The Boston Celtics just don’t know how to fade. Even without Jayson Tatum in the lineup, they’ve kept their foot on the gas and are right in the thick of the Eastern Conference race.
At 29-18, they sit tied with the New York Knicks for the second-best record in the East, trailing only the red-hot Detroit Pistons by 5.5 games. For a team that many thought would take a step back without their superstar, Boston’s resilience has been anything but ordinary.
A big reason for that? Jaylen Brown.
He’s been playing like a man on a mission - and frankly, like someone who belongs in the MVP conversation. With Tatum sidelined, Brown has stepped into the leadership role with authority, anchoring both ends of the floor and keeping the Celtics not just afloat, but thriving.
His scoring, defensive presence, and command of the locker room have been central to Boston’s success during this stretch.
And it’s not just Brown stepping up. The Celtics have been hit with injuries to key contributors like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis, but you wouldn’t know it by watching them play.
Anfernee Simons, a midseason addition, has fit right in, providing a spark offensively and giving the team another dynamic perimeter threat. That said, his name has started to swirl in trade rumors as the deadline approaches - a sign that Boston might not be done tweaking this already dangerous roster.
Then there’s head coach Joe Mazzulla, whose unorthodox methods continue to raise eyebrows - and deliver results. He’s not your typical NBA coach, and that’s part of what makes him so effective.
He’s locked in 24/7, constantly searching for ways to challenge his players mentally and physically. His approach might seem a little out there at times, but it’s clear the team has bought in.
Just ask Luka Garza. The Celtics’ backup big man recently shared a wild story from training camp on The Old Man and the Three podcast that gives a glimpse into Mazzulla’s unique coaching style.
“The training camp war zone drill was one of the craziest experiences of my life,” Garza said. “We’re guarding - it was me and Xavier Tillman lined up - and we’re going one-on-one defense, just up and back for like twelve straight minutes.
Meanwhile, he turns on the aux, and it’s just machine gun noises and bombs dropping and flying, and I’m like, what is happening right now? But yeah, that was pretty insane.”
That drill wasn’t a one-time thing either. According to Payton Pritchard, Simons had to run it five times in a row.
Five. Mazzulla doesn’t let up - and neither do the Celtics.
The message is clear: this team is built to battle. Whether it’s injuries, trade rumors, or war zone drills in training camp, Boston continues to respond with grit, depth, and a laser focus on the bigger picture.
The Celtics aren’t just surviving without their star - they’re thriving. And if this version of the team keeps showing up, the rest of the East better be ready for a fight.