The Boston Celtics have been streaky to begin the 2017-18 NBA season, but which version of them will we see in the new year?
The Boston Celtics took the NBA by storm to begin the 2017-18 NBA season.
Even without Gordon Hayward, who was lost minutes into the new season, the Celtics raced out to a 22-4 record, which included a 16 game win streak. They looked like the best team in the East, and appeared poised to return to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Although, that has changed as of late. Since that 22-4 start to the season, the Celtics have gone 5-6 in their last 11 games.
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There are a few logical reasons for their recent slump in the last 11 games. For one, their schedule has been difficult. Boston has already played 37 games. To put that into context, the Cleveland Cavaliers have played 34 and the Toronto Raptors have 32 in comparison.
Another issue that can’t be ignored is that they’re extremely young. Boston only has two players over the age of 30 on the roster, and none older than 31. Four of their top six rotation players are 23 years old or younger.
Statistically speaking, the Celtics have really dropped off too.
During the span in which Boston was 22-4, they sported the 13th best offense (105.7) and the best defense (98.8) in the NBA. That equated to the fourth best net rating (6.9), too.
In the last 11 games, in which Boston has gone 5-6, the Celtics have dropped to the 17th best offense (105.5), 18th best defense (106.4) and 17th best net rating (-0.9) in the NBA.
While their offense didn’t really take a hit, their defense really fell off a cliff. That could likely equate to tired legs. Boston has played the most games in the NBA, and it’s clearly catching up with them.
But the first 37 games for the Boston Celtics has really been two different stories.
So, as the new year begins, what version of the Celtics will we see?
It’s difficult to really answer this question, but the answer is likely somewhere in the middle. Boston likely isn’t the best team in the NBA – as they were record-wise and statistically through the first quarter of the NBA season- and aren’t this 5-6 version of themselves either.
Relying on rookie Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown isn’t ideal. While both have bright futures ahead of them, one is a rookie and the other was only logging 17 minutes per game. He’s almost doubling that output so far this season.
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The Boston Celtics are regressing to the mean at the moment, but don’t expect them to completely fall off a cliff. This team is talented enough to finish as a top 2 or 3 team in the East.
Boston closes the calendar year with games against the Charlotte Hornets and Houston Rockets.