Celtics Running Smoothly With Another Level to Hit
The defending champion Boston Celtics picked up pretty much where they left off following last season’s dominant start-to-finish campaign. Coming off an NBA championship after a 64–18 regular season, the Celtics won 15 of their first 18 games—on pace to finish 68–14. Superstar wing duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are putting up a combined 53.4 points, 14.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game. The offense leads the league in three-point makes per game (18.9), is ranked third in points per game (120.2) and is third in turnovers per game (11.4) through Tuesday. All is well in Boston.
And the Celtics still have another level to hit. Their biggest flaw has been protecting the paint; the team ranks 26th in paint points allowed per game. In welcoming back Kristaps Porzingis from injury on Monday, they immediately improved, blocking 11 shots in a 126–94 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Celtics are already great and getting better—a disturbing sign for any team hoping to knock them off come the postseason.
76ers Veering Toward Disaster
Of all the surprising records, the Philadelphia 76ers checking in at 3–13 (14th in the Eastern Conference) has to be the biggest. The reason isn’t a mystery: The Sixers’ stars have not been available. Joel Embiid has played in four of the team’s opening 16 games. Paul George checks in at eight games played, and Tyrese Maxey at 10.
