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NBA Power Rankings: The Boston Celtics are back, baby

By Ian Levy

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at TD Garden on December 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at TD Garden on December 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 6: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on December 6, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 6: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on December 6, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Boston Celtics. 3. team. 18. . 16-10. Previous: 6th

The Celtics are back in a big way. They’re riding a six-game win streak with five of those wins coming by double-digits. This hot streak has coincided with a fairly large soft spot in their schedule (the six wins are against New Orleans, Cleveland, Minnesota, New York, Chicago and New Orleans again) but for a team that was struggling, the value of simply generating some momentum and making up ground in the standings cannot be discounted.

The most important improvement for Boston over this stretch has been getting their offense right. During this win streak, all six of the lineups that have played at least 10 minutes together averaged at least 121.4 points per 100 possessions. The new starting lineup — Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, Marcus Morris, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford — played 48 minutes together, scoring 121.8 points per 100. If they can carry that sort of production over once the schedule toughens up, they should be right back in the mix at the top of the East.

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