…but not this good.
Boston is 29-3 and is on pace to finish the season 74-8, which would break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls record of 72 wins. They’re getting outstanding play from their Big Three. Paul Pierce is averaging 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Kevin Garnett is posting 19.1 points, 10.1 boards and 3.6 assists a game. Finally, Ray Allen is pitching in with 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists to round out the dangerous trio.
But the Celtics aren’t just about offense. The team allows the fewest points in the league (87.3), and is also first in FG% allowed (.414) and 3P% allowed (.312).
Keep an eye on how Doc Rivers is using each of his stars. He isn’t using the Spurs’ model. When all three are healthy, it’s not often that the Spurs have fewer than two of their three stars on the court at any given time. There are long stretches in Celtics games when Garnett and Pierce (or Allen) are on the bench. It’s clear that he’s trying to develop his bench, and it hasn’t hurt the C’s yet, so it appears to be a successful strategy. Once the playoffs arrive, it will be interesting to see if he changes his rotation to ensure that at least two of his three stars are on the court at any given time.
So what are the chances of the C’s breaking the Bulls’ record? I’d say they are just so-so. Although they are playing great, they haven’t played the three best teams in the West – San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix – so those should be six tough games right there. They’ve also stayed relatively injury-free, as Ray Allen is the only member of the Big Three that has missed any time (two games) due to injury.
To break the record, they need to continue to defend the way they are (not an easy task) and stay injury-free (which is even more difficult). That said, they definitely have a shot.
It’s nice that the East is relevant again.
