The Celtics Won 10 Of Their Last 12 and Now They're Built Different For Banner 19

The Boston Celtics just went through their toughest stretch of the season and came out the other side looking like the best team in the NBA. After dropping a stinker to the Timberwolves on March 22nd, their lead for the 2 seed shrunk to just one game in the loss column. They could have folded. Instead, they ripped off 10 wins in their last 12 games, including 10 wins in their last 11 with Jayson Tatum in the lineup. Now they're sitting 3 games up on the Knicks and 4 games up on the Cavs with only 4 games left to play. This is what contenders do.

Tatum Is Playing Like A First-Team All-NBA Guy Right Now

Here's the insane part: Jayson Tatum is just 14 games back from an Achilles injury and he's already performing at a first-team All-NBA level. He made four straight All-NBA first teams before getting hurt. He's basically picked up where he left off. Over his last stretch, Tatum is averaging 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. He's got 9 double-doubles in his first 14 games back. The rebounding especially stands out,it's playoff Tatum energy from the jump, the kind of all-around dominance you usually only see when the stakes get real.

The efficiency? It's clicking too. Over his last 5 games, Tatum is sitting at 57% true shooting, and he's hit 60% TS% over his last 3. His pull-up 3-pointer, which is the most important shot in the Celtics' entire offensive system, is up to 48% on 6.3 attempts a game over the last 4 games. Go back 10 games and that number is 40.7% on nearly 6 threes a night. When Tatum is locked in on his pull-up 3s like this, you know he's feeling like himself again.

The Schedule Sets Up Perfectly For The Stretch Run

The Celtics closed out their season schedule with games against Charlotte, New York, New Orleans, and Orlando. One of those is a back-to-back, so Tatum likely gets a rest night. But here's what matters most now: health. After another game or two, the seeding should be settled. Then it becomes about getting through the Play-In tournament without injuries and ramping up for the championship push.

The end-of-season stretch also doubles as a scouting mission. Teams like Miami, Toronto, Charlotte, and Orlando are exactly the kind of opponents the Celtics could face in the first round of the playoffs. These aren't just wins piling up on the schedule. They're reps against real playoff-caliber competition, and the early results have been pretty damn good.

53 Wins and a Top-2 Seed Is Within Reach

Can the Celtics win out to close the season? Possibly. With Tatum and Vucevic both healthy for the first time all season, this team is as complete as they've looked all year. They're staring down 53+ wins and likely a top-2 seed. The pursuit of Banner 19 is officially on.

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