NBA Power Rankings, Week 4: Boston Celtics fun again, rise to No. 1

Despite losing Gordon Hayward, the Boston Celtics soar to the No. 1 spot in the Week 4 edition of the NBA Power Rankings.

Don’t look now, but the Boston Celtics have leaped to the No. 1 spot in the Week 4 NBA Power Rankings after getting off to an 8-1 start and a huge win over the San Antonio Spurs Saturday night.

Despite more bad luck when it comes to the health of Gordon Hayward, the Celtics prove they have the depth to remain one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference with the 135-115 win over the Spurs and 116-106 win over LuKa Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.

Led by Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart and a group of young players, Brad Stevens has the Boston Celtics playing the game of basketball with unity and chemistry once again.

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Along with the X’s and O’s that made him one of the top coaches in the league, Stevens is recognizing what combinations work on the court.  Even with Hayward missing the next six weeks of the season due to a fracture in his hand, the magic should continue on the court because of what he is getting out of young players like Robert Williams III, Grant Williams, Javonte Green, Carsen Edwards and Brad Wanamaker.

But still, there is no underestimating the absence of Gordon Hayward and how he was playing previous to the injury.

Here is what NBA.com’s John Schuhmann said about the impact of Hayward’s injury:

"“In regard to the 82-game season, the timing of Gordon Hayward’s injury (he fractured his left hand in the second quarter of the Celtics’ win in San Antonio on Saturday) was OK; It’s early. But in regard to the way Hayward was playing, the timing was terrible. He had averaged 23.3 points (on 63% shooting), nine rebounds and 6.3 assists (with just 1.5 turnovers) over his previous four games, and he was a big reason why the Celtics have seen the league’s second biggest jump in the percentage of their shots that have come from the restricted area, from 29% (27th highest) last season to 33% (12th highest) this season.”"

Best game

Who steps up in place of Gordon Hayward?

While there are bench players expected to get more playing time, it really gives Jaylen Brown more of a chance to shine.

On Saturday, Brown led the way in San Antonio with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.  He was on pace to reach that mark even if Hayward didn’t leave the game at the half, but his aggressiveness and ability to attack the rim really shined as the team went on to put away the Spurs in a game where they had every reason for a second half let down.

Top highlight

In that same game against the San Antonio Spurs, second-year big man Robert Williams III showed off how grown of a man he is in both blocking shots and dunking the basketball.  While Williams had many highlights dunking the ball on his own, this block shot that led to a fast break dunk by Javonte Green symbolized just how fun this Boston Celtics team is:

What’s next for the Boston Celtics

Isaiah Thomas and the Washington Wizards invade TD Garden on Wednesday.  Then the team heads out west to take on the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.  All three are winnable games, especially that matchup with the Warriors without Steph Curry.

With the team battling their own injuries, the depth of the Celtics will certainly be tested as Jaylen Brown and company hope to stay on top of the standings.