The Boston Celtics have fallen back to the pack over the last few weeks. Is this just a rough patch or did this team peak too early?
When the Boston Celtics lost in the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors in six games last season, there were two ways the C’s could go. They would either pick up where they left off before they ran into the Warriors and plow through the league this season or they were going to suffer from an NBA Finals hangover (see the Warriors this season).
And through the first half of the season, it appeared as if this would finally be the year for the Celtics. In fact, on January 22, the Celtics were 35-12, had a 4.5-game lead over the second seed in the Eastern Conference, a top-5 offense and defense, and the best net rating in the league. They were running away with the East and looked like the team to beat in the NBA.
However, something has happened since then.
The Celtics have, for lack of a better phrase, fallen back to the pack over the last few weeks. Since January 22, the Celtics are just 11-9 and are no longer sitting atop the Eastern Conference. In fact, they’re two games back of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Perhaps what’s most concerning for the Celtics is the fact that their offense has completely fallen off a cliff over the last 20 games. Boston’s offense ranks in the bottom half of the league on that end of the floor since January 23.
The saving grace for the Celtics has been their defense, but even that has dipped outside the top 5.
Did the Boston Celtics peak at the wrong time?
So, what can or should we do with all this information? Well, it does leave one to wonder, have the Celtics already peaked (and at the wrong time), or is this just a rough patch for the team before the start of the playoffs?
And it’s a general concern. It would not be outlandish to say that the Celtics have peaked at the wrong time. Stretching back to last season, the Celtics have been playing at an extremely high level since the second half of last season.
So, essentially, the Celtics have been playing at a high level for one full season and then a playoff run. It would not be surprising if this team did already peak.
But, on the other hand, this could also be just the dog days of February and March.
Over the next few weeks, the Celtics will be trying to right the ship and rediscover their rhythm heading into the postseason. It would be quite unfortunate if we’ve already seen the best of the Celtics.
I don’t believe the Celtics’ struggles are anything to get too worried about now. But they certainly should be kept a close eye on. Especially with the start of the NBA Playoffs just around the corner.