NBA Power Rankings 18: A new top team as the playoffs approach

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Previous: 11th. Boston Celtics. 12. team. 18. . 32-28

Last Week: Lost to Chicago Bulls 102-96, Beat Phoenix Suns 99-86, Lost to Brooklyn Nets 109-104

This Week: 4/25 at Charlotte Hornets, 4/27 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 4/28 vs. Charlotte Hornets, 4/30 vs. San Antonio Spurs

It’s almost impossible to take much away from the week that was for the Boston Celtics. Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker each missed two games and did not share the court at all. Walker was explosive against the Phoenix Suns in the one win of the week. Jaylen Brown was similarly solid against the shorthanded Chicago Bulls in a loss.

Jayson Tatum remains the constant for the Celtics, posting a line this week of 22.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. The efficiency is problematic, coming in at 32.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from distance. Given the amount of pressure on his shoulders (and lungs for that matter), we can give him a pass for a rough shooting week.

So far, Jabari Parker has been a welcome offensive spark off the bench. In for games so far he has averaged 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game. After only playing in three games for the Sacramento Kings this season, it will take some time to knock the rust off but there is the promise of an offensive bench unit built around Parker and Evan Fournier. For a Boston team that was killed earlier in the season when their starters sat, any improvement is a welcome sight.