The Celtics have done plenty right through 10 games, even if the schedule hasn’t exactly thrown a fistfight their way.
Boston sits at 8-2 and has every reason to feel good about that start, especially with the preseason questions still hanging around. But the numbers also tell a plain truth: the Celtics have played the NBA’s easiest schedule so far. ESPN has their strength of schedule at .403 through the first 10 games, the lowest mark in the league.
That’s the part worth keeping in mind. The record is strong, but what really stands out is how Boston has handled the teams in front of it. Sean Grande pointed out that the Celtics are top four in both offensive and defensive rating, and their No. 1 net rating says they haven’t just been winning - they’ve been overwhelming opponents.
That distinction matters. If Boston were sitting in the middle of the pack in net rating, the conversation would look a lot different.
Then the record would feel more like a mirage than a statement. Instead, the Celtics have at least backed up their 8-2 start by crushing the competition they’ve faced.
Still, the real test is coming. Tonight’s matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers gives Boston a chance to show whether that dominance travels when the opponent is closer to its own level. Philadelphia has also started well, but its path has been soft too, and most of its wins have been tight ones rather than runaway results.
That doesn’t make the 76ers easy. It just makes this a useful measuring stick for the Celtics.
Boston has also had to work through some early-season growing pains while piling up wins. Mitchell Robinson is only now starting to look like a better fit after a rough beginning.
Payton Pritchard has flashed, but not with much consistency. Jayson Tatum has looked fantastic, even if his efficiency has dipped a bit.
Even with those bumps, the Celtics have kept taking care of business against the teams they’re supposed to beat. The next step is different. They’ve already lost to Detroit and Houston, two teams also viewed as part of the league’s upper tier, though neither defeat was especially alarming.
Now comes the part where moral victories stop carrying much weight. Boston has shown the process is there. The 76ers are the kind of opponent that can tell us whether that process holds up when the game gets real.
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 Are Forcing A Bigger Title Debate Than Fans Expected
Bostons early-season start has already pushed the Celtics into a bigger conversation than most people expected this soon. After the win over Philadelphia, they sit atop the Eastern Conference at 9-2, and the numbers back up what the eye test has suggested so far: this group has looked balanced, deep, and difficult to play against on both ends.
What makes the discussion more interesting is how complete the profile has been across the board. Basketball Reference has the Celtics near the top in offensive, defensive and net rating, a combination that usually belongs to teams with real championship traction rather than clubs still settling into November. It is early, of course, but Boston has done enough to make the title debate feel less like hype and more like a legitimate question. [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 🡒]