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Following the Boston Celtics 135-100 blowout win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Boston franchise attained the top record in the NBA this season. Last night’s win over the Thunder improved the Celtics regular season record to 60-16, clinching the top overall seed in this year’s NBA Playoffs.
With under two weeks left in the NBA regular season and teams having 5 to 7 games left before the postseason, no other team will beat the Boston franchise’s record. The closest teams to the Celtics in the NBA standings are the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets, as they are tied in the Western Conference with records of 53-23.
With six games left in the regular season, the Celtics can continue to improve their record entering the NBA Playoffs and maintain the top record in the league.
With the best record in the NBA, can the Celtics go all the way and clinch this year’s NBA title?
The Boston Celtics 2023 Playoff run:
Last season, the Celtics amassed a record of 57-25 and secured the No. 2 seed in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
The Celtics had an impressive start to the Playoffs as they beat the Atlanta Hawks 4-2 in the first round of the Playoffs. The Boston franchise faced the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and beat the 76ers 4-3.
The Celtics then advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals round of the Playoffs, where they were set to face No. 7 Miami Heat. Unfortunately, the Boston Celtics fell to the Heat 103-84 in a shocking Game 7 upset in the Eastern Conference Finals.
After coming close to clinching their 18th NBA Championship title and first title since 2008, the franchise took matters into their own hands to revamp their roster.
The roster revamp:
The Boston franchise made significant changes to its roster.
In an intricate three-team deal in June 2023, the Celtics traded Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala to the Washington Wizards and Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies. In return, the Celtics received Kristaps Porzingis from the Wizards, the No. 25 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft from the Grizzlies, and a 2024 first-round pick through the Warriors.
Porzingis was just one of the roster improvements the Celtics would receive this 2023-2024 NBA season.
On October 1, 2023, it was announced that All-Star guard Jrue Holiday would be traded to the Celtics shortly after the blockbuster deal that sent Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
In this new deal, the Celtics traded Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams to the Trail Blazers in addition to the 2024 NBA Draft first-round pick via the Warriors and a 2029 unprotected first-round pick. The Boston franchise received Holiday, who played a crucial role in helping the Bucks clinch the 2021 NBA title.
The Celtics 2023-2024 NBA regular season:
With Boston Celtics’ stars Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday competing alongside one another, the Celtics were destined to have an impressive 2023-2024 NBA season. The Boston Celtics did just that.
After clinching their 60th win in last night’s match, the Celtics secured the best NBA record for the first time since their 2008 championship season. This feat also extended the Celtics record of 60-win seasons from 13 to 14, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers, who are second and sit at 11 60-win seasons.
This season, thirty-nine of the Celtics wins were won by double-digit points over their opponents. Eighteen wins were won by at least 20 points, nine by at least 30, and three by over 50 points. The Boston franchise is the only team in league history to have secured three 50-point wins in a single season.
These impressive feats can be attributed to their star players and the addition of Porzingis and Holiday to this season’s roster.
What’s next for the Boston Celtics?
With six games left in the regular season and a record of 60-16, the Celtics will maintain the No. 1 overall NBA seed.
Entering the Playoffs following such a strong season, it will be interesting to see how the Boston franchise performs in the Playoffs.
The franchise had an impressive run last season and has come back more robust this 2023-2024 season; it seems that this year might be the Boston Celtics’ best chance to clinch the prestigious title.
