As Payton Pritchard spoke to reporters following Boston’s Jan. 9 win in opposition to the Toronto Raptors — the Celtics’ 14th win in 18 video games — a easy query was lobbed his manner inside TD Backyard’s dwelling locker room.
Are you stunned on the manner this season has performed out?
A smirk crossed the purpose guard’s face earlier than the query was even completed, giving strategy to a speedy response.
“I am not stunned in any respect,” he mentioned.
To say Pritchard and Boston are within the minority is an understatement.
The Celtics, who host the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) are 30-18 and tied for second place within the Japanese Convention. And greater than midway by the 2025-26 season, Boston ranks second in offensive and internet ranking and sits twelfth in defensive ranking.
Whereas the rankings are in step with current Boston squads — the Celtics have completed inside the highest 10 in all three classes in 4 consecutive seasons — these variations included gamers equivalent to Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Vacation and Luke Kornet, to call a number of. 4 of these gamers left Boston over the summer time, whereas Tatum stays sidelined as he recovers from a torn Achilles suffered in the course of the playoffs.
With a lot roster turnover, the potential of a niche yr turned a prime summer time storyline in Boston. As a substitute, the Celtics are on tempo to win at the very least 50 video games for the fifth straight season and may nonetheless make a run on the Detroit Pistons for the convention’s prime seed.
“The actual fact they’re lacking Tatum and never lacking a beat,” a Western Convention government mentioned, “is unbelievable.”
Here’s a take a look at how the shocking Celtics have defied expectations, why they continue to be a menace within the wide-open East and why this roster may obtain an enormous enhance within the playoffs.
Boston has embraced its underdog function
After the Celtics routed the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 17 — Boston’s 52 factors within the second quarter outscored Atlanta’s 51 on the half, coach Joe Mazzulla was requested about enhancements made since coaching camp and the franchise’s first 0-3 begin since 2013.
“It is simply every part,” Mazzulla mentioned. “It is simply the method of what goes into profitable, defending at a excessive degree, understanding the small print, rebounding, offensive execution, time and rating, situational basketball, recreation plan, execution. We simply must make the choice daily to get higher.”
Mazzulla has turn out to be a coach-speak grasp by greater than three seasons on Boston’s sidelines, however his mantra stays the idea of every part driving the Celtics this season. There won’t be a greater coach within the league for this case than Mazzulla, who thrives on the work and has a roster that embraces his mindset.
Derrick White is a former Division II participant who solid himself right into a first-round choose whose recreation has taken one other leap since coming to Boston in 2022.
Pritchard was as soon as prepared to depart the franchise over an absence of taking part in time however emerged as an important participant on the 2024 title group. With Vacation now a part of the Portland Path Blazers, the 28-year-old Pritchard has thrived because the Celtics’ start line guard.
And Jaylen Brown, thrust into the No. 1 scoring possibility, is having his finest season but.
In gentle of Tatum’s harm and the veteran expertise misplaced from the roster, it might have been simple and comprehensible for the franchise to purchase into the thought of a misplaced season. Boston has completed something however, surging into the convention’s prime tier after discovering its footing all through an 8-8 opening month.
“I might say we bought right here quicker than I assumed we’d. I assumed we’d simply sort of take little child steps alongside the way in which,” Brown mentioned on Jan. 9. “Generally early success generally is a detriment. … Generally it is unhealthy if you get an excessive amount of reward and notoriety from a group standpoint, as a result of now you get snug.
“I need us to maintain our edge. I wish to preserve my edge, too.”
Brown’s rise into the MVP dialogue
A significant preseason query was how Brown would handle the offensive burden with not solely Tatum sidelined but in addition with Vacation, Porzingis and Horford taking part in elsewhere.
Brown has offered an emphatic reply. The 29-year-old guard is averaging profession highs in most classes — most notably his 29.4 factors, fourth within the league. And Brown has maintained his effectivity regardless of taking the second-most photographs within the league behind Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey.
It is a part of the explanation Brown’s fifth All-Star look ends in his first beginning nod. “He sacrificed so much with a very good group,” Pritchard mentioned. “You [were] not going to have the ability to take as many photographs or be as aggressive typically, since you’re taking part in with lots of star energy.”
Brown has been surrounded by loads of expertise in his nine-plus seasons, from scoring guards Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving to the opposite standouts of Boston’s title-winning core in Tatum, Horford, Porzingis and Vacation.
For Brown’s half, he admitted he is nonetheless getting used to main opposing groups’ scouting stories.
“Although I have been within the league for 10 years, I feel folks overlook that I am adjusting on the fly as effectively,” he mentioned. “Having extra duty has referred to as for me to step up and make extra performs. …
“Groups are usually not going to simply let me do what I need each single night time. I am OK with that; I simply must be higher at studying the sport and belief my teammates.”
Youth taking part in an enormous function
Whereas seeing “Boston 130, Brooklyn 126 (Remaining/2OT)” scroll throughout ESPN’s Backside Line on the night time of Jan. 23 may need come as a shock, given the Celtics wanted two further frames to edge a group combating for lottery positioning, it was how this new-look squad gained that may have been actually surprising earlier than this season.
Down 5 factors with 7.9 seconds remaining within the first additional time, it appeared the Celtics had been headed for a desultory loss. As a substitute, a pair of rookies save them.
First, it was two-way middle Amari Williams, who caught a full-court move and tossed it to Pritchard for a fast 3-pointer. Then, after Nets rookie Nolan Traore cut up a pair of free throws, ahead Hugo Gonzalez hit a 3 on the horn to pressure double additional time. Brown and Pritchard, who scored or assisted on 9 of the Celtics 12 factors within the remaining body, took over from there.
“We positively have a youthful group,” Pritchard mentioned after the sport. “[On Celtics] groups prior to now, rookies most likely actually by no means touched the ground, simply because we have had a veteran group and really confirmed guys. …
“Each night time anyone new can step up and win the sport for you.”
This season, 11 Celtics have performed in at the very least 30 video games and are averaging double-digit minutes, a testomony to Mazzulla’s willingness to combine and match throughout the roster.
Neemias Queta has began 43 video games and has blossomed right into a dependable middle (10.0 factors, 8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks per recreation), serving to to fill the void left by the departures of bigs Porzingis, Horford and Kornet. Gonzalez, the twenty eighth choose within the 2025 draft, has partnered with 2023 second-round choose Jordan Walsh to offer power and energy on the wings, clearing the way in which for White, Brown and Pritchard to shoulder the scoring load.
“They’re doing an important job with participant growth, doing an important job on the margins,” the West government mentioned of Boston’s revamped supporting solid. “Certain, there’s luck concerned, however they seem to be a actually good group. They’re taking part in with home cash. I like watching them.”
General uncertainty throughout the convention
The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers had been seen as co-favorites to emerge from the convention, largely as a result of Tatum and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tears had eliminated the East’s previous two finalists from the preseason dialog.
Now, greater than midway by the season, the convention is as extensive open as ever.
The Pistons have virtually led the East all season, however their present group has by no means gained a playoff collection. The 76ers have proven flashes of their ceiling, however ongoing well being questions for Joel Embiid and Paul George cannot be ignored.
The Orlando Magic and Hawks, two groups with thrilling younger cores able to take a step ahead, are sitting within the play-in combine. And preseason favorites New York and Cleveland have every undergone stretches of dysfunction.
That leaves the Celtics, the convention’s solely contending group with a championship pedigree.
Tatum’s potential return may swing the East
From the second Tatum suffered an Achilles tear in New York throughout Recreation 4 of the convention semifinals in Could — he underwent surgical procedure inside hours, a serious part of a speedy restoration — there was constant chatter that Boston’s All-NBA ahead may return in some unspecified time in the future in the course of the 2025-26 season. (Although Tatum instructed ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne on Wednesday that he has but to decide and “needs to get it proper the primary time, so it is only a lot to consider.”)
However any eventual return this season was anticipated to be for a group battling to remain within the play-in image, not one primed for home-court benefit by at the very least one spherical of the playoffs. That has created a state of affairs the place Tatum’s return may doubtlessly raise the franchise again to the highest of the convention.
Nonetheless, anticipating the 27 factors per recreation scorer who made 4 consecutive first-team All-NBA appearances earlier than his harm could be wildly unfair. However even 75% of Tatum’s peak could be an enormous enhance, significantly to a Celtics frontcourt that’s sorely lacking his 6-foot-10 presence as a shooter and rebounder.
For now, Boston and its present No. 1 scoring possibility will proceed defying the preseason doubters.
“I feel we play higher when our again is in opposition to the wall,” Brown mentioned. “I am in search of any and every part to maintain that gas.”
