New BPI projections give Celtics fans reason to dream


In the age of technology and numbers, we see tons of stats thrown around about how good teams are. However, one of the more accurate statistics is ESPN's BPI, or basketball power index, in which team strength is analyzed on a daily basis to predict future play.

Well, Boston is a BPI darling right now, per Chris Forsberg of ESPN:
Just under 50 wins, a 90% chance of locking down at least the four seed in the East, and a 64% chance of the three seed? I'll take it. There's even a decent chance the Celtics can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

And then sure, a 1.4% chance of a championship coming back to Boston might seem low to you, but come on... we can dream right?

The reality is the Celtics are pulling these stats from phenomenal play both at home and away. On the parquet in the Garden, the C's just won their 12th straight. That's the first time they've done that since 2009 and the record stretched through two seasons ending in November. Boston also sits 12 games over the .500 mark at 37-25. Last time the Celtics were 12 over .500? The last day of the 2011-12 season.

To achieve all these stats, Boston has to be playing great basketball... and they are. 15-4 since January 21st which is in great company: only the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and Portland Trailblazers boast similar records during this span. And this run mirrors the push the Celtics made last season (24-12) to squeeze their way to the postseason.

So now when the haters say the Celtics are still rebuilding and they have no shot at an NBA Championship, tell them we've got a 1.4% chance of winning a title this year. What does their team have?

Topher Lane is on Twitter, @Topher_L. Photo credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images