We're only a few weeks into the NBA season, but the Boston Celtics currently own the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 10-2 record. And while things will likely even out as they face better competition (they have only defeated one team that had a winning record going into the game: the Philadelphia 76ers), there are reasons to believe they can keep their spot at or near the top of the conference the rest of the way.
The Jayson Tatum-Paul George connection has been great
The most important element of Boston's success this season was always going to be how Jayson Tatum and Paul George gel with each other. So far, they have played like a dream duo.
Tatum has taken a step forward as the Celtics' clear-cut No. 1 guy. He still needs to improve his efficiency (41.3 FG%, 30.6 3FG%), but he has played more aggressively and is doing a better job of hunting mismatches and getting to the basket while also moving the ball around, rebounding, and defending at a high level.
Through 11 games this season, the Duke alum is averaging 26.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists (would be a career high) in 34 minutes. He is also averaging 8.9 free-throw attempts per game -- not only would that be the most in his career, but it is tied for third-most in the league this season.
As for George, the start of his Celtics tenure has gone as well as anybody could have asked for. Through 10 games, he is averaging 22 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals on 48.8/44/82.1% shooting splits (this includes 38 points in his debut and 36 points in his masterclass against the 76ers).
The 36-year-old is having a resurgence (there's already a bit of an All-Star campaign for him). He's playing incredibly well in every area of the game. He's taking a lot of pressure off of Tatum because of his shot creation and shooting, but he's also showing he can step up and lead the non-Tatum minutes.
Tatum and George are playing well individually, but they also complement each other very well and are proving they can win basketball games together.
The Celtics' competition has been underwhelming so far
One of the biggest reasons so many people (including myself) had doubts about the Celtics' standing in the East is because this was the deepest the conference has looked in years.
The New York Knicks just won a championship. The Cleveland Cavaliers were in the conference finals last season and added Peyton Watson to the mix. The 76ers acquired Brown, LeBron James, Dean Wade, and Anfernee Simons (they also lost George, Kelly Oubre, and Quentin Grimes, but still). The Toronto Raptors re-acquired Leonard. The Indiana Pacers were getting Tyrese Haliburton back. The Detroit Pistons were just the No. 1 seed. And teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets were intriguing wild cards.
None of that has mattered so far. Outside of maybe Philadelphia and Detroit, nobody else in the East has put the rest of the league on notice. There will be plenty of time for things to even out, but the Celtics are one of the best teams on both sides of the ball, and they're proving that they can match up against anybody.
Boston is the top team in the East right now, and it should only improve as chemistry builds. It shouldn't be a shock if it stays this way once the playoffs come around.
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