{"id":599721,"date":"2026-02-12T22:59:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T22:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/599721\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T22:59:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T22:59:39","slug":"taking-stock-of-celtics-shockingly-dominant-season-at-all-star-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/599721\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Stock Of Celtics’ Shockingly Dominant Season At All-Star Break"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the Boston Celtics off for the next week<\/a> due to the NBA All-Star Break, it\u2019s a good time to take stock of where they stand at this point in the season.<\/p>\n

Suffice it to say, they\u2019re in much better shape than anyone would have thought given Jayson Tatum\u2019s absence and the amount of talent they lost last offseason.<\/p>\n

For starters, the Celtics have already banked 35 wins. They own the second-best record (35-19) in the Eastern Conference and are tied for the fourth-most victories in the NBA, putting them on pace for 53 wins.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not a fluke, either. Based on point differential, Boston\u2019s expected record is 38-16.<\/p>\n

By several metrics, the Celtics have dominated on both ends of the floor<\/a>. Their offense has remained potent without Tatum, ranking second in offensive rating and third in 3-pointers made. They\u2019ve also taken care of the basketball, committing the league\u2019s fewest turnovers.<\/p>\n

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The Boston Celtics through 54 games (All Star Break):<\/p>\n

\u2013 On a 53 win pace
\u2013 Sole owner of the 2 seed in the East
\u2013 Own the #2 offense in the NBA
\u2013 Own the #3 net rating in the NBA
\u2013 Own the #9 defense in the NBA
\u2013 Own the 3rd best point differential in the NBA
\u2013 Own the 2nd most\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/iIBTHT8VqG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) February 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Defensively, Boston\u2019s been outstanding as well. The Celtics rank second in opponent points allowed per game, third in opponent field-goal percentage and eighth in defensive rating.<\/p>\n

Boston\u2019s done a great job on the boards, too, despite being undersized. The Celtics rank eighth in total rebounds, including sixth in offensive rebounds.<\/p>\n

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Add it all up, and you have a well-balanced team that\u2019s third in net rating and fourth in SRS. <\/p>\n

Boston\u2019s been even better lately, too, rounding into form after a slow start. Since starting the season 5-7, the Celtics have gone 30-12 over their last 42 games \u2014 a 59-win pace.<\/p>\n

In other words, Boston has suffered very little regression from last year, when the team won 61 games. Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza and others are all having career years, while Hugo Gonzalez has been one of the best rookies in the NBA<\/a>. Joe Mazzulla deserves a ton of credit<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n

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The Celtics may still get Tatum back<\/a>, too, which would make them even more dangerous. But if this season has proven anything, it\u2019s that they already have plenty of talent without him.<\/p>\n

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