Hold onto your shamrocks, Celtics Nation – the defending champs are stuck in neutral, but it’s not all doom and gloom in Beantown! The Boston Celtics (7-7) are grinding through the early grind of the 2025-26 NBA season, locked in a three-way tie for mediocrity at .500 alongside the Orlando Magic (7-7) and the Chicago Bulls (6-6) as Monday’s slate tips off.
But here’s the jaw-dropper: NBC Sports’ top NBA insider Kurt Helin dropped a bombshell on Monday, dubbing the Green Machine as the league’s outright “unluckiest” squad so far. “The Boston Celtics have been the unluckiest team in the league this season,” Helin penned in his must-read breakdown. “They have a top-10 ranked offense and defense, and their +4.7 net rating suggests a team that should be 9-5 and sitting in the top five in the East. That doesn’t mean everything is perfect.”
Ouch – talk about bad bounces! Head coach Joe Mazzulla’s high-octane offensive blueprint? It’s all about bombing away from deep, launching more triples than any other crew in the Association. But with the squad connecting on just 34% of those long-range heaves, it’s raising red flags and turning potential blowouts into nail-biters.
Still, amid the frustration, there’s a silver lining brighter than the parquet floor. Superstar Jayson Tatum has been glued to the bench, nursing an injury through these opening weeks, but the C’s haven’t folded. His dynamic duo partner, Jaylen Brown, has been straight-up balling out at an All-NBA caliber, carrying the load like a true MVP contender.
And don’t sleep on the unsung heroes – forward Jordan Walsh has stepped up big time, delivering clutch contributions from the shadows and keeping Boston afloat.
Defensively? The Celtics are locking down the Eastern Conference, surrendering the fewest points per game at a stingy 109.2. That’s championship-level grit right there.
But no team’s flawless, and Boston’s got some warts showing. Those ice-cold shooting slumps from beyond the arc? Brutal. Plus, rebounding woes have left them vulnerable on the glass, turning second-chance opportunities into opponent’s feasts.
All eyes now turn to Tuesday night, when the Celtics invade Barclays Center to tangle with the Brooklyn Nets. Can they shake off the “unlucky” label and start stacking Ws? Stay tuned – this rollercoaster ride is just getting started!