41-41. 38-44. 37-45.
These are just some of the records media outlets predicted for the Celtics ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. Now through 24 games this year, Boston sits at 15-9, good for third in the Eastern Conference and ninth in the entire NBA.
For the whole season, ESPN predicts they will finish with a 49-33 record, with a 93% chance to make the postseason.
The 2025-26 Boston Celtics were underestimated. The major shakeup to their roster in the postseason and offseason called for, and perhaps rightfully so, discussions of them being a lottery team.
It’s clear the opposite has been true. Barring any more significant injuries, Beantown will not be intentionally or unintentionally tanking. They will not find themselves with a top-14 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
A Fundamentally Sound Offense
With a win on Sunday against conference foe Toronto, Boston is now 12-4 over their last 16 games. They once again boast one of the best three-point shooting offenses in the NBA, ranking third in three-pointers made (383).
However, Celtics players and coaching staff alike have emphasized the importance of taking care of the basketball. This has manifested in Boston committing a league-low 282 turnovers on the season.
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When the offense has struggled, head coach Joe Mazzulla has pointed to his team’s protectiveness of the ball as what keeps them competitive.
“Another game where we haven’t turned it over,” he said after a win against Washington. “It goes a long way. People will watch a game and be like, ‘oh, they’re missing a lot of shots,’ but they very rarely watch a game and be like ‘oh, we’re doing a great job not turning it over.’ It’s been one of the strengths of the team…”
A Rebounding Resurgence
In addition to their ball security, the Celtics are averaging 12.9 offensive rebounds per game, good for top five in the association and a +1.6 increase from 2024. But the season didn’t open that way.
After Boston’s first handful of games, they were woefully out rebounded, with Mazzulla frequently sounding off on it to the media. Boston’s leading rebounder (8.2), Neemias Queta, credited the film room for their drastic improvements.
“We watched a lot of film on where we can get better… A lot of times, rebounding is all about effort. Hitting first, making sure your guy doesn’t get it, go get it with two hands,” said Queta in late November.
Fan-favorite guard Derrick White echoed a similar sentiment, saying “We got a long way to go, but beginning of the year, it seemed like we had a longer way to go than we do now.”
White said it best. The season has still not even reached the halfway mark. In order to maintain their play and position in the Eastern Conference, they’ll have to face more trials and tribulations.
Regardless, there is a sense of cautious optimism in the air on the streets of Boston. With every impressive win, the Celtics warn the rest of the league they are not to be taken lightly.
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