Are the Celtics for real? These ‘measuring stick' games coming up may tell us

Share

According to several metrics, the Boston Celtics have been the NBA's best team since the New Year. They're 10-1 in their last 11 games and have won 17 of their last 22 -- many by a wide margin.

But there's still a question that needs further answering: Have the Celtics transformed into a legitimately elite team, or are they just taking advantage of bad competition?

Forsberg: Do the Celtics boast the best starting five in the NBA?

To Boston's credit, the C's did demolish the No. 3 seed Philadelphia 76ers by 48 points and dispatch Nikola Jokic's Denver Nuggets earlier this month. But their other 10 wins in the last 14 games have all come against teams that had losing records or were short-handed (the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry and the Brooklyn Nets without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, for example).

Celtics Talk: Do the Celtics have the best starting 5 in the NBA? | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

That's all to say the red-hot Celtics could use a few "measuring stick" games to see if their winning ways can continue against a quality opponent.

When will those games come, you ask? Here's a look ahead at Boston's next 10 contests:

As you can see, the Celtics' "measuring stick" games are coming. Just not yet.

Boston's next two games are against the bottom-dwelling Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, and while the Atlanta Hawks have given the Celtics problems this season, they're still 10th in the Eastern Conference.

C's fans should circle March 3 on their calendars, though. Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies are tied for the NBA lead in scoring at 113.8 points per game, and their high-octane attack will present a great challenge for the Celtics' elite defense.Three days later, Boston gets a rematch against the Nets, who very well could have Durant, Irving and Ben Simmons on the floor by that point. Later in the month, the C's face Luka Doncic and the talented Dallas Mavericks before embarking on a four-game road trip that kicks off against the Golden State Warriors, who boast the NBA's second-best record.

So, if you'd like to know whether the Celtics are the real deal, just wait until March, where they'll be put to the test against two top title contenders (Brooklyn and Golden State) and two strong Western Conference squads (Memphis and Dallas) ahead of them in the overall standings.

Contact Us