Taking a Closer Look at the Celtics 5-0 Start

When the Boston Celtics acquired Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in team-altering moves this offseason, many people thought it might take time for the new look C's to learn how to play together. That hasn't been the case thus far. 

With arguably the best top-six rotation in the NBA, Boston has gotten out to a blistering 5-0 start.
Looking at some of the numbers through 5 games, Boston is leading the league in both margin of victory and points per game. The Boston offense is currently averaging 126.4 points per game while having an average point differential of +18.4. 

Those eye-popping numbers are only the beginning, as the C's are also the league leaders in net rating by 6.3 points. The gap between Boston and the 2nd place team is the same size as the gap between the 2nd and 9th place team in net rating to this point. The Celtics are lapping the field. As perfect as the start has been with a pair of crunchtime wins and a couple of blowouts, there is still some cause for concern. This concern comes from a glaring lack of production from the bench. 

I'm a firm believer in Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser, but they have to start taking some pressure off of the starters in their minutes. I expect both of those guys to get going, but if that doesn't happen, Brad Stevens might need to start looking for a name or two at the trade deadline.
Enough with the concerns. Can we discuss how great of a fit Porzingis and Holiday are on this team? Jrue reminds me so much of Marcus Smart; whether it be a timely shot or a huge defensive play, he just finds ways to impact the game on both ends of the floor every night.

Porzingis on the other hand is a legitimate unicorn. Listed at 7'2, Kristaps can go from killing you inside to popping out for a 25-footer. At 19.4 points per game, KP gives Boston a scoring option from the center position they haven't had in a long time. As great as the new additions have been, I have to take a second to highlight the superstar play of Jayson Tatum. JT has come flying out of the gates this year, averaging 30.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while shooting 55% from the field and 45% from deep. 

Those numbers include two games in which Tatum and the rest of the starters didn't play at all during the 4th quarter because Boston was winning by 30-plus. If JT continues to play at this level, #TatuMVP will only pick up more steam.
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Celtics diehard who enjoys basketball, golf, and hanging out with my family