Having reached the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years, Boston Celtics suddenly found himself inside problems not so long ago: Ime Udokathe coach who had surprised everyone, was punished by the franchise and removed from his position, while Danilo Gallinari, the most significant addition to the market, suffered a serious knee injury before making his debut. also Robert Williams iiione of his defensive pillars, underwent knee surgery again and has yet to play this season.
However the Celts overcame all these setbacks and after the first month of games of the 2022-2023 NBA season can celebrate They have the best record in the league. after winning, without Marcus Smart or Malcolm Brogdon, for a decisive 126-101 victory over the Atlanta Hawksanother of the applicants from the East (9-6) and as visitors.
with his own 12-3, the Celtics look down on everyone: they haven’t lost since Nov. 2 and two of their three losses were in overtime against the Cleveland Cavaliers, another of the more outstanding teams of this first month. It won’t be the 14-0 of the 1957-58 season, in which they were curiously not champions, but it is an indication that those now led by Joe Majula is on the right path: such a good path that, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPNeverything is aligned so that Mazzulla confirmed as longtime Celtics coach.
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Boston is the best team of the first month in the NBA because it confirmed its value against “heavy” opponents such as the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets. Also because it has what it is – with a difference – best offense in the league According to the numbers, a producer of 119.2 points per 100 possessions (2.7 more than the Sacramento Kings, his entourage) which, along with a capable defense, leads him to net rating +7.7.
Advanced statistics further support this present from Boston: they have the percentages of eGFR% Y Real Shooting tallest in the nba (57.9% and 61.9%). So do the simplest statistics: nobody hits more threes than them (15.9 per game on a 38.7 percent shooting percentage), have the second-best free throw percentage (84.3 percent) and are among the top ten teams with the lowest field goal percentage (45.8 percent), allowing to their opponents to .
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Jason Tatumthe fifth leading scorer in the league (31.1 points on 48% from the field) and Jaylen Brownmember of the top 15 in this ranking (25.1 points on 48% from the field) are the best offensive duo in the Eastern Conference so far, but it is also necessary to point out how they have integrated into the team Malcolm Brogdon (13.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists as the sixth man), how Marcus Smart and Al Horford It’s the usual, vital on defense, even finding a shooter they found on Sam Houserof 2.2 3-pointers made per game with a 48.5% success rate (33-68 for the moment overall).
Boston dominates and looks ready to do more (according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, they’re considering making a trade offer for Jakob Poeltlof the San Antonio Spurs). Backed Larry O’Brien Trophy Contender?
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