Stephen A. Smith wasn't wrong. Not entirely, anyway. The Celtics absolutely sent a message Wednesday night, dismantling the Oklahoma City Thunder 135-100 at TD Garden. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement about who they are and, more importantly, who they *think* they are. Boston, now 58-16, didn't just beat the Thunder; they beat them into submission. Jaylen Brown led the charge with 23 points on a ridiculously efficient 9-for-13 shooting, adding seven rebounds and four assists for good measure.
Thing is, this wasn't even the full Celtics squad. Jayson Tatum sat out with a knee contusion. Jrue Holiday was sidelined with an AC joint sprain. Kristaps Porzingis was out with a hamstring issue. So, you're telling me a team missing three starters can still hang 135 points on a legitimate Western Conference contender, holding them to just 100? That's not just depth; that's a machine. Sam Hauser, stepping into a bigger role, dropped 14 points, hitting four of his eight three-point attempts. This team is built for March, April, and dare I say, June.
The Thunder, despite their impressive 52-23 record, looked rattled. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, their MVP candidate, was held to 17 points on 7-for-16 shooting. That's well below his season average of 30.3 points per game. He looked frustrated, and honestly, who could blame him? Boston's defense was suffocating, forcing 15 Thunder turnovers, which led to 23 Celtics points. Chet Holmgren, who's had a fantastic rookie campaign, managed just 11 points and five boards. The young Thunder got a taste of what true championship-level physicality and execution feel like. They're good, no doubt, but they're not *there* yet.
Here's the thing: everyone keeps waiting for the Celtics to stumble, to show some fatal flaw. They've been the best team in the league wire-to-wire, leading the NBA in net rating (+11.7) by a mile. They lead the league in three-pointers made per game (16.5) and are top-five in defensive rating. They've won 11 of their last 13 games. They lost to Atlanta twice last week, sure, but those were road games, and they were still up big in both before letting their foot off the gas. This win against OKC, without Tatum and Holiday, screams maturity. It screams focus.
Real talk: this Celtics team is the most complete squad we've seen in the league since the 2017 Warriors. Yeah, I said it. They have star power, shooting, defense, depth, and a coach in Joe Mazzulla who has grown immensely in his second year. Derrick White, who poured in 27 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds against OKC, has become an All-Star caliber guard. His leap this season has been monumental, averaging 15.4 points and 5.2 assists. They have multiple guys who can take over a game, and they don't rely on just one.
The only team that can beat the Celtics in a seven-game series is the Celtics themselves. If they stay healthy and maintain this level of defensive intensity and offensive flow, they are hoisting Banner 18. And my bold prediction? They do it in five games against whichever team limps out of the Western Conference meat grinder.