After playing through 82 games this season, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics are entering the playoffs with the best record in the NBA. But more than that, the All-Star forward and his team have put out a list of insane stats that show just how dominant they have been.
Last season , the Celtics finished with a 57-25 record, which placed them second in the East once the playoffs started. Tatum and company boasted a second-ranked offense and a defense that’s third among 30 teams. Unfortunately, they lost steam in the Conference Finals and fell to the Miami Heat in seven games.
During the offseason, they acquired Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis as key pieces to their current lineup. The result is an offense that’s first during the regular season and third-ranked defense in the NBA. As a result of this new roster, the Celtics were able to claim the league’s best record with 64 wins and 18 losses under the guidance of head coach Joe Mazzulla and general manager Brad Stevens.
Even though he’s not part of the MVP conversation, Tatum has been stellar all season long. Over the course of 74 games, Boston’s All-Star forward averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. He’s also connecting 47 percent from the field, 37 percent from deep, and 83 percent from the free throw line.
Jayson Tatum and Boston Celtics Show How Dominant They Have Been All Season Long
While those numbers look impressive, there are other feats Boston has done this season that deserve recognition. According to a tweet posted by Sean Grande on X:
It may seem like a disservice for Boston since a lot of attention has been put on the MVP race or who’s going to end up in the Play-In Tournament. Nevertheless, these stats are proof enough that the Celtics are entering the postseason as the favorites to win the championship this year.
Of course, that will be known in the coming months as teams scramble to get out of the playoffs alive. But if there’s one team that can do that, expect Tatum and the Celtics to make it far in the postseason.
More must-reads: