How the Celtics Maintained Their Position Among Eastern Conference Contenders Without Tatum
After Boston’s victory over the Toronto Raptors on January 9, marking their 14th win in 18 games, Payton Pritchard addressed reporters in the home locker room at TD Garden.
When asked if he was surprised by the season’s developments,
a grin appeared on the point guard’s face before he quickly replied.
“I’m not surprised at all,” he stated.
It would be an understatement to say that Pritchard and Boston are in the minority.
The Celtics, set to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC), hold a record of 30-18, placing them tied for second in the Eastern Conference. As the 2025-26 season progresses past the halfway mark, Boston ranks second in both offensive and net rating, while sitting 12th in defensive rating.
These rankings align with those of recent Boston teams—the Celtics have consistently finished in the top 10 across all three categories for four consecutive seasons—yet those squads featured players like Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Luke Kornet, among others. Four of those players departed Boston over the summer, and Tatum is currently sidelined as he recovers from a torn Achilles sustained during the playoffs.
Given the significant roster changes, the prospect of a rebuilding year became a prominent storyline in Boston over the summer. Instead, the Celtics are on track to secure at least 50 wins for the fifth consecutive season and remain in contention for the top seed in the conference against the Detroit Pistons.
“The fact they’re missing Tatum and not missing a beat,” remarked a Western Conference executive, “is unbelievable.”
This report examines how the unexpected success of the Celtics has surpassed expectations, their continued threat in the competitive East, and the potential for a significant playoff boost from their roster.
Boston has embraced its underdog role
Following the Celtics’ decisive win against the Atlanta Hawks on January 17—where Boston’s 52 points in the second quarter surpassed Atlanta’s 51 at halftime—coach Joe Mazzulla was questioned about the improvements made since training camp and the team’s initial 0-3 start, their first since 2013.
“It’s just everything,” Mazzulla explained. “It’s the entire process of what contributes to winning, defending effectively, grasping the details, rebounding, executing offensively, understanding time and score, situational basketball, and game plan execution. We must choose every day to improve.”
Mazzulla has mastered the art of coach-speak during his tenure with Boston, yet his philosophy remains the foundation of the Celtics’ drive this season. Few coaches in the league are better suited for this scenario than Mazzulla, who thrives on hard work and leads a roster that shares his mentality.
Derrick White, a former Division II player, has transformed into a first-round pick, and his game has further developed since joining Boston in 2022.
Pritchard, who once contemplated leaving the franchise due to limited playing time, has emerged as a key contributor on the 2024 championship team. With Holiday now with the Portland Trail Blazers, the 28-year-old Pritchard has excelled as the Celtics’ starting point guard.
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown, elevated to the primary scoring role, is enjoying his best season to date.
In light of Tatum’s injury and the loss of veteran talent, it would have been easy for the franchise to accept the notion of a lost season. However, Boston has done the opposite, rising to the top tier of the conference after stabilizing following an 8-8 start.
“I would say we got here faster than I thought we would. I expected us to take small steps along the way,” Brown stated on January 9. “Sometimes early success can be a detriment. … It can be problematic when a team receives too much praise and recognition, as it may lead to complacency.
“I want us to maintain our edge. I want to keep my edge as well.”
Brown’s rise into the MVP discussion
A significant question heading into the preseason was how Brown would handle the offensive load with Tatum out and Holiday, Porzingis, and Horford playing elsewhere.
Brown has provided a resounding answer. The 29-year-old guard is achieving career highs in several categories, most notably averaging 29.4 points, ranking fourth in the league. He has maintained his efficiency despite taking the second-most shots in the league, trailing only Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey.
This performance has led to Brown’s fifth All-Star selection, marking his first starting position. “He sacrificed a lot with a really good team,” Pritchard noted. “You [were] not going to be able to take as many shots or be as aggressive sometimes, because you’re playing with a lot of star power.”
Throughout his nine-plus seasons, Brown has been surrounded by considerable talent, including scoring guards Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving, as well as other key figures from Boston’s championship-winning core like Tatum, Horford, Porzingis, and Holiday.
Brown acknowledged that he is still adjusting to being the focal point of opposing teams’ scouting reports.
“Even though I’ve been in the league for 10 years, I think people forget that I’m adapting on the fly as well,” he remarked. “Having more responsibility has required me to step up and create more plays. …
“Teams are not going to allow me to do whatever I want every night. I’m fine with that; I just need to improve my game reading and trust my teammates.”
Youth playing a huge role
Seeing “Boston 130, Brooklyn 126 (Final/2OT)” on ESPN’s Bottom Line on January 23 may have surprised some, especially since the Celtics needed two overtime periods to defeat a team vying for lottery positioning. However, the manner in which this revamped squad secured the win would have been truly unexpected prior to this season.
Trailing by five points with 7.9 seconds left in the first overtime, it seemed the Celtics were headed for a disappointing defeat. Instead, two rookies came to their rescue.
First, two-way center Amari Williams caught a full-court pass and quickly fed Pritchard for a three-pointer. Following Nets rookie Nolan Traore’s split of free throws, forward Hugo Gonzalez hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to force double overtime. Brown and Pritchard, who contributed to nine of the Celtics’ 12 points in the final frame, took charge from that point.
“We definitely have a younger team,” Pritchard stated after the game. “[On Celtics] teams in the past, rookies probably rarely saw the floor due to our veteran-heavy roster and established players. …
“Every night, someone new can step up and secure a win for us.”
This season, 11 Celtics have participated in at least 30 games and are averaging double-digit minutes, reflecting Mazzulla’s readiness to experiment with the lineup.
Neemias Queta has started 43 games and has developed into a dependable center (10.0 points, 8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks per game), helping to fill the gap left by the departures of Porzingis, Horford, and Kornet. Gonzalez, selected 28th in the 2025 draft, has teamed up with 2023 second-round pick Jordan Walsh to inject energy and effort on the wings, allowing White, Brown, and Pritchard to carry the scoring burden.
“They’re doing an excellent job with player development and maximizing their resources,” the Western executive commented on Boston’s revamped supporting cast. “Certainly, there’s an element of luck, but they’re a very good team. They’re playing with house money. I enjoy watching them.”
Overall uncertainty across the conference
The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers were viewed as co-favorites to emerge from the conference, primarily because Tatum and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injuries had sidelined the East’s previous two finalists from the preseason discussion.
Now, as the season progresses past the halfway mark, the conference appears more open than ever.
The Pistons have led the East for most of the season, but their current roster has yet to win a playoff series. The 76ers have shown glimpses of their potential, but ongoing health concerns for Joel Embiid and Paul George remain significant.
The Orlando Magic and Hawks, both possessing exciting young cores ready to advance, are currently in the play-in mix. Meanwhile, preseason favorites New York and Cleveland have each experienced periods of dysfunction.
This situation leaves the Celtics as the only contending team in the conference with a championship pedigree.
Tatum’s potential return could swing the East
From the moment Tatum suffered an Achilles tear in New York during Game 4 of the conference semifinals in May—he underwent surgery shortly after, a crucial factor in his swift recovery—there has been ongoing speculation that Boston’s All-NBA forward could return at some point during the 2025-26 season. (However, Tatum informed ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne on Wednesday that he has yet to make a decision and “wants to get it right the first time, so there’s a lot to consider.”)
Yet, any potential return this season was anticipated to be for a team striving to remain in the play-in race, not one positioned for home-court advantage in at least one round of the playoffs. This scenario means Tatum’s return could significantly elevate the franchise back to the top of the conference.
However, expecting the 27 points per game scorer, who made four consecutive first-team All-NBA selections before his injury, would be excessively optimistic. Nevertheless, even 75% of Tatum’s peak performance would provide a substantial boost, particularly for a Celtics frontcourt that is greatly missing his 6-foot-10 presence as a shooter and rebounder.
For the time being, Boston and its current leading scorer will continue to challenge the preseason skeptics.
“I believe we perform better when our backs are against the wall,” Brown stated. “I’m seeking any and every opportunity to maintain that motivation.”
