The Celtics have won 13 of their last 17 games and have surged into third place in the Eastern Conference. Still, they are just beginning to pique the interest of casual sports fans around Boston.
So as the All-Star break nears its end, consider this a quick refresher course on this year’s team. Let’s take some fake questions. We’ll start with the guy in the front wearing the “I fly with Bird” shirt . . .
I already knew the Celtics were good. They made the playoffs last year.
Well, that’s true. The team closed with a flourish and squeaked into the postseason with a 40-42 record. But this feels different. Last year the roster was changing by the day; this year the Celtics haven’t made a move all season. They’re 32-23 and have some defining wins, most recently at Cleveland and an overtime thriller against the Clippers.
Is it just me or do they really play well together?
The Celtics have good cohesion. Sixty-two percent of their baskets result from assists, the third-highest mark in the league behind the Warriors and Hawks. They also have a 1.72-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, fourth to the Warriors, Spurs, and Clippers. They like to share.
I just want to say that I bleed green.
You should probably get that checked out.
Defense wins championships. The Celtics are good at defense. So . . . championship?
Not just yet, but there is no question that this group’s identity is its defense. The Celtics’ defensive rating of 99.6 is third in the league, trailing only the Spurs and Warriors. They are forcing 16.8 turnovers per game, which is tied for first. Next time you see a game, just watch Marcus Smart play a few possessions on defense and this will all make more sense.
But do you really think they can win a playoff series without an All-Star on their roster?
Well, they have an All-Star. Point guard Isaiah Thomas, who is averaging 21.5 points and 6.6 assists, just played in his first All-Star Game. He even had one fun play where he won a jump ball against Steph Curry and then swooped in and made a tough teardrop shot over Kobe Bryant. It seems that Thomas’s fearlessness rubs off on his teammates.
Isaiah is pretty good. The Celtics stole him from the Suns at the trade deadline last year. Who are they going to steal at the trade deadline this year?
That’s a good question. Given their success, their obvious chemistry, and their overflowing assets, they can afford to be patient in the trade market. Danny Ainge will continue to search for an explosive, franchise-altering move, but those are tough to complete. Ultimately, the team is unlikely to sacrifice its future by trading for a player who will be a free agent at season’s end.
Forgive me, but I’m one of the fans who is mostly just concerned about all those upcoming draft picks. Where do those picks stand?
You’re definitely not alone, and my suggestion is to live in the now. High draft picks help you get a good team, but the Celtics already have a good team. Why not wait until the season ends to get fired up about the future? Also, arguably the Celtics’ two best players — Thomas and Jae Crowder — were second-round picks.
Whoa, I never thought of it that way. Thanks for putting it in perspective. But seriously, man, can you stop lecturing me and just give me an update on those draft picks?
OK, OK. There are a lot of them. The Celtics’ golden ticket remains the unprotected first-round choice they’ll receive from the Nets. Brooklyn is 14-40, tied with the Suns for the third-worst record in the league. The Nets’ ceiling appears to be the fifth-worst record, which would guarantee a top-eight pick. But the truth is it would be stunning if the pick didn’t fall in the top five. Of course, a lot will depend on lottery Ping-Pong balls.
Barring a huge turnaround, the pick from the Timberwolves will fall in the top 12, which means Boston will not receive it. Instead, the Celtics would get Minnesota’s second-round choices in each of the next two drafts. The Celtics will, however, get the top-seven-protected pick from the Mavericks. That would currently be the 19th overall choice.
The Celtics also are in line to receive four more second-round picks, including the 76ers’ choice, which figures to be No. 31 overall. Of course, they won’t make eight picks at the draft. There will be trades.
I bet my son’s youth-league team could win a few NBA games with Brad Stevens as coach. But seriously, do you think he’d be their coach? The youth league is wearing me down.
Brad has his hands full with the Celtics. But his ascent continues to impress. He draws raves from opposing coaches, and his teams have improved in each of his three seasons. Look for him to end up as an assistant on USA Basketball after this summer’s Olympics.
The Globe’s Celtics coverage has been great. Hopefully your editors have noticed.
I appreciate that, but my editors know these are fake questions that I’m writing myself.
You’re not that great of a writer.
Wait a second.
I always hear about how the Celtics thrive when they use small lineups but then I look and still see tall guys out there. Explain please.
Well, yes, everything is relative. But the Celtics’ “small-ball” groups are sometimes better characterized as “skilled-ball.” Lineups that include players such as 7-foot Kelly Olynyk and 6-10 Jonas Jerebko are not exactly tiny, but they include dangerous long-range shooters, allowing the Celtics to space the floor and create openings for drives to the basket.
So if the Celtics don’t make a big trade, how do you think they’ll fare in the second half of the season?
The season is actually two-thirds complete, so the Celtics have put themselves in a good position. Of course, some teams will make trades in the coming days, so it’s difficult to project without knowing what Boston is up against. But if nothing seismic occurs, I see no reason the Celtics can’t finish with a top-five seed and win a first-round playoff series. They have a potent scorer, an elite defense, and uncommon chemistry. It should make for an exciting finish.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.