The Boston Celtics were supposed to be at the bottom of the pack in the East, but as the regular season approaches its end, they are now in serious conversation for an NBA Title run.
At the center of their rise is Jaylen Brown. Brown is playing at an MVP caliber level. He is averaging 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, which are career highs for him. His scoring is among the best in the league, and he leads the Celtics in most big categories.
Brown’s teammates have also stepped up. Derrick White is a strong all-around guard who scores over 17 points and hands out more than 5 assists each night. Payton Pritchard is also about 17 points and 5 assists per game and is known as one of Brad Stevens’ greatest contract deals, where he is making 30 million dollars over 4 years. These two help take pressure off Brown by scoring and creating plays when others can’t do so.
New center Nikola Vucevic has recently joined the team. In the few games he has played so far with Boston, he is giving the Celtics extra size and rebounding strength, with about 9 rebounds per game and solid scoring. A position the Celtics were in desperate need of.
Another big part of the team is Neemias Queta. Queta is now a key starter and is averaging more than 8 rebounds per game and has had big scoring nights, including a recent career high of 27 points in a win over the 76ers. He also played hard on boards and defense to help Boston win,
The Celtics as a team have one of the better records in the Eastern Conference, currently seeded at number 2, sitting right behind the Detroit Pistons.
Even with all of this success, Boston has been without its other star, Jayson Tatum, for the season because of an Achilles’ tear suffered last year vs the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs. Many writers and fans say that if Tatum can return before the playoffs, the Celtics could be the favorite to win the NBA Championship. With Brown’s MVP-Level play and Tatums’ potential return, the Celtics would have elite stars plus strong support all around.
Simply, the Celtics were not expected to be this good after their tax dump over the offseason. But strong play from Jaylen Brown, key help from White, Pritchard, Queta, and the new addition of Vucevic has pushed them into the title conversation. If Tatum comes back and stays healthy, Boston could be one of the best teams in the league.