Pacers coach just said the quiet part out loud about Celtics

To many fans around the Association and pundits who cover the NBA, the Boston Celtics are defying expectations this season. However, internally, a franchise that refused to put a ceiling on what this team could accomplish had confidence in this group's ability.

As Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff noted before Monday's 104-103 win over the Celtics, "When you put champions on the floor, there's a difference to them."

Bickerstaff's comments echo the sentiment expressed by head coaches around the league when asked to share what they expected to see from Boston this season. To them, it isn't a surprise to see the Celtics in second in the Eastern Conference standings.

The latest bench boss to join that chorus was Indiana Pacers' head coach, Rick Carlisle.

"I had every expectation that they were gonna be a high-level team," said Carlisle before Wednesday's matchup between Boston and Indiana at TD Garden. "I mean, Derrick White's an All-Star. He's an All-Star player. I mean, the guy is eighth in the league in blocked shots. He's such an important part of their team. Brown, you don't even need to talk about how great he is. And Pritchard, he was a guy you knew was going to grow with the more responsibility he has."

Why the Celtics' success isn't a surprise

Boston is generating the second-most points per 100 possessions in the 2025-26 campaign. The second seed in the East is also limiting opponents to the second-fewest points per contest. That combination has led to the second-best net rating in the NBA.

At the root of that success is a combination of effort and attention to detail. The coaching staff is dialed in on who to attack on the opposition and how to exploit those weak links. They have also done an excellent job of putting players in a position to succeed. A prime example is changing how Luka Garza defends the pick-and-roll. Putting him in less vulnerable positions has allowed him to pair his offensive impact with solid play at the other end of the floor.

Then, there's the other half of the formula leading to the Celtics establishing they're a contender in the wide-open Eastern Conference. This roster is defined by individuals eager to prove themselves with more responsibility. For quite a few of them, this is the most significant opportunity they've had to carve out their place in the league.

What that translates to is 48 minutes of all-out effort and tremendous hustle, regardless of who's on the floor. Even Anfernee Simons, who spent the last two years as the Portland Trail Blazers' primary option on offense, arrived eager to prove that he's a winning player. Doing so requires matching the two-way effort his less-established teammates are putting forth. Simons's checking that box has helped him thrive in Boston's system.

It's an individual example that showcases the power of an elite infrastructure and the Celtics' ability to maximize the potential of a group that isn't surprised by how this season is unfolding.