The Celtics Just Won 10 Of Their Last 12 and They're About to Run the Entire League

Boston is not messing around anymore. After a gut-punch loss to Minnesota on March 22nd that knocked them down to just a one-game lead for the 2 seed, the Celtics could have folded. Instead, they went 10-2 over their next 12 games, with 10 of those wins coming with Jayson Tatum back in the lineup. That's the kind of response that separates champions from pretenders.

They're Playing Their Best Basketball When It Matters Most

Let's get specific about what just happened. Boston rattled off five straight wins against playoff teams, and none of them were close. The only loss during this stretch came on a back-to-back travel night. Now they sit three games up on the Knicks in the loss column and four games up on the Cavs with just four games remaining. The Knicks still have work to do, and the Cavs are looking at an uphill climb.

What makes this run even crazier is the circumstances. Everyone thought their end-of-season schedule looked brutal. Instead, the Celtics have responded by playing some of their best basketball of the entire year. And here's the kicker: they're now fully healthy with both Tatum and Vucevic back in the lineup. In theory, they can get even better than what we're already watching, and what we're watching is already one of the best teams in the NBA.

Tatum Is Playing Like a Man Possessed

Fourteen games back from an Achilles injury, Jayson Tatum is performing at a 1st Team All-NBA level. This shouldn't shock anyone who watched him make four straight All-NBA 1st Teams before getting hurt, but the speed of his return is genuinely remarkable. He's been putting up another 20/5/5 game (only Jokic has more of those this season), and the rebounding production has been the real surprise. We're seeing playoff Tatum right from the jump: 26/12/8 recently as he continues getting into sharper game shape.

With Charlotte, New York, New Orleans, and Orlando left on the schedule, Boston can potentially run the table and lock up a top 2 seed with 53+ wins. The priority shifts now from seeding to health. After another game or two, seeding gets sorted. After that, it's all about avoiding injuries, getting rest, and getting ready for the real battle. Banner 19 starts now.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.