Boston's Banner Hunt: Why the Celtics Are More Than Just Favorites
Remember when everyone wanted to pump the brakes on the Celtics? Too many turnovers, too much isolation, couldn't close games. Yeah, about that. Wednesday night in Boston, they didn't just beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, they put on a clinic, winning 135-100. That wasn't just another win; it was a statement that echoed through the league, making even the most skeptical analysts sit up straight.
Jaylen Brown dropped 25 points. Jayson Tatum added 24. Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 27 points and 12 boards, hitting 5-of-9 from deep. This wasn't a fluke against a struggling team. This was a beatdown of the Western Conference's then-No. 1 seed, a young, athletic squad that had been rolling. The Celtics shot 55.3% from the field and drained 21 threes. That's not just good offense; that's an offensive juggernaut at work.
The Case for Boston's Dominance
Look, ESPN's Jay Williams was ready to crown them after that performance. And honestly, it’s hard to argue. Boston now sits at 60-16. They clinched the No. 1 seed in the East weeks ago. They're doing this with a deep rotation, where even their bench guys like Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard are hitting big shots and playing solid D. Hauser, for instance, had 15 points and hit 5-of-7 from beyond the arc against the Thunder. That's a luxury most contenders don't have.
Their net rating, a staggering +11.8, is historically good. For context, the 2017 Warriors, one of the greatest teams ever, had a net rating of +11.6. The Celtics are outscoring opponents by nearly 12 points per 100 possessions. They lead the league in offensive rating (122.9) and rank second in defensive rating (111.1). That's balance, folks. That's championship-level efficiency on both ends of the floor.
MacMahon's Measured Take
Thing is, not everyone's fully on board. Tim MacMahon, bless his heart, is still pumping the brakes a bit. He acknowledged the Celtics are "the best team in the NBA" but then immediately qualified it, saying they "have been all season." He’s right about that, they have. But his hesitation stems from past playoff disappointments. We've seen this movie before, right? Boston looks unstoppable in the regular season, then stumbles in the postseason. Remember last year's Eastern Conference Finals against Miami? They needed seven games, and frankly, Jimmy Butler outplayed Tatum for stretches.
But this isn't last year's team. Jrue Holiday and Porzingis are massive upgrades. Holiday brings a championship pedigree and elite perimeter defense that was sorely missed. Porzingis provides a legitimate interior presence and a stretch-five who pulls opposing bigs out of the paint. They're not just better; they're *different*. And that difference is what matters. This team is deeper, more resilient, and frankly, more mentally tough than the squads that faltered in previous years.
Why This Year Feels Different
Real talk: the Celtics have learned from their mistakes. They aren't relying solely on Tatum and Brown heroics anymore. The ball movement is crisper; the shot selection is smarter. They lead the league in three-pointers made per game with 16.5, shooting at a 38.9% clip, which is also tops in the NBA. That kind of consistent outside shooting opens up everything else.
And yes, the East isn't exactly a gauntlet this year. The Bucks are struggling with Doc Rivers at the helm. The Knicks are tough but lack the top-end talent. The Sixers are a wild card with Joel Embiid's health always a question mark. Boston's path to the Finals looks clearer than it has in years. I’m telling you, this isn't just regular season hype.
Prediction: The Boston Celtics will not only win the NBA championship this season, but they'll do it in five games or less, dispatching whoever emerges from the Western Conference.