The biggest headline from Boston’s win over Philadelphia may end up being the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown “rivalry” chatter or Paul George’s huge revenge game, but the result itself pushed the Celtics into a spot that matters just as much: they now sit alone at No. 1 in the East.
That’s where Boston stands after a 9-2 start, and only the Los Angeles Lakers, at 10-2, have a better record. According to Basketball Reference, the Celtics are also third in offensive rating, sixth in defensive rating, and first in net rating. That’s the kind of profile that makes people start looking at a team a little differently.
It’s still early, and nobody’s handing out trophies in November. But Boston entered the season with plenty of questions hanging over it, and so far it has answered them with force. The Celtics look sharp, balanced, and very much like a team that belongs in the league’s top tier.
That’s a notable shift considering how the last stretch has gone for this group. After winning the championship in 2024, Boston lost to the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 Playoffs, then moved on from Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet the following offseason.
Last season, the Celtics blew a 3-1 lead to the 76ers in the first round before trading Brown for George. And over the summer, Philadelphia, New York, the Indiana Pacers, the Toronto Raptors, the Miami Heat, and the Detroit Pistons all looked like teams Boston would have to worry about in the East.
That’s why so few people expected the Celtics to be in the title mix right now. Yet here they are, and Tuesday’s win only strengthened that case.
Boston’s schedule hasn’t exactly been a gauntlet, and the win over Philadelphia was the first time the Celtics beat a team that entered the game with a winning record. Still, what they’ve done on both ends of the floor has been hard to ignore.
The Tatum-George pairing is working. Derrick White continues to bring value even with his shot still coming and going.
Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson are giving the team useful minutes. Payton Pritchard is settling in.
And the depth remains a major part of why Boston has been able to stack wins.
A month of basketball doesn’t define a season, and the Celtics know that better than anyone. But after their toughest test yet, they didn’t just pass - they controlled it. Boston is showing the rest of the league that it has real teeth, and if this level holds, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Celtics playing deep into June.
In Other News...
Neemias Queta Just Gave The Celtics A Real Embiid Answer
Neemias Queta has spent the season looking more and more like a useful piece for Boston, and his latest work against Philadelphia only strengthened that case. In the Celtics win over the 76ers, he chipped in 4 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists while giving the team a sturdier presence in the middle, the kind of minutes that can matter against a frontcourt centerpiece like Joel Embiid.
What stood out was not just the size, but the discipline. Queta showed the benefits of his offseason development by moving with better control on defense and making smarter decisions as a passer, helping Boston keep Embiid from getting comfortable and preserving the kind of edge that comes with beating a direct conference rival. The result also helped the Celtics stay in first place in the Eastern Conference, which is exactly the sort of payoff they need from a young big finding his footing. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Suddenly Have A Paul George Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Celtics head into their next stretch with a small but notable wrinkle on the injury report, as Paul George will sit out the upcoming game against Toronto because of an illness. It is a brief absence, but it comes at an awkward time for Boston, which has leaned on Georges steady production early this season and has seen him settle in as one of the teams most reliable options.
George had just been at the center of Bostons win over the 76ers, and his recent form has only reinforced how important he has become to the rotation. He has missed only one other game this season, so this will amount to a rare pause, with extra recovery time now built in before the Celtics see Dallas next. [Read more 🡒]
Brown Tatum Reunion Created An Awkward Celtics Storyline Before Tipoff
Jaylen Brown had to swat away a little pregame awkwardness before the Celtics took care of the 76ers, as a brief interaction with former teammate Jayson Tatum turned into a small storyline before tipoff. Brown addressed it afterward, but the focus quickly shifted back to the floor, where Boston kept rolling and picked up its fourth straight win.
Brown finished with 13 points, while Tatum led the way with 21 as the Celtics handled business in a game that mattered far more than any sideline moment. Both players tried to keep the temperature down around the exchange, which fit the mood of a team that would rather have the conversation stay on the winning streak than on what happened before the opening whistle. [Read more 🡒]