On March twenty fifth, 2026, the Celtics defeated the Western Convention chief and defending champion Thunder, 119-109.
An MVP faceoff between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Brown on Wednesday evening felt like an NBA Finals preview. The matchup would come right down to the leaders of every squad and the way they have been defended. Each groups are stout defensively, particularly on the perimeter. Oklahoma Metropolis has two All-World perimeter defenders in Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso, in addition to extra bodily, switchable defenders like Luguentz Dort. The Thunder “Large Three” in SGA, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams may maintain their very own of their respective roles.
So how did the Celtics handle to attain 119?
The Celtics unfold the ball round nicely whereas a majority of the rotation noticed their photographs drop. Taking pictures 44% from 3 definitely helps, in addition to unimaginable protection minutes from the bench unit. Baylor Scheierman discovered himself matched up in opposition to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a handful of occasions yet still forced two turnovers, which is excessive for the reigning MVP and scoring champion. I really feel like I convey Scheierman up each week, however he really has emerged as a game-changing sniper and on ball-defense menace in his second yr off the bench. All of my speaking factors from this season have been actualized; the Celtics have been environment friendly on lesser three-point quantity and performed bodily on each boards.
Jaylen Brown had an MVP level game, with a stat line of 31 factors, 8 assists, 8 rebounds, alongside 2 steals. SGA scored a pair factors extra, nonetheless Gilgeous-Alexander shot 9-12 from the sphere and 3-4 from the sphere. His silky-smooth footwork alongside a capability to complete via contact is actually one-of one. There’s nonetheless the “foul baiting” narrative that feels overblown at this level, however it’s nonetheless value noting his functionality to search out his method to the charity stripe. SGA and Brown are two of the most effective finishers within the rim and have two of the quickest first steps, but strategy driving to the basket a lot in a different way. The Celtics paint penetration this sport felt above common, which shocked me, Chet Holmgren is an All-Defensive caliber middle. Disregarding the inefficient first quarter from Sam Hauser and Jaylen Brown, this was one of the vital full offensive video games the Celtics have performed all yr.
A number of fast shoutouts
Jayson Tatum had a season excessive 35 minutes performed, sporting a 19/12/7 line. He nonetheless appears rusty and perhaps even has a hitch in his shot, however his ending continues to be elite. It’s paramount Mazzulla will get Tatum again into the motion previous to the playoffs. Defensively, he held Jalen Williams to 7 factors (2-9 from the sphere) in addition to Thunder secondary unit gamers like Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell. Tatum will get his likelihood to be the primary choice on March twenty seventh as Jaylen Brown 2ill miss the sport in opposition to the red-hot Atlanta Hawks.
The Thunder boast the deepest roster within the league, working an 11-man rotation, whereas the Celtics opted for a shallower, 9-man rotation. Jordan Walsh was a notable scratch who has slowly fallen out of the same old bench mob. Two gamers who deserve a shoutout are Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, who each had decrease rebound totals than traditional however made their presence identified beneath every basket. Queta had a momentum shifting dunk on All-Star Chet Holmgren that fired TD Backyard up, restricted Holmgren’s touches and compelled him to shoot uncomfortable photographs or threes.
Are the Celtics contenders?
Regardless of missing out on the infamous 40-20 rule, the Celtics really feel like an outlier strictly within the sense that Jayson Tatum is again on the courtroom. Disregarding the Play-In Match outcomes, the Celtics would face the 76ers within the first spherical. Regardless of the Sixers having questions of their own regarding former MVP Joel Embiid, I really feel that the Celtics match up nicely in opposition to them. Queta is enjoying the most effective basketball of his profession, Derrick White is taking pictures higher down the stretch, and Nikola Vucevic may have recovered from his fractured hand come spherical one. The rotation feels solidified, and Jayson Tatum is slowly getting again to his former self.
I’d say “Don’t write the Celtics off”, however it looks as if Coach Mazzulla needs that.
The phrase, “Protection wins championships” has rung true all through NBA historical past which helps my fully journalistic unbiasedness within the Celtics. However the switchability of our defenders, hounding down free balls and feisty rebounding from the smallest guards to our large facilities has all of the makings of a championship degree squad. Coach Mazzulla heard what the media needed to say in regards to the Celtics preseason, calling it a reloading yr or hole yr. Now, sitting under the Pistons within the Jap Convention standings, the Celtics are poised to make a run and shock the world.
