The Boston Celtics are a sleeping giant in the Eastern Conference that’s beginning to wake up.
Exactly one month ago, the Boston Celtics were 18-21 and sitting in the 11th spot of the Eastern Conference standings. Hope was beginning to die down and the whispers of the team potentially making a franchise-changing move at the trade deadline were only growing louder.
However, in the span of a few weeks, the Celtics have done a marvelous job in changing the perception of their entire season.
Over the past month, the Celtics have the best record in the Eastern Conference and have quickly made up the ground that they gave up through the first 39 games of the season.
Looking at the standings, it may not seem as if the Celtics have improved much. After all, they’re still only 8th in the conference and there are seven teams still in front of them. However, looking further, there’s something special happening with this team right now.
The Celtics, despite sitting in the 8th spot of the standings, are just 4.5 games of the top seed in the conference and essentially tied (by percentage points) for the 6th seed.
An argument could be made that the Celtics are the biggest sleeping giant in the Eastern Conference heading into the push toward the playoffs. And if the last month is any indication, they’re beginning to awaken.
Over the past month, not only do the Celtics have the best record in the East (12-4) but they also have overwhelming the best defense in the league. Their offense is still catching up but is inching toward being in the top 10. If they can get there, there’s no question this is a team that’s going to be a big problem in the playoffs – no matter where they finish heading into the dance.
What’s even scarier, and something that should get the attention of most, certainly the rest of the Eastern Conference, is the fact that even though they’re ranked 8th in the conference standings, they have the third-best net rating in the East.
Heading into NBA Trade Deadline week, there’s no question that the Celtics are a team that should be monitored. Despite their impressive month, that doesn’t mean they won’t make a big move. However, assuming this team relatively remains intact and doesn’t take a significant step back, the Celtics should be considered a sleeping giant in the East.
Boston has all the pieces to make a deep playoff run. If it all comes together over the last couple of months of the season, this is a team that no contender is going to want to see in the playoffs.