Winners Of 7 Of Their Last 8, The Champs Cruise Into The All Star Break With All The Momentum In The World

Brian Babineau. Getty Images.

It may be hard to believe, but when it comes to the 2024-25 Boston Celtics, you are currently watching one of the best title defense seasons in NBA history. I know what you're probably thinking, how could this be? Greenie, stop being a homer! Be objective! You're such a Green Teamer!

To that I say, sorry the truth hurts.

After taking care of the Spurs to win their 7th game in 8 tries and 10 of their last 13, the Celts are currently on pace for 58 wins this season with a +9.1 point differential. How rare is that? During this entire century, there have only been 4 other teams in NBA history to win 60+ games in their title defense season. Celts are currently under that at a 58 win pace, but given how they're playing getting back up to 60 wins isn't all that crazy. Those teams are the 05-06 Spurs, the 08-09 Celts, the 12-13 Heat, and the 15-16 Warriors.

How many of those teams had at least a +9.1 differential in their title defense season?

Only the GS Warriors (+10.8), and you'll remember that was the 73-9 team.

So, essentially, what the current defending Champs are doing through the All Star break is essentially unprecedented. From both a win total pace and a point differential pace. Again, that's not my bias or homerism talking, that's simply the reality of their season. They've done as good a job as humanly possible at avoiding the post-title hangover all while having much worse injury luck and a team wide shooting slump that lasted 6+ weeks. 

To take this even a step further, you could make the case that they've been on par if not slightly more impressive to this point of the season than we saw in their title winning season!

The point, is the same as it always is when it comes to this team. Perspective is important. The basketball they played in mid December through mis January was some of the most disgusting shit you'll ever see (8-8). Infuriating moments of braindead CTE basketball, especially at home. Bad losses, frustrating effort levels, you know, all the things that happen to every team on earth over the course of an 82 game season. This stoolie did a great job of putting that stretch into perspective

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As you can see, things are never as bad as the doomers may want you to believe they are. The Celtics are not "broken". There is no "problem with their system". But let's also be clear about something. In the same way their .500 stretch did not predict or confirm how they would perform in the playoffs (losing early), this current stretch of wins does not predict or confirm how they will perform in the playoffs (deep run) either. I cannot stand when people try and make that claim based on regular season basketball. That's not what it does/tells you! 

The goal in the regular season for the defending champs is simple 

1. Secure 40/20

2. Finish as high as you possibly can in terms of seeding

3. Be healthy come the Spring

That's it. We know what works, we know the style of play that works, we know what everyone has to do on both ends of the floor to be successful, all that stuff was figured out during their run last season (when they won the title btw). 

As a fan, it's great to see the entire team lock in and realize it was time to get their shit together and close out the schedule strong into the break. Everyone gets their well deserved rest and the real season starts in about a week, and given how the Celts are playing right now it's about to be the longest week of my life.

But first, let's talk about last night.

The Good

- One thing that I really love about pretty much this entire roster is their accountability. When they fail, this team does not point fingers. When Tatum or Brown or KP etc come up short, they own it. They take that hit on the chin, vow to be better, and then go out and immediately back it up. There's no throwing shade or finger pointing or blaming others. They are all honest and accountable, and it's really been that way since Tatum/Brown first arrived. 

We saw it earlier in the season when the Celts were playing like dogshit, KP was open to the media about how they were playing like soft bitches, and then he immediately went out and did his part to turn that around. Before last night's game, Jayson Tatum was open about how their struggles at home were inexcusable and that they needed to turn that shit around.

So what did he do? He made sure HE was going to do everything possible to ensure this team went into the Break on a high note.

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I told you, we were entering the part of the NBA season where Jayson Tatum turns into Basketball Jesus. This is what that looks like. 

What's interesting is you hear a lot about how in order for Tatum to play this way, he needs to be on an SGA/Luka level of usage. That the Celtics actually should move away from team oriented basketball and play a more heliocentric style with Tatum so that his USG% is over 35%. That always felt bizarre to me because that's literally the opposite of why Brad Stevens built the roster he did. 

Take this game for example. Tatum's usage was only 31.6% in this win, which is right in line with his season average (29.7%). Over the last 10 games (8-2), his usage is 29.7%. In those 8 wins, it's 31.1%.

So what we're seeing isn't a different approach with Tatum. It's not as if they've changed how he plays or what the system is even without guys like Jrue and Jaylen in the lineup. Tatum is simply playing better. He has the ball just as much, he has pretty much the same USG% as his season average, he's just being more effective with the ball. Now, he's being aggressive. Now, guys are hitting their jumpers off his passes which doesn't impact USG% but does impact the score of a game. 

The bigger point is not that Tatum needs to be at a certain USG% for the Celtics to be successful. It's more that he needs to remain aggressive when he has the basketball, and that can mean shots, FTA, or passing. It's when he plays lazy, settles too much, and doesn't impact the game with the ball that gets this team into trouble. Not that one game he had a 29% USG% and another game a 34% USG%. 

All you have to do is simply compare the engagement level we're seeing from Tatum over these last few games to say, the Mavs loss where he was basically a non-factor and took just 12 FGA. He still had the ball the same amount, they still played through him, but his own decisions with the ball limited his production. This current stretch? Last night? He looks like the same old Tatum, and it came alongside a USG% that was right in line with his season average. 

In a game like this before the break, it's on your best player to step up and make sure the team handles their shit and heads into the break on a high note. Jayson Tatum did that in spades in this game, and if you've been paying attention to his career you know he's right on schedule.

- In a battle between two unicorns in KP and Wemby, it certainly did not disappoint. You could tell KP takes this matchup seriously, and as the original unicorn we got the full display of two way dominance

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What you're seeing is the 2nd most consistent offensive player on this team. Ever since his debut, KP has been lights out offensively in my opinion. Very rarely does he have a stinker, the efficiency is starting to come around as he continues to get into game shape, and while he only took 4 3PA in this win, his makes were all pretty massive considering they came at times when the Celts needed a jolt to maintain their separation.

Perhaps the best part of all when it comes to KP, is that he's been available. Outside of his regularly scheduled rest days, he's been active. We have no idea how long this is going to last, so I appreciate not wasting these type of performances and making sure they secure the win when KP plays well.

I was a big fan of the offensive approach in the non-Tatum minutes to spam KP post ups, which is exactly how I think they need to use that weapon. When Tatum sits, I look at those minutes as a time when you need to be ultra-efficient offensively. Whatever you can do to limit your scoring droughts until Tatum comes back in is exactly what they should be doing, and giving the KP the ball in a post up situation is by far the most efficient non-Tatum offensive option this team has. He's either going to score or get to the FT line pretty much every single time.

When Wemby wasn't on the floor and it was a non-Tatum minute situation, what did we see? KP post ups and the Celts were able to survive those minutes. 

During their .500 stretch, one fo the confusing parts was that the metrics with KP on the floor were fine, but the games were not resulting in wins. Now, the numbers have maintained their level and now the normal expected results are starting to follow suit, which is why things probably feel a little bit better right now. It's not as if we're seeing a different Tatum or a different KP. This is the level they consistently play at. The difference is the team is finding ways to now blow these performances, and that makes all the difference in the world.

- Boy was it refreshing to see the Celts start a game at home against a team they should beat and not have a completely lifeless 1st quarter. So many of these bad losses all tend to start the same way, with the Celts coming out flat, not really playing with the right amount of force on either end, and the next thing you know it's 14-4 and they're staring at an uphill climb in a game they had no business struggling in.

So for the Celts to come out and throw up this opening 12 minutes was a big time sigh of relief from yours truly

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You'll also notice that it was Tatum leading the charge, which goes back to my point about accountability. After the MIA win he was vocal about needing to be better at home, and boom. He led the way.

If the Celts want to get back to the Garden being a place that actually works in their favor, it's all about how they start games. Instead of the crowd being on edge and maybe a little nervous, they were engaged. The efficient offense helped force the Spurs to beat them in the halfcourt, and they simply didn't have the shooting to get that done. A total of 9 AST on 15 FGM tells you the ball was moving, guys were shooting with confidence, and they found ways to attack the Spurs even with Wemby on the floor which certainly isn't easy.

And while 37 points on 53/36% shouldn't be considered the baseline for a quarter, how the Celts played in that opening frame can be. Great energy, the right approach offensively, connected defensively, great on the boards etc. Once they built that inifial lead, it was coasting the rest of the way.

- Speaking of rebounding, what a performance on the offensive glass. A total of 15 OREB for 14 2nd chance points, that continues to be such a weapon for this team. Payton Pritchard had 4 by himself! What I like about what we saw is it's not like these all came from a big just standing under the rim. A lot of them were long rebounds that required effort and hustle in order to grab. They both count as the same in terms of being an OREB, but there's something to be said about being the team that is more aggressive to the ball when there are 50/50 opportunities.

When this team is at their best, those are the plays they make. They do not let up, they work to obtain 2nd and 3rd possessions, and eventually it all adds to be too much to overcome. 

- My expectations for the Torrey Craig Celtics tenure is pretty simple. All I need from him is to defend, rebound, and make his open 3s. That's the bar. It's not a high bar, but it's an important bar.

This is what that looks like

A+ debut for Craig in my opinion, and it really reminded me of Derrick's debut against Jokic and the Nuggets. He came in, immediately started making 3s, immediately started making plays defensively, and the fit looked perfect. Craig had a perfect balance of not hesitating on his open looks, but also understanding when in doubt, just give the ball to Jayson Tatum.

All I'm looking for is the Oshae Brissett role, and I wouldn't hate some better 3pt shooting to go along with it. The Celts don't need Torrey Craig to be a savior, they just need him to be playable. Given our first look, that seems like something he's going to be able to do. 

- I don't even care that Al Horford went 2-10 (2-7). Another game with 10 rebounds, he looked spry as shit in his 34 minutes which is really all I care about. I know Al will hit the big open 3s when we need him to. What matters more to me is how do his legs look? Does he look like he can still move? Can he rebound? As long as he does all those things like we saw last night, I have zero complaints with Al.

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Now he gets a week off to recharge and be ready for the second half. This is the part of the season where Horford becomes vital, and nothing makes me happier that he came out of the first half injury free and looking like a younger version of himself.

The Bad

- I suppose it's a bit of a prayer that when Tatum/White/Pritchard all combine to shoot 9-35 from 3P that you still win comfortably, and really a lot of those misses were about 75% of the way down. Especially Pritchard's. You know he had to be sick starting the game 0-6 from deep considering almost all his takes were wide open looks.

So while on one hand it's nice to see the Celts win a game in which those guys struggled (Hauser was also 2-7) and the team shot just 32% from deep, on the other hand I'm going to need much better execution on clean looks while playing in your own building.

It's fascinating, usually you see role players play better at home, especially in terms of shooting. For some reason, the Celts role players only shoot well on the road? How many times have we seen Pritchard go 2-10 at the Garden? Almost never? 

- Nothing is more embarrassing than an official making a mistake on a call involving Jayson Tatum, he doesn't really even react, and then that same official compounds his mistake by giving him a tech. It's getting comical at this point. Meanwhile, you have Wemby waiving at an official after an offensive foul (something Tatum gets a tech for) and there's nothing.

Does Adam Silver care? Of course not. You see guys like Draymond Green legitimately berate officials left and right and nothing happens, yet Tatum can't even say a word without immediately getting a tech? So bizarre and frankly it's inexcusable.

- Part of me is a little annoyed they let go of the rope a little bit towards the end of the 4th quarter and another game that should have been a 20+ point win ended up being 13. I'm looking for point differential boosts in a game like this, so to only go from +9.0 to +9.1 was disappointing.

- Is Jordan Walsh simply out of the rotation now? What gives? His minutes haven't been bad, and yet we're seeing Baylor Scheierman get the nod instead who has for the most part done nothing in his minutes. What happened there? Why stunt the development for no reason?

If the reason is shooting, it's not like Baylor is even taking shots, so why not have the bigger, better defender on the floor? Especially in a game like this before the break, and he's a DNP-CD? What's the deal?

The Ugly

- I honestly don't think I've ever seen a team be so bad at throwing entry passes. The Celts have to be BY FAR the worst in the league at this one specific pass, and the worst part is the biggest culprits are some of their best players

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Is this Derrick White's only flaw? How is he so terrible at throwing an entry pass? It makes no sense. Same thing with Tatum. How do you overthrow a 7'3 guy? We're at the point where we get around 3-4 of these entry pass turnover a game, which feels impossible. I feel like that should be the easiest pass any of these guys attempt to make. KP is a fucking giant! But for whatever reason, up and down this roster everyone's brains get taken over by CTE when it comes time to make this pass. It's truly insane.

- 14-21 from the FT line (66%), you knew this was going to be mentioned in this section. All 7 of those misses came from Tatum (4) and KP (3). I don't think I can remember the last time Tatum missed 4 FTs in a game, and he's now sub-80% on the season. That, doesn't feel great. I need to be able to bank on Tatum being at least an 80% FT shooter, not stressing that he's unable to go 2-2. I can't campaign for him to get a better whistle only for him to suck ass at the FT line.

KP same thing. He's too good of a shooter to be putting up 66% from the FT line in any game. 

It didn't come back to bite them in this game, but it will. You know it will. That's how the Basketball Gods work. I'm not saying as a team they need to be perfect, I'm simply saying Tatum/KP cannot have games where they miss 7 combined FTs. That's pathetic.

And now? we wait. A long 7 days until this team plays again, I'm just happy we can survive this break with the Celts being back to playing .800 basketball. All the doom and gloom from Dec-Jan seems pretty silly now, which is what a lot of us were trying to explain when the team was going through it. They're fine. Now rest up and get ready to attack the second half.