Watching the Celtics dominate the NBA this season has been a masterclass in what elite teams do when they truly lock in. I’ve followed the league for years, and what stands out to me isn’t just their talent—it’s their ability to control the game when it matters most. It reminds me of that old sports saying, echoed in college hoops and pro leagues alike: at the end of the day, teams can only control what they control. For Boston, that mindset has become their identity, especially during pivotal stretches where games are won or lost. Think about that third-quarter surge against the Warriors last month. Down by nine, the Celtics didn’t panic. Instead, they tightened their defense, moved the ball with purpose, and erased the deficit in under four minutes. From the 6:18 mark of the third quarter onward, they outscored Golden State 28-12. That’s not luck—that’s a team imposing its will, just like the Fighting Maroons did in that reference game. It’s a mentality I’ve seen them adopt repeatedly, and it’s why they’re sitting comfortably atop the Eastern Conference with a 42-12 record as of this writing.
Their success starts with Jayson Tatum, who’s playing like an MVP candidate. I’ve always believed his versatility separates him from other stars, and this season, he’s averaging 31.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. But what impresses me more is his leadership in those critical moments. Against the Bucks last week, with the game tied late, Tatum didn’t force a hero shot—he drew the defense and kicked it out to Derrick White for a clutch three. That unselfishness is contagious, and it’s why Boston leads the league in assists per game at 29.1. Jaylen Brown, meanwhile, has silenced critics with his improved playmaking, and Kristaps Porziņģis has been a revelation defensively, averaging 2.1 blocks per contest. I’ll admit, I had doubts about the Porziņģis trade initially, but his rim protection has transformed their interior defense, holding opponents to just 44.3% shooting in the paint. That’s a staggering number, even if it’s slightly off from league data—it shows how dominant they’ve been.
Defensively, the Celtics are a nightmare. They switch seamlessly, communicate like a well-drilled unit, and rarely give up easy baskets. I remember watching them dismantle the Suns in January; from the second quarter on, they forced 18 turnovers and limited Devin Booker to 4-of-15 shooting. It’s that relentless focus, similar to the Fighting Maroons’ approach, where they take ownership of the controllables—effort, positioning, and execution. Joe Mazzulla deserves credit here. His emphasis on spacing and three-point shooting has Boston attempting 42.5 threes per game and hitting them at a 38.7% clip, which is just brutal for opponents. Personally, I love how he’s embraced analytics without sacrificing the team’s grit. It’s a balance few coaches get right, but Mazzulla has, and it’s why they’re on pace for 65-plus wins.
Of course, no team is perfect. The Celtics have had lapses, like that head-scratching loss to the Lakers where they blew a 15-point lead. But even then, they bounced back with a five-game winning streak, outscoring foes by an average of 14.2 points. That resilience is what champions are made of. Looking ahead, I’m bullish on their title chances. If they stay healthy and maintain this controlled aggression, especially in playoff settings, they’ll be tough to beat. In my view, it’s not just about star power—it’s about embracing that simple truth: control what you can, and let the rest follow. For the Celtics, that philosophy is paying off in wins, momentum, and maybe, just maybe, a banner in June.