Before the season began, everyone had a different opinion about how the Celtics would fare.
Some people naively thought they would plummet to the bottom of the East and tank for hometown kid AJ Dybantsa. Others thought they would hang around and perhaps make a surge if, and only if, Jayson Tatum returned. Most thought they would end up right around .500 or maybe a bit better (I was in that group).
Very few genuinely believed that, more than halfway through the season, they would be 11 games above .500 and second in the East. If you did, kudos to you, but I certainly didn’t.
So, how have they done it? Well, a lot goes into it, but from my perspective, here are ten reasons they’re still contenders.
1. Jaylen Brown has gone from outstanding to unstoppable.
I think we can all officially stop debating whether or not Jaylen Brown is capable of thriving as the No. 1 option on a contender. I thought Brown would embrace this role and excel in it, but I didn’t expect this level of pure domination.
Brown has upped his scoring (22.2 to 29.8), rebounding (5.8 to 6.7) and assists (4.5 to 4.8) per game from last year, while also improving his efficiency (46.3 to 48, 32.4 to 36.4, 76.4 to 79.1). He’s taking over games, leading by example and making life easier for everyone around him. His teammates have followed suit.
2. They’ve stuck with what’s worked in the past.
When the season began, people fairly wondered if the Celtics could continue their 3-point shooting prowess without Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.
The answer is a resounding yes. They still have Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser. Add in Anfernee Simons, Luka Garza and some young guys who are improving in that area, and that’s a whole lot of offensive firepower.
Boston is second in the NBA in 3-pointers made per game (15.6), second in 3’s attempted per game (42.4) and seventh in 3-point percentage (36.8). Last year’s percentage? 36.8. How’s that for consistency?
3. Returning catalysts have expanded their roles.
While Brown has elevated his game, White, Pritchard, Hauser and Neemias Queta have embraced more opportunity as well.
Some of White’s shooting numbers are down, but he’s averaging more points (16.4 to 17.6), rebounds (4.5 to 4.6) and assists (4.8 to 5.4) than last year and is still everywhere defensively. Pritchard is posting career-highs in minutes, points, assists and rebounds as well, and Hauser hasn’t missed a shot in 2026. Queta is handling a lot of responsibility on an undersized team and making it look easy.
I’m always amazed how seamlessly NBA players can adjust to greater responsibility, but the thing about this team is that those adjustments are leading to wins.
4. Young guys are ready when their number is called.
It can be hard to play some nights and sit on the bench others, but this group hasn’t flinched in that respect. Joe Mazzulla tends to mix and match based on the opponent, and the young players on the roster deserve credit for staying ready and pouncing when they get the chance.
Jordan Walsh is playing some of the best basketball of his career and is a menace defensively. Baylor Scheierman is starting to figure it out, holding his own defensively and displaying his unique ability as a playmaker. Hugo González has a chance to be special and is just scratching the surface.
5. The new guys have fit in seamlessly.
Simons, Garza and Josh Minott have exceeded expectations and bought into the overall identity of the group. Simons is a starting-caliber player coming off the bench, Garza is often the glue for this team and Minott has been a pest and insane athlete when healthy.
6. They’ve made strides on the glass.
The Celtics are now 10th in the NBA in rebounds per game (45.1) and sixth in offensive rebounds per game (12.7). They were never going to be at the very top in that category, and that’s OK. As long as they’re holding own, and not letting teams bully them inside, they’ll be in most games. Teams like the Pistons and Rockets are tough matchups because of their size, but the Celtics are capable of finding creative ways to compensate.
7. Everyone has bought into playing defense.
Already-elite defenders like Brown, White and Queta have taken the next step. Players like Pritchard, Hauser, Simons and Garza, who are probably sick of constantly hearing about their defensive shortcomings, continue to prove people wrong. Guys like Walsh, Minott and González have provided contagious energy.
Defense was a way bigger question mark than offense, and so far, the Celtics have passed the test and then some. They’ve allowed the second-fewest points in the league (109.8), behind only the Thunder, which is extremely impressive.
8. They’ve leaned into playing at their own pace.
I expected this team to play a run-and-gun style of offense, but so far, it’s been just the opposite. The Celtics are dead last in the league in pace (96.43) and have had the third-fewest possessions (4,140) in the league. They’re dictating the action and making teams play their style. That’s generally an indicator that the ball is moving and they’re turning down good shots for great ones.
9. Joe Mazzulla is coaching at an extremely high level.
The players deserve the bulk of the credit for items 1 through 8, but Mazzulla and his staff deserve praise as well.
Mazzulla inherited one of the best situations in NBA history, but he’s proving day by day that his early success wasn’t just a product of his circumstances. He’s one of the best coaches in the NBA and has found a sustainable winning formula with this team.
10. They’re playing with joy and for one another.
Body language is important in sports. You can tell when players are sick of one another and aren’t bought in for the greater good. This team is clearly united and relentlessly pursuing a common goal. Of course, winning can lead to buy in, but without the buy in, wins can be hard to find.
This could be a season to remember, and oh yeah, that Tatum guy is making steady progress.
