Sweeping changes over the offseason gave Boston undoubtedly one of the most talented rosters in the league. Boston’s top six, or what I like to call the “Celtics Six Pick,” consisting of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Al Horford, have combined for 16 All-Star appearances, five All-NBA selections, and seven All-Defensive team honors.
The talent level speaks for itself, and the results did not disappoint.
Rest assured, “This means nothing until the playoffs” crowd. We are finally at that point.
However, before we get there, let’s look back on the historic regular season for the 2023-24 Boston Celtics and some numbers that tell the story.
64 - Boston’s win total.
Boston’s 64 wins mark the fourth-most in franchise history. In two of the previous three seasons the Celtics reached the 64-win mark, they went on to win the NBA Finals, most recently in 2008. Only twenty-five teams have reached that mark, and 60% of those teams went on to win the NBA Finals.
18 - Boston’s total losses.
The Celtics have finished with 18 losses or fewer five times in franchise history. Four of those five teams went on to win the NBA Finals. The most recent was in 2008 (16 losses).
+930 - Boston’s scoring margin.
Forty-two of the Celtics’ 64 wins (67.7%) came by double-digits. Boston outscored its opponents by +930 points this season (11.3 per game), setting a franchise record, surpassing the 2008 championship team by 89 points.
Boston’s +930 scoring margin ranks fifth-best in league history. Each of the four teams above them — the 1971-72 Lakers (+1007), the 1970-81 Bucks (+1005), the 1995-96 Bulls (+1004), and the 2016-17 Warriors (+954) — went on to win the championship.
1,351 - Boston’s total made three-pointers.
The Celtics’ 1,351 made threes are the second-most in NBA history, behind last year’s Golden State Warriors. Unsurprisingly, each team in the top 10 has come in the last seven seasons as the game focuses more and more on the perimeter. If you were wondering, the 2022-23 Celtics are fourth on that list (1,315).
Boston led the NBA in made threes per game (16.5), which would rank third all-time in NBA history.
In total, the Celtics outscored their opponents 4,053-3,177 (+876) on the perimeter. In the Joe Mazzulla era, Boston has a +1,959 (!) on the perimeter – a number sure to send a shiver up the spine of the anti-three-ball crowd.
Additionally, the Celtics finished the season 54-7 when making the same number or more threes as their opponents and 10-11 when making fewer.
11.6 - Boston’s net rating.
Net rating simply measures a team’s point differential per 100 possessions. Boston’s 11.6 net rating set a new franchise record, surpassing the 2008 championship team (11.6).
The 2023-24 Celtics’ net rating ranks fourth all-time in NBA history, trailing just Michael Jordan’s 1995-96 (13.4) and 1996-97 (12.0) Chicago Bulls, and the 2016 (11.6) Golden State Warriors, who had Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.
Only 12 teams have finished with a net rating of 10.0 or better. Eight of those 12 (66.6%) won the NBA Finals.
14 - The number of games by which the Celtics won the Eastern Conference.
The 14-game gap between the Celtics and the second-place New York Knicks is the most significant disparity since the 1975-76 Golden State Warriors had a 21-point lead over the second-place Milwaukee Bucks (yes, they were in the Western Conference. That’s how long it’s been).
It’s the third-biggest gap in Celtics’ franchise history, trailing the 1971-72 Celtics, who had an 18-game advantage, and the 1972-73 squad, who had a 16-point advantage.
122.2 - Boston’s offensive rating.
The Celtics led the NBA with a 122.2 offensive rating this season. To bring it down to the finer details, Boston’s 1.23 points per possession gives them the most efficient offense in NBA history, surpassing the 2022-23 Sacramento Kings.
Boston’s 122.2 offensive rating is its highest mark in franchise history, surpassing last year’s team, which posted a 118.0. Thus, the two best offensive ratings in franchise history have come under Joe Mazzulla.
Additionally, five Celtics finished within the top 10 in offensive rating: Payton Pritchard (1), Derrick White (2), Jayson Tatum (6), Luke Kornet (9), and Sam Hauser (10).
110.6 - Boston’s defensive rating.
The Celtics entered this season with an increased emphasis on defense, something Jaylen Brown and Joe Mazzulla both discussed frequently heading into the season. Evidenced by their 110.6 defensive rating, which ranked second in the NBA, it’s safe to say they stuck to their word.
Boston held its opponents to 109.2 points per game (fifth-lowest in the league) on 45.3% (second-lowest) shooting from the field and 35.2% (fourth-lowest) from distance. Additionally, the Celtics led the league in blocks with 538.
Kristaps Porzingis led the C’s in rejections with 111, while Derrick White finished with 87.
37-4 - Boston’s record at home.
The Celtics set a franchise record for most consecutive home wins to start a season earlier this year, winning their first 20 at home. On the season, the Celtics finished 37-4 at home, the best home-record in the NBA.
Their 37 wins are the third-most at home in a single season in franchise history, trailing the 1985-86 squad, which won 40 at home, and the 1986-87 team, which won 39. Both of those teams reached the NBA Finals, with the 1985-86 squad bringing home a trophy.
9.1 - Boston’s points per game in the post.
**Note** This stat wasn’t updated at the time of publishing, but it won’t alter all that drastically. Boston’s 9.1 points per game in the post ranked second in the NBA behind just the Denver Nuggets (9.3).
Boston ranked second in frequency (7.4%), first in points per post possession (1.12), third in free throw frequency (19.6%) on post-ups, and second in scoring frequency on post-ups (56.3%).
This is a significant jump from last season. A season ago, the Celtics ranked 23rd in frequency (2.8%) and 22nd in points (3.1). Kristaps Porzingis certainly plays a significant role in that boost, but Jayson Tatum also deserves credit, as he has developed a pretty lethal postgame with assistant coach Sam Cassell. Additionally, Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday haven’t shied away from posting up.
The post has added another element to Boston’s offense that they can rely on when shots aren’t falling. It will prove to be a difference-maker this postseason.
3 - The number of Celtics averaging at least 20 points per game.
Jayson Tatum (26.9), Jaylen Browm (23.0), and Kristaps Porzingis (20.1) became just the third Celtic trio to average at least 20 points per game. They join three Hall of Famers, John Havlicek, Bailey Howell, and Sam Jones, who did it in 1966-67, and Tatum, Brown, and Kemba Walker, who did it in 2019-20.
14 - Boston’s number of road losses.
Boston’s 14 road losses were tied with the New Orleans Pelicans for the fewest in the NBA. The Celtics outscored opponents by an average margin of +7.5 points per game, which ranks third-best in franchise history and eighth-best in NBA history. Both Celtics teams that finished with a higher margin reached the NBA Finals 2007-08 (+8.0) and 2021-22 (+7.6).
+6.2 - The net rating of Boston’s reserves.
So much for those depth concerns surrounding the Celtics at the beginning of the season.
Boston’s bench unit posted a league-best +6.2 net rating this season, double the team with the second-best rating (Timberwolves, 3.1).
Three members of Boston’s second unit finished in the top 10 in net rating amongst the entire league: Sam Hauser (1), Payton Pritchard (2), and Luke Kornet (5). Al Horford, who came off the bench in 32 games this season, finished sixth.
In total, Boston’s reserves outscored opponents by +312 points. The next closest team was the New Orleans Pelicans (+181). Only four other teams finished north of +100.
17 - The number of 25-point wins the Celtics had.
Boston’s 17 25-point wins set a new NBA record. The previous high was 15, reached by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1970-71 and the San Antonio Spurs in 2015-16.
10 - The number of 30-point wins the Celtics had.
Boston’s 10 30-point wins tied the 1971-72 Milwaukee Bucks for the most in NBA history. That Bucks team won the Finals.
2 - Boston’s longest losing streak.
The Celtics never lost more than two games in a row and only lost back-to-back four times. Overall, the Celtics were 14-4 coming off a loss this season – a heck of a trait to have in the postseason.
30-3 - Boston’s record against teams with a losing record.
For years, critics have often lamented the Celtics’ inconsistency, particularly their propensity to underperform against lesser opponents. However, this season marked a notable shift in that narrative. The Celtics finished 30-3 against teams below .500, a major improvement from the 24-10 mark a season ago.
41-11 - Boston’s record against the Eastern Conference.
Boston absolutely dominated in Conference play this season. The Celtics posted an NBA-best 41-11 against Eastern Conference teams, outscoring them by a total of +514 (9.8 points per game).
29 - The number of different teams the Celtics beat.
The Celtics won or split the season series with 29 of the league’s 30 teams. The final infinity stone is the Denver Nuggets, whom they could very well face on June 6.
18 - All that matters
Of all the numbers we have rattled off, this is the only one that matters. Eighteen -- as in Banner 18.
This piece shows that the Celtics are among some of the NBA’s most elite teams. While that is great, the 2023-24 Boston Celtics won’t be remembered as this all-time great team without a championship. Instead, they’ll be remembered as a group that fell short.
The players know, the coaches know, and the front office knows. It’s Banner 18 or Bust for the Celtics. Boston’s dominant regular season marked the first step in reaching the pinnacle of basketball for the first time in 15 years. However, none of it matters without that elusive Larry O’Brien Trophy.
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