Because the begin of 2026, the Celtics personal the very best offensive ranking and internet ranking within the NBA.
Which staff ranks second in each of these classes? It isn’t defending champion Oklahoma Metropolis. It isn’t Detroit or San Antonio, both.
It’s the longtime Jap Convention cellar-dweller that visited TD Backyard on Wednesday: the Charlotte Hornets.
Below the course of former Boston assistant Charles Lee, who gained a title with the Celtics in 2024 earlier than touchdown his first head-coaching job, the Hornets are on tempo for his or her greatest end in a decade. Following a 19-63 marketing campaign in Lee’s first yr and a 4-14 begin to this season, they’ve ranked among the many high groups within the NBA, boasting the league’s seventh-best document since Thanksgiving.
Charlotte has been particularly spectacular of late, getting into Wednesday with a 15-3 document over its final 18 video games. Tuesday’s win over Dallas received the 31-31 Hornets again to .500 as they push towards their first playoff berth since 2016. The long-suffering franchise has not gained a postseason sequence since 2002, earlier than its mid-200s rebirth because the Charlotte Bobcats.
“The time that I received to spend with Charles, you knew he was going to be an amazing head coach,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla stated pregame. “And I believe they simply proceed to get higher and higher.”
Lee’s teaching workers additionally consists of ex-Celtics assistants Blaine Muller and Jermaine Bucknor. On the courtroom, they’re led by a younger, explosive beginning 5 of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate and Rookie of the 12 months contender Kon Knueppel that leads all NBA lineups in internet ranking by a wholesome margin (minimal 100 minutes performed).
“Clearly, with the gamers that they’ve, they’re simply persevering with to get higher,” Mazzulla stated. “However while you watch them, one, you inform how aggressive they’re, particularly within the margins. They’re second in 3-point try share. They get a ton of offensive rebounds, particularly in late-game close-game conditions. Bodily on the purpose of assault defensively. Tthat comes from the fellows, and it clearly come from the job that Charles and workers are doing.”
Sitting ninth within the East standings as of Wedensday, the Hornets loom a possible first-round playoff opponent for the second-place Celtics. They’ll play twice extra earlier than then — in Charlotte on March 29 and in Boston on April 7.
Tillman returns
Charlotte’s bench options Boston alums Grant Williams and the not too long ago traded Xavier Tillman, in addition to Arlington native Pat Connaughton.
Tillman, who was a part of the Celtics’ 2024 championship staff, has performed sparingly for the reason that C’s dealt him forward of final month’s commerce deadline, however Lee and Williams each stated the favored 27-year-old has introduced a worthwhile veteran presence to the Hornets’ locker room.
“My time right here in Boston, being with X, he introduced a pleasure to the constructing day-after-day,” Lee stated. “… I used to be wanting ahead to only getting a man that I believe can assist be a very good veteran in our locker room and assist our younger gamers as we proceed on all through this season.”
Requested what he’ll bear in mind about his Celtics tenure, Tillman stated he’ll cherish each the on-court success and the off-the-court connections.
“I actually respect simply the relationships I used to be capable of construct with them,” the veteran massive man stated.
Vucevic shopping for in
Nikola Vucevic believes the Celtics have the expertise and mindset to stage what can be the primary deep playoff run of the veteran heart’s 15-year NBA profession.
“I believe all of the organizations I’ve been on have tried to do issues proper,” Vucevic stated at Wednesday’s morning shootaround. “Clearly, I believe right here the primary factor is we’ve a staff that provides you an opportunity to go all the best way. So I believe there’s simply type of that sense of urgency round everybody that we’ve an amazing probability to attempt to win, and so all people’s type of locked into that. I believe that’s the largest distinction. I’ve by no means been on a staff that’s as proficient as this one, that’s had an opportunity to win, that’s had guys which have gained massive.”
Vucevic was a rookie on the 2011-12 Philadelphia 76ers staff that misplaced to the Massive Three-era Celtics within the East semifinals, however he has not superior past the primary spherical since. His groups in Orlando and Chicago gained a complete of three playoff video games, together with his final three full seasons with the Bulls all ending within the play-in event.
The Celtics have been anticipated to be in that very same class of mediocrity this season, however with how effectively they’ve carried out up to now, an early playoff exit now can be thought of a significant disappointment.
Vucevic additionally has loved teaming up with Jaylen Brown, who has urged his new teammate to be extra aggressive on the offensive finish. Brown not too long ago stated he needs Vucevic — who’s averaging 11.8 factors and eight.2 rebounds since his commerce to Boston final month — making an attempt at the very least 10 discipline objectives per recreation.
“He doesn’t all the time say quite a bit, however when he says one thing, you already know there’s a very good intent behind it, and it helps the staff,” Vucevic stated. “I believe simply the best way he approaches the sport, the best way he approaches after we work, after we do stuff, you possibly can inform he’s very dedicated. The fellows reply to him. You may simply inform each recreation we’ve performed, he’s performed rather well for us. … He’s a hell of a participant, and he’s had a hell of a yr.”
Tatum comeback looming?
One signal that Jayson Tatum’s return from Achilles surgical procedure might be imminent: the consensed launch schedule of his “The Quiet Work” docuseries.
The present, a collaboration between Tatum’s new manufacturing firm and NBC Sports activities, was scheduled to drop its 5 “minisodes” over the course of 5 weeks, premiering one every Sunday throughout NBC’s NBA protection. Every would supply a behind-the-scenes have a look at a special stage of the Celtics star’s restoration.
It caught to that cadence for the primary two weeks, delivering Episode 1 on Feb. 22 and Episode 2 this previous Sunday — then proceeded to place out the third installment on Monday and the fourth on Tuesday.
Tatum was dominated out for Wednesday’s recreation, however file this below: “Hmm…” Will we see him again in uniform Friday when the Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks on ESPN?
Off the rim
Tatum impressed Tillman together with his dedication to rehab. “It was fairly fixed,” Tillman stated. “He was right here, like, six days every week, getting it in and all the time doing one thing to raised his physique. It’s truly fairly spectacular to see someone so devoted. And once I had these moments through the video games to only chop it up with him, he simply talked about how a lot he simply misses taking part in — like, misses having the ability to get a rebound and push it, speak crap to the opposite staff, and simply all the pieces that comes with taking part in.” … Williams, a Celtic from 2019-23, known as Tatum throughout a current Hornets off-day to catch up. “I’m simply excited to have him again on the ground,” Williams stated. “I stated it the opposite night time: Basketball misses him. I believe this staff misses him, as effectively, in Boston, and so they’re going to roll with him when he will get again.”
