The Celtics Started 0-3 and Still Did Something Only 4 Teams in NBA History Have Ever Pulled Off
Remember when the Boston Celtics were absolute garbage to start the 2025-26 season? Yeah, that 0-3 start felt like a potential disaster. Midway through November, they were 5-7 and looking genuinely lost. Fast forward to Game 82 and they just locked up the 2 seed with 55 wins and made some legitimate NBA history in the process.
Here's the crazy part: only 4 teams in NBA history have started 0-3 and then won 55 or more games. The Celtics just became one of them. When you're 0-3, you're supposed to tank. You're supposed to have a disaster season. Instead, Boston turned it into one of the most dominant campaigns in the entire league. Top 4 record, 2nd best offense, 4th best defense, 4th best net rating. This doesn't happen.
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What makes this even wilder is that these 55 wins are guaranteed to be the lowest win total of the Mazzulla Era. Think about that for a second. Coming off seasons of 61, 64, and 57 wins, landing at 55 feels almost disappointing on paper. Except it's not, because 55 wins is legitimately rare in the NBA.
Only 4 teams in the entire league hit 55+ wins this year. The Hornets have been around for 36 years and still don't have a single 55-win season. The Pelicans have only done it once in 24 years. When you zoom out, the Celtics' 55 wins rank 12th all-time in franchise history. There are only 11 more successful Celtics teams in 80 seasons of basketball.
They Locked in the 2 Seed and Never Let Go
The Celtics officially clinched the 2 seed on January 15th when they hit 25-15. From that moment forward, they didn't spend a single day outside the top 2 over the remaining 42 games. That's the kind of consistency that wins championships.
Now with Tatum back, everything feels surreal. This could've been a disaster season coming off everything that happened in May. Instead, the Celtics turn it into one of the best seasons in franchise history with a legitimate shot at the whole thing.
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