Believe it or not, Wednesday night’s showdown against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs signifies the official midpoint of the Celtics’ 2023-24 regular season.
I know, crazy.
As we approach the season’s midway point, it's difficult to envision a scenario where things could be going any better for them.
They are the league’s only remaining team with single-digit losses, and at 31-9, are on pace to win over 60 games – which hasn’t been done since the 2008-09 season. Additionally, they rank in the top three in offensive (3rd), defensive (2nd), and net (1st) ratings.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are playing the best we’ve ever seen. The additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have helped unlock something new in this team and genuinely look to be the pieces that will help this team reach heights not reached since 2008. And Derrick White, well, he’s an All-Star – Let Holiday tell you.
All five of Boston’s starters are in the top nine of All-Star voting for their respective position groups, making a legitimate case to represent the team at the All-Star game – a simply ludicrous situation.
With all this star talent, it’s easy to let complacency settle in. However, this team has avoided that trap, buying into head coach Joe Mazzulla’s message of winning every day – whether a game or a practice.
Perhaps most impressive of all has been their unwavering commitment to embracing the concept of “Sacrifice," which has been the theme of the 2023-24 Celtics campaign.
Entering the season, Boston’s top six, consisting of Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Holiday, White, and Al Horford, had combined for 3,707 career starts, including the postseason – totaling a combined 14 All-Star appearances, five All-NBA selections and seven All-Defensive teams.
Sacrifice is easier said than done – especially in today’s NBA.
Celtics fans saw it firsthand during the 2018-19 season. Selfishness naturally settles in. As revealed by Gordon Hayward.
“In my eyes, it was just, we all had too many agendas, and the agenda to win the whole thing was not the main one,” Hayward said on Podcast P With Paul George. “Not to blame anyone either because I think it was all human nature.”
Things could not be more drastically different for this Celtics team. The entire unit is bought into one common goal – bringing home the Larry O’Brien Trophy, pushing aside personal accolades.
“I’ve accomplished a lot in this league. I’m truly at the point where I wanna get over that hump,” Tatum said last week when asked about his MVP campaign. “I want to get back to the Finals. I want to help us win a championship. What I’m doing, I might not win MVP, but [I’m] just trying to help us continue to be the best team in the league.
Go back and listen to any presser this season from anybody on the Celtics’ roster. Everybody is focused on doing what’s best for the team and is willing to do whatever it takes to win.
The talent speaks for itself. Getting over the egos is half the battle, and that's an area the Celtics have excelled in this season. This is a genuinely connected group. When on the court, they care about two things – each other and winning, which will go a long way come the postseason.
“Everyone is so together from top to bottom. It’s just great, man. Everyone’s just such good vibes,” Dalano Banton told WEEI.com last week.
The bench has become a strength
Regarding the notion of sacrifice, Horford stands out as the one who has embraced it the most.
Before the 2023-24 season, Horford had come off the bench just 12 times in his career, starting in 1,168 of his 1,180 career games. The 16-year vet had also never come off the bench as a member of the Boston Celtics.
This year, however, the former number three overall pick took on a new role, coming off the bench – making starts whenever necessary.
Horford has been as steady as they come. Whether coming off the bench or filling in as a starter, the big man has been impactful whenever on the floor.
Wednesday night’s victory over the Raptors was no different. In the absence of Brown, Horford made his 15th start of the season – notching a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, his third of the season.
Entering the season, Boston’s bench depth was a concern.
“For you guys, not for me,” Mazzulla said when confronted with that notion last month.
In tandem with Horford’s contributions, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser have stepped up big in their new roles this season.
With all the moving parts this season, Pritchard and Hauser were going to see increased roles off the bench, and they have answered the call, emerging as two of the most impactful bench players in the Eastern Conference.
Pritchard (+160) leads the Eastern Conference in plus-minus among bench players, with Hauser (+147) closely following at the second spot. Although both are recognized for their sharpshooting, they’ve expanded their contributions across various aspects of the game this season.
For Pritchard, it has been his playmaking. The former Oregon Duck has posted a 4.72 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is third best in the Eastern Conference amongst players who play at least 20 minutes, trailing just Tyus Jones and Tyrese Haliburton – both starters. Given the production from Pritchard this season, Brad Stevens has to feel pretty good about that four-year $30 million extension he inked before the season.
In Hauser’s case, it has been his defense and rebounding. The 26-year-old wing is averaging a career-best 3.7 rebounds per game and has led the team in rebounding four times this season. On the defensive end, opponents are shooting 46.7% from the field against Hauser and 35.9% from deep.
“I’m seeing the same thing I saw last year,” Mazzulla said on Hauser’s defense Saturday. “Seeing the same thing I saw when I first coached him in Summer League. A white shooter, most people think he can’t play defense. Yeah, I said it.”
Some telling stats at the midway point
-Boston’s 17 wins against teams with a .500 or better record is tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the most this season.
-The Celtics are 18-3 when they have their preferred starting five on the floor.
-The Celtics are 14-2 against sub-.500 teams.
-Boston is 19-3 in games decided by 10 or fewer points.
-The Celtics are 11-1 in Atlantic Division play.
-Boston’s +391-point differential leads the NBA.
-The Celtics are a franchise-record 19-0 at home and have outscored opponents by 294 points at TD Garden – 11 of their 19 home wins have been by double-digits.
-Boston is 21-1 on the season when they win or tie the third quarter – They have lost the third quarter in eight of their nine losses.
-The Celtics are 5-2 on the second night of a back-to-back. Their five wins are tied for the most in the NBA.
-Boston is 8-1 following a loss.
Related
