It’s been a tough few weeks for the contingent of Boston Celtics fans who represent “Tank FC.” Entering the season, there was significant hope that the Cs would struggle after their roster turnover, and, of course, without Jayson Tatum. After three games, that’s what it felt like was going to happen.
Boston started 0-3 and couldn’t grab a defensive rebound even if the future of humanity was on the line.
Since then, it’s been a different story. The Celtics might actually be… good?
Boston’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday brought their record to 11-6, since the slow start, and 11-9 overall, putting them eighth in the Eastern Conference. As of Monday, they’re as close to 11th place as they are to home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs -- two games.
They’ve played some of their best basketball over the past couple of weeks. Wins over the first-place Detroit Pistons, Cavs, and Orlando Magic (twice) have helped them to a 7-3 record over their past 10 games.
The Celtics' offense finally looks how it was supposed to
During that span, Boston has performed far closer to the ceiling that many had hoped they could reach. Their offense, in particular, has helped them elevate their game. The Celtics rank third in the NBA in offensive rating over the last 10 matchups, trailing only the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.
As simple as it may sound, water finding its level has been significant in Boston’s offensive boost. If you go back and watch some of their early losses, it never felt like their process was wrong; the results just weren’t there.
Like, yeah. When Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, two near 40% three-point shooters in their time with the Cs, can’t get in a consistent rhythm from long range, it’s going to hurt the offense. Plus, both men have each had breakout performances, with White going nuclear in the second half of Wednesday’s win over the Pistons, and Pritchard spending his Sunday evening torturing the Cavs.
The Celtics as a whole have rediscovered their ability to knock down threes.
They rank fourth in the NBA in three-point percentage at 39.6% during this 7-3 stretch. Pritchard and White are shooting 41.7% and 37.8% respectively. Plus, Boston’s bench has provided reliable spacing, too.
Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, and Baylor Scheierman have made 43.1%, 52.6%, and 50% of their respective long-range attempts.
The increase in efficiency optimises one of the Celtics’ biggest strengths -- taking care of the basketball. Boston remains the league’s most careful team with just 12.3 turnovers per game.
Joe Mazzulla consistently talks about his team’s margin for error being smaller this season. Controlling the turnover battle and winning the shot differential are two ways to give themselves some breathing room.
As we’ve seen, this could also help them capitalise more often when they’re shots are falling.
Of course, you can't talk about the Celtics' success without mentioning Jaylen Brown, who regularly puts the team in the backpack. He's been incredible this season despite facing added attention from opposing defenses, as Tatum recovers from his ruptured Achilles tendon.
His importance is a reminder of how fragile the Cs are this season. An injury or two could completely derail their impressive play through the first 20 games.
Also, in fairness to the team tank people, the best outcome for the future would be landing a top five pick. It's just not that realistic. The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, as well as other teams, are absolutely putrid. You are simply not going to out-tank them.
If the season gets derailed, it gets derailed. If not, sit back and enjoy the exciting team that is the 2025-26 Celtics.
Boston will face a nice test on Tuesday, when the New York Knicks visit TD Garden for an NBC primetime matchup at 8 p.m. We’ll all get a chance to see how real this hot streak is against one of the East’s better teams.