The Boston Celtics have put together what is a tie (with the Minnesota Timberwolves) for the best record in the NBA at roughly a quarter way through the 2023-24 season, with a total of 13 wins on their home court of TD Garden without registering a single loss. That is a better home start for Boston than the last season (2007-08) the storied ball club won a title.
And in fact it is more than the 1985-86 version of the Celtics managed to start its season with despite being recognized as one of the best teams ever to grace an NBA floor in the history of the league. Now that’s not to say this version of the team is on par with that club (they do have 5 losses in their 19-5 overall record), just that Boston is off to a red-hot start.
Just how good is this team? Quite good, according to Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, who gave it very good marks in a recent article grading every team in the league’s start to the season.
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“Notwithstanding a calf injury that cost Kristaps Porzingis some recent games, the additions of him and Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics have looked brilliant,” writes Bailey.
“With Holiday and Derrick White, Boston has probably the best and most dynamic defensive backcourt. Both can more than bother either guard spot. They can defend up into the forward slots even. And that has taken a ton of pressure off the rest of the lineup, freeing Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to focus even more on offense.”
“As for Porzingis, the defensive attention that he commands 30 feet from the basket is having the desired effect on the offense,” he adds.
Lamar Stevens credits teammates for helping him succeed in limited role https://t.co/xJoFzhqKLn pic.twitter.com/ebXaqTDxRP
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 16, 2023
“With bigs forced to cover him outside, driving lanes for White, Holiday, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are roomier than ever,” suggests the B/R analyst.
“And though there are more questions for the bench than there are for that first five, having Al Horford to anchor a group that includes Sam Hauser’s shooting and Payton Pritchard’s occasional hot streaks should give them enough depth for a deep playoff run.”
FINAL GRADE: A
'I think this is the biggest game of the year,' says Jaylen Brown of Boston's win vs. the Orlando Magic https://t.co/VOFqIgHvyb pic.twitter.com/vu4TXFYeoA
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 17, 2023
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