Celtics forward says quiet part out loud about team's secret sauce

The Boston Celtics entered Sunday's matinee against the Toronto Raptors in fourth in the wide-open Eastern Conference. They're 14-9 and merely two games behind the second-seeded New York Knicks.

They have eight wins against teams with a .500 record or better. That's tied for the most in the NBA. They're doing so with a balanced effort. Boston boasts the second-highest offensive rating in the NBA. At the other end of the floor, the Celtics are yielding just 110.5 points per contest, the third-fewest in the Association. They rank fifth in net rating.

At the heart of their success is one of the league's most exciting youth movements. From Jordan Walsh to Josh Minott, Neemias Queta, who, granted, is 26 but has still logged fewer than 2,000 career minutes, Hugo Gonzalez, and Baylor Scheierman, the franchise is watching the younger members of its roster blossom.

"It's great. A lot of guys are taking advantage of an opportunity that they haven't gotten yet in their careers, and it's pretty cool to see. And guys are making jumps, and seeing what they can do out there is pretty special," said Sam Hauser after the Celtics' 126-101 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

"When you see someone come into their own out there and figure out what their thing is that can keep them on the court, it's pretty special."

The Celtics are finding their groove

After consecutive campaigns over the second apron, and Jayson Tatum rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, Boston had to undergo a dramatic roster makeover this offseason.

Those changes ushered in a youth movement that is laying the groundwork as the organization builds its next iteration of a championship contender.

The Celtics also had to embrace a new approach at both ends of the floor. Their new-look roster and a league that is faster and more physical made that mandatory.

Adjusting to a more aggressive style of play on defense, one geared towards forcing turnovers, took time. The same is true for playing faster on offense and wanting to attack more in transition. The combination is also taxing on the legs.

However, this is a group of individuals eager to prove themselves while shouldering more responsibility. They are getting comfortable with each other, with what it takes to be consistent at the highest level of basketball, and with Boston's new methods of operation on both sides of the ball.

The Celtics are starting to flourish as a promising present lays the foundation for a brighter tomorrow.