Boston Celtics: From dark days to dark horse contender

Boston Celtics: From dark days to dark horse – Are the they contenders?

So obviously, the Celtics are rolling right now. They’ve skyrocketed up the Eastern Conference standings to sixth and are now only 4.5 games back of the one seed. But are they contenders?

Well, the East is as stacked as ever – it’s set to be a bloodbath come playoff time. But they’ve certainly put themselves right in the mix. The Celtics are the dark horses of this NBA season, and not many teams would want to play them in the first round.

While their defense is and has been the key, Boston will ultimately go as far as their two stars will take them.

Jaylen Brown has been locked in on both ends ever since his perceived All-Star snub three weeks ago. His initial response to the snub was taking to Instagram with a Kanye West meme to deliver the message: ‘Jaylen Brown should be an all-star.’

He also tweeted ‘the energy is about to shift,’ Then proceeded to lead Boston to a 10-1 record over their next 11 games.

Jayson Tatum has also found his offensive groove. His performance against the Nets may have been the quietest 30 points he’s scored this season. Everything was in the flow of the offense.

Ultimately, it’s fair to be skeptical about Boston’s playoff ceiling. They’re running with an eight-man rotation and injuries could see it all tumble down quick. In a potential series against the likes of Milwaukee, Philadelphia, or Miami, the offense also desperately needs Tatum and Brown to play great just to stand a chance.

But the numbers don’t lie. Boston’s defense makes them a legitimate contender. They’ve salvaged a season from hell on the back of it and have earned the right to be in the championship conversation.