As Payton Pritchard addressed reporters after Boston’s January 9 victory over the Toronto Raptors—the team’s 14th win in 18 games—a straightforward question arose in the TD Garden locker room: Are you surprised by this season’s developments? A smirk appeared on the point guard’s face mid-question, followed by a quick reply. “I’m not surprised at all,” he stated.
Pritchard’s confidence stands out amid widespread skepticism. The Celtics, set to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, hold a 30-18 record, tying them for second in the Eastern Conference. Midway through the 2025-26 season, Boston leads in offensive and net ratings while ranking 12th in defensive rating. These figures align with recent teams, but this version lacks key contributors like Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Luke Kornet—four of whom departed in the offseason, with Tatum sidelined by a playoff Achilles tear.
With significant turnover, predictions pointed to a transitional year. Yet Boston eyes a fifth straight 50-win season and challenges the Detroit Pistons for the top seed. “The fact they’re missing Tatum and not missing a beat,” a Western Conference executive noted, “is unbelievable.”
Embracing the Underdog Mentality
Following a dominant win over the Atlanta Hawks on January 17—where Boston scored 52 points in the second quarter, surpassing Atlanta’s halftime total—coach Joe Mazzulla fielded questions on progress since training camp and the team’s first 0-3 start since 2013. “It’s just everything,” Mazzulla explained. “It’s just the process of what goes into winning, defending at a high level, understanding the details, rebounding, offensive execution, time and score, situational basketball, game plan, execution. We just have to make the decision every day to get better.”
Mazzulla’s approach has guided Boston for over three seasons, fostering a roster that buys into daily improvement. His style suits this group’s resilience, turning an 8-8 start into a top-tier position. “I would say we got here faster than I thought we would. I thought we would just kind of take little baby steps along the way,” Jaylen Brown shared on January 9. “Sometimes early success can be a detriment. … Sometimes it’s bad when you get too much praise and notoriety from a team standpoint, because now you get comfortable. I want us to keep our edge. I want to keep my edge, too.”
Brown Emerges as MVP Contender
A key concern entering the season centered on how Brown would handle the offensive load without Tatum, Holiday, Porzingis, and Horford. The 29-year-old guard delivers career-best numbers, averaging 29.4 points—fourth in the league—while maintaining efficiency on the NBA’s second-highest shot volume, trailing only Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey.
This performance earns Brown his first All-Star starting nod in his fifth appearance. “He sacrificed a lot with a really good team,” Pritchard observed. “You [were] not going to be able to take as many shots or be as aggressive sometimes, because you’re playing with a lot of star power.”
Brown, surrounded by talents like Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving, and past teammates, adjusts to his expanded role. “Even though I’ve been in the league for 10 years, I think people forget that I’m adjusting on the fly as well,” he admitted. “Having more responsibility has called for me to step up and make more plays. … Teams are not going to just let me do what I want every single night. I’m OK with that; I just have to be better at reading the game and trust my teammates.”
Youth Infusion Powers the Lineup
In a thrilling January 23 double-overtime win against Brooklyn—130-126—rookies proved pivotal. Trailing by five with 7.9 seconds left in the first overtime, two-way center Amari Williams caught a full-court pass and fed Pritchard for a tying three. After Brooklyn’s Nolan Traore split free throws, forward Hugo Gonzalez drained a buzzer-beating three to force the second overtime. Brown and Pritchard then combined for nine of Boston’s 12 points in the final frame.
“We definitely have a younger team,” Pritchard said postgame. “[On Celtics] teams in the past, rookies probably really never touched the floor, just because we’ve had a veteran team and very proven guys. … Every night somebody new can step up and win the game for you.”
Eleven players log double-digit minutes in at least 30 games, reflecting Mazzulla’s flexible rotations. Neemias Queta starts 43 games, averaging 10.0 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks to anchor the frontcourt. Gonzalez, the 28th pick in 2025, and 2023 second-rounder Jordan Walsh energize the wings, supporting White, Brown, and Pritchard. “They’re doing a great job with player development, doing a great job on the margins,” the Western Conference executive added. “Sure, there’s luck involved, but they’re a really good team. They’re playing with house money. I love watching them.”
Wide-Open Eastern Conference Landscape
The Knicks and Cavaliers entered as favorites, bolstered by injuries to Tatum and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton. Yet the East remains unpredictable. Detroit leads but lacks playoff experience. Philadelphia flashes potential amid health concerns for Joel Embiid and Paul George. Orlando and Atlanta lurk in the play-in with young cores, while New York and Cleveland battle inconsistencies.
Boston stands as the sole contender with recent championship experience.
Tatum’s Return Could Reshape the Race
Tatum’s Game 4 Achilles tear in May’s conference semifinals led to immediate surgery for optimal recovery. Chatter persists about a 2025-26 return, though he recently shared uncertainty, aiming to “get it right the first time.” Expectations shifted from a play-in push to a home-court contender.
A full return seems unlikely, but even partial production—75% of his 27-point, four-time All-NBA form—would bolster the frontcourt as a 6-foot-10 shooter and rebounder. For now, Boston thrives under pressure. “I think we play better when our back is against the wall,” Brown said. “I’m looking for any and everything to keep that fuel.”
