Are the Celtics Still the Best Team in the NBA?
After beating the Dallas Mavericks in last season’s NBA Finals, most fans universally agree that the 2023-24 Celtics are one of the best teams in basketball history. Led by star duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, no other team in recent times has come as close to the 2018 Warriors, so major credit has to be given to Celtics' head coach Joe Mazzulla, the youngest coach since 1970 to win an NBA title. What’s most impressive is the fact that the Celtics have done all of this without having what you would call a “big superstar” name, although some might argue that JT is that guy already. And now that the new NBA season has started and the festive period is here, it’s time to take a closer look at whether the Celtics are still the best team in the NBA.
Yes — The Celtics Are Still the Best NBA Team After Reclaiming No.1 Spot in the Power Rankings
Following the Week 6 action, which saw the Celtics hand the Cavaliers their first loss of the season, it’s fair to say that the Celtics are still on top (literally). This huge win over the Cavaliers, where the Celtics hit an incredible 22 threes from 41 attempts, means that the Celtics are once again #1 on the power rankings, with the team looking just as good as it did the previous season and easily having the strongest starting 5 in the entire league.
Coming off their 18th championship and excellent start to the new NBA season, the Celtics are expected to repeat again in 2025. Can they do it? Well, according to most of the sportsbooks on minimumdepositbettingsites.com, the Celtics currently have +240 odds to win next year’s NBA Finals. This makes them the outright favourites, although they will undoubtedly face tough competition from OKC Thunder, the Knicks, and the Cavs.
If you’re a Celtics fan, there’s a lot to be confident about, though. The roster is extremely talented, the bench is one of the most dominant ever, twin wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are entering their primes, and the Celtics are top two on both ends of the floor. As long as everyone can stay healthy and uninjured, there’s no reason why the Celtics won’t win back-to-back NBA championships and potentially dominate the NBA for several seasons to come.
The Celtics’ Untouchable Offense
The 2023-24 Celtics officially had the most efficient offense in NBA history, finishing with 122.2 points per 100 possessions. Simply put, they were phenomenal. And heading into the 2024-25 season, fans were skeptical as to whether they could carry on this red-hot form. So far, they have.
First, there’s Jayson Tatum, who is excellent off the catch and shoot. Then there’s Derrick White, another player who (some would argue) has almost reached Clay Thompson level off the catch and shoot. On top of this, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford are now both shooting above 40%. And then you have four guys in Haliday, White, Tatum, and Brown who are all capable of getting a paint touch pretty much whenever they feel like it, making the Celtics’ offense unbelievably good.
The scariest thing of all is there’s a case to be made that the legendary duo of Tatum and Brown have not reached their peak yet. Some believe they already did last season — with Tatum making his third straight All-NBA First Team and Brown collecting the Eastern Conference finals and NBA Finals MVP trophies — but don’t be surprised to see both players reach new heights throughout the current season. After all, the Celtics are flying and they’re both still under 30.
Will the Celtics Win Another NBA Championship This Season?
The Celtics are currently favourites to win the 2024-25 NBA Championship — and all signs point to them doing it. Despite the Cavaliers currently being the front-runners in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics have the best starting 5 in the NBA, an even stronger bench than last year, and are tied with the Lakers and Warriors for the most playoff experience. Plus, Celtics fans are ecstatic right now following the return of 7'2" center Kristaps Porzingis, who has finally recovered from his offseason foot surgery. With the Celtics offense firing and Porzingis coming back to bolster the defense, all of the momentum is with the Celtics.
When it comes to potential obstacles, there’s the small issue of an aging Al Horford, who is currently 38. However, Horford rarely shows any sign of his age and continues to dominate on the court, so there’s no need for concern just yet (although this will likely be one of Horford’s last seasons in the NBA). The Celtics’ defense also isn’t as strong as it was last season, ranking 14th in allowing points per transition play. Again, though, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem, especially now that Porzingis is back in the mix.
Summary
As things stand, the Celtics are still the best team in the NBA. Everyone — from fans to media analysts — expects them to reach the NBA Finals, where they will be desperate to win back-to-back NBA championships. Until then, it’s a case of maintaining momentum, preventing potential injuries (particularly when it comes to Tatum and Brown), and managing Al Horford’s game time correctly. If everything goes to plan, don’t be surprised to see the Celtics in the NBA Finals once again come next year.
