Boston Celtics, Best Team in the NBA?

Okay, let’s not get too carried away. But yes, the Boston Celtics are one of the NBA’s best teams right now. Since January 22, the Celtics have gone a remarkable 9-1. The only team with a better winning percentage is the Golden State Warriors who went 7-0 in that span. The Boston Celtics now hold a 31-22 record and have climbed all the way to third in the Eastern Conference. More impressive is that they have gone 51-31 in their first 82 games with Isaiah Thomas. It’s clear that the Golden State Warriors are on a level of their own, but how good have the Celtics been these past couple of weeks?

The Celtics were great last week and were recognized when Isaiah Thomas won Eastern Conference Player of the Week. In my opinion, it was more of a team award than just for Thomas because while Thomas continued to play at an All-Star level, his numbers weren’t eye boggling.

More celtics: Isaiah Thomas Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week

There is no doubting how well the Celtics have looked over the past couple weeks. Their play as a team has reached its peak thus far and the numbers only validate it. Seven players have averaged at least 10 points per game for the Celtics over their past 10 games. Also, everyone who has played in a majority of the games over this stretch have a positive plus/minus.

Team play has always been a key to this team’s success, but it’s now finally starting to click. Whether it’s the recent surprising play of Tyler Zeller, Evan Turner‘s increased productivity or Marcus Smart‘s improved shooting, everything seems to be going right for Boston.

It’s shown on the offensive side of the ball as Boston is averaging more than five more points per contest than they usually do. Over this 10 game stretch, the Celtics have averaged 110.7 points per game compared to their season average of 105 points.

The Celtics were already a top-five team in the NBA when it came to assists per game, however, they rank second over the past 10 games, averaging 26.3 assists per contest. The extra ball movement has led to more open shots and the increased scoring lately.

Boston is also third in the NBA, over their past 10 games, in possessions per 48 minutes at 103.27, less than one behind the Golden State Warriors who lead the league. The already fast-paced Boston Celtics have only gotten faster and it’s worked as everyone on their team is clicking.

The increased scoring may also be due to closer shots. The Celtics rank seventh in the NBA in three-pointers attempted at 27.0 a game, however, over their past 10 games the Celtics are only attempting 25.2 a game. The closer shots have allowed the Celtics to shoot two percent better from the field (43.9 to 45.9 percent). When they do take three’s they are making a higher percentage of them over the past 10 games.

A reason could be Marcus Smart. Despite shooting a dreadful 27.8 percent from behind the arc this season, one of the worst percentages in NBA history, Smart has picked it up lately. He has made multiple threes in six of the past 10 games, including five in their lone loss to the Magic when he scored 26 points in 28 minutes. Smart is shooting 39.2 percent from three over the past 10 games, and while that may not fix the aches and pains he caused Boston over the first year and a half of his career, it helps a little. To put his three-point percentage in perspective, Smart has the fourth best percentage on the team over the past 10 games and is shooting better than Kelly Olynyk from deep as of late (39.2 to 34.6 percent).

Zeller has played in all nine wins for Boston, over this stretch, and has the worst plus/minus on the team in that span (+1.4). That number can deceiving though because Zeller was out of the rotation for much of January. Zeller re-entered the rotation in late January and recorded his first double-double of the season in a win over the New York Knicks on February 2. His minutes have only gone up as of late, playing more than starter Amir Johnson recently. Over the past four games, Zeller has recorded at least 20 minutes in three of them, scoring at least 16 points in those three games as well. Since returning to the lineup, Zeller has been shooting lights out and has been the catalyst off the bench.

The best all-around player as of late has arguably been Evan Turner. It’s a bold statement to say that, but despite his poor reputation, Turner has played solid basketball since the new year. Turner has shot at least 50 percent from the field in all but two of the past 10 games, attempting at least seven shots in all 10 games. He also set his career high in rebounds with 12 and has two double-doubles over the past 10 games. Turner also has at least five assists in seven of Boston’s past 10 games, showing why he has been such a solid contributor off the bench. Turners plus/minus of +5.8 is the fourth highest on the team.

The biggest compliment I can give Turner is he knows his game and tries to execute it. Turner knows that the team needs him to add a little rebounding off the bench and while he has the ability to score he doesn’t jack up crazy shots. He has good shot selection and that’s why the team thrives when he’s on the floor.

As you can see, the bench has been one of the biggest strengths for Boston this season and it’s clear that the bench production has only picked up over the past 10 games. According to HoopStats.com, Boston’s bench has the highest efficiency and defensive efficiency rating in the NBA over the past 10 games. Their 46.7 bench points a contest also ranks second over the past 10 games, only behind the San Antonio Spurs.

Great bench play leads to great team play, and that is what has happened in Boston. The Celtics offensive rating is third in the Eastern Conference, only trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, at 107.2, while their defensive rating ranks as the top in the East over the past 10 games at 97.4. The Celtics’ net rating of 9.9 leads the East, further proving that they have been as good as anyone as of late.

Questions about whether Amir Johnson should be moved to the bench, because of teammates increased productivity, or be used as trade bait, because of his large contract, are circulating Boston now. Johnson averaged 21.2 minutes per game over the past 10 games, highest among power forwards and centers on the team. His playing time has dipped, however, as Zeller has dug into his minutes. Johnson has played less than 20 minutes in three of the past four games and hasn’t reached over his season averaged (23.4 minutes) five of the previous six games. His numbers have been down lately but that could be due to less shots going around and fewer minutes means less rebounds.

If you find the right deal for Johnson, then yes, trade him. Although, I think you keep him in the starting lineup until otherwise. I don’t think the Celtics should try to fix something that isn’t broken because they’re about to enter the All-Star break as one of the hottest teams in the NBA.

The big win over the Cleveland Cavaliers last week was the highlight of the season thus far. Despite the controversial call at the end of the game, Boston held their own against a team that everyone sees as superior. George Karl said it best when he said that Boston has a chance against Cleveland. The playoffs are a different game but the Celtics have proved that when everything is clicking, they’re as good as anyone.

These past 10 games have been amazing to watch and it’s because everyone is contributing. There seems to be a new player of the game every night. Isaiah Thomas has also continued his great play, although, Jae Crowder hasn’t been as effective because of a shin injury. The Crowder injury only further proves how deep this team is and how players step up when needed, Evan Turner.

Next: The Boston Celtics are Contenders and Pretenders

The Celtics finish off with a game at Milwaukee to take on the Bucks and at home against the Los Angeles Clippers before the All-Star break. The Boston Celtics are taking the league by storm and if they get hot at the right time they could make some serious noise come playoff time.