark of +4.6.

The Celtics have established their success because of their defense but their offense needs to be taken seriously too. In fact, 103.1 points per game by the Celtics is the best in the eastern conference. The Celtics have consistently played strong defense and now that they are finally putting together long stretches of strong offensive games, they are reaching their potential.

While the eastern conference has been the deeper conference this season, the top of the West is on another level. The Warriors, Spurs and Thunder have the three best point differentials in the league and it is not even close as the Thunder is the lowest of the three but they almost double the Cavaliers.

After those three, however, the eastern conference catches up and the Celtics’ point differential is better than any western team outside of that top 3. The Celtics have been playing too well to not be recognized nationally and there is good reason that they are 7th in the power rankings.

Dec 26, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) fouls Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The four teams with higher point differentials than the Celtics are ahead of them in the power rankings and then the Hawks and the Raptors are also ahead of them. The Celtics have the better point differential but those two have the better record, but not by much.

The Celtics are just half a game out of their division lead and they are just 1.5 games behind the number two team currently in the eastern conference. The Celtics are already being recognized for what they are accomplishing and they should only continue to improve.

The Celtics have pushed through the toughest portion of their schedule and with their next three games against the bottom dwellers in the league they can get right up behind the Cavaliers in the standings.

It remains far too early to consider this Celtics team a legitimate contender in the east but they are well on their way. The Celtics have a great opportunity to continue to improve and after just squeaking into the playoffs last year, they may even wind up with home court advantage in the first round.

Of course, all this hype is based on their best stretch of the season. The Celtics need to prove that they can maintain this level of play and that is why the optimism needs to be cautious. The Celtics have had consistency and balance issues this season but they have been putting together complete games during this win streak.

The Celtics are playing the kind of defense that should be able to carry them throughout this season but their offense will remain essential. The Celtics will not be a contending team without being at their best on the offensive end. The Celtics have had multiple players break out of shooting slumps and the results have been phenomenal.

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If the Celtics can prove that this four game win streak is no fluke then they will continue to climb up the eastern conference standings and continue to climb up those power rankings.