The Celtics are sitting alone at the top of the Eastern Conference at 10-2, and for now, they’ve earned that perch. The schedule will get tougher and the standings will settle eventually, but Boston has already put together enough to suggest this isn’t just a fast start. There are real reasons to think the Celtics can hang around near the top all season.
At the center of it all is the Jayson Tatum-Paul George pairing, which has clicked almost immediately. That was always going to be the biggest question for Boston, and early on, it’s looked like a strength.
Tatum has clearly embraced being the Celtics’ No. 1 option. His efficiency still needs work - he’s shooting 41.3 FG% and 30.6 3FG% - but he’s attacking more forcefully, getting downhill, hunting mismatches, and putting pressure on defenses at the rim.
He’s also doing the little things that keep a team humming: moving the ball, rebounding, and defending. Through 11 games, the Duke alum is averaging 26.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 34 minutes, which would be a career high.
He’s also getting to the line 8.9 times per game, a number that would be the most of his career and is tied for third-most in the league this season.
George has been every bit as important. His Celtics debut set the tone with 38 points, and he followed that with a 36-point masterclass against the 76ers.
Through 10 games, he’s putting up 22 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals while shooting 48.8/44/82.1%. At 36, he looks rejuvenated, and there’s already a little bit of an All-Star push building around him.
What makes Boston dangerous is that George isn’t just piling up numbers next to Tatum. He’s easing the load on him with his shot creation and perimeter shooting, and he’s also shown he can carry the non-Tatum minutes when the Celtics need someone else to steer the offense.
That’s the part that should worry the rest of the East. Tatum and George aren’t just producing side by side - they fit. They’re complementing each other in a way that’s helping Boston win games now, not later.
The other piece of the Celtics’ rise is that the conference around them hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype yet. A lot of people had doubts about Boston because the East looked loaded on paper.
The Knicks had just won a championship. The Cavaliers were coming off a conference finals run and added Peyton Watson.
The 76ers brought in Brown, LeBron James, Dean Wade, and Anfernee Simons, even after losing George, Kelly Oubre, and Quentin Grimes. The Raptors got Leonard back.
The Pacers were set to have Tyrese Haliburton again. The Pistons had been the No. 1 seed.
Atlanta and Charlotte were also viewed as interesting wild cards.
But none of that has really translated yet. Outside of maybe Philadelphia and Detroit, the rest of the conference hasn’t made much noise. There’s still plenty of season left for things to change, but Boston has looked like one of the league’s best teams on both ends.
Right now, the Celtics are the team to beat in the East. And if this chemistry keeps building, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them still there when the playoffs arrive.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irving Rumors Could Create A New Celtics Playoff Threat
Kyrie Irving is back on the floor for Dallas after last seasons knee injury, and that alone is enough to make the league pay attention. For Celtics fans, it is a familiar name with fresh relevance, because Irvings return has reopened the conversation around where he fits, how long he stays, and which teams might decide he is worth the gamble.
The Mavericks have said they want to keep him, but the rumor mill is already spinning with the kind of interest that tends to follow a player of Irvings profile. Miami has been floated as one possible landing spot, which only adds another layer to a playoff picture that could get more complicated if the market starts moving before Dallas can settle the question. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Could Make Brad Stevens Look Even Smarter
Paul George has given the Celtics exactly the kind of early return they hoped for after the Jaylen Brown trade, looking like a seamless fit and a player who can tilt a game on both ends when he is right. For Boston, the appeal goes beyond the box score. Georges presence has changed the shape of the roster conversation, giving Brad Stevens a proven star to build around while keeping the door open for flexibility if this partnership keeps moving in the right direction.
The bigger question is how long the Celtics can count on that version of George, and what kind of commitment makes sense if he keeps producing at this level. Health will matter every bit as much as performance, because Boston does not just need him to be good now, it needs him to stay on the floor and justify a long-term plan that fits the cap and preserves roster options. If George keeps delivering, Stevens could end up looking even sharper for making the deal in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Are Winning Close Games Without Their Best Late Offense
The Celtics have found a way to survive the tightest moments this season even when their offense has not been at its sharpest. In clutch situations, Boston has leaned on defense and trips to the line to close out games, with Jayson Tatum and Paul George helping carry the load when possessions get heavy and every mistake matters.
What stands out is how much room there still is for the late-game offense to grow. Boston has not shot especially well in those moments, but the team keeps stacking wins because its defense has made it hard for opponents to get clean looks, turning close finishes into something the Celtics have been able to manage rather than fear. [Read more 🡒]