The period immediately after the All-Star break is one of the most important for the entire NBA season.
It is when teams either strengthen or weaken their chances of reaching the playoffs and a clear picture of the postseason comes into focus.
Since this year’s All-Star break, one team has reigned supreme when it comes to offense: the Boston Celtics.
According to NBA University, the Celtics have held a 127.6 offensive rating since the break, much better than the second-place Denver Nuggets who have a 119.9 rating.
POST ALL-STAR BREAK
Offensive Rating:
1. BOS—127.6
2. DEN—119.9
3. LAL
4. MIL
5. OKC
6-10. DAL, IND, SAC, NOP, PHX
26-30. WAS, PHI, DET, MEM, CHADefensive Rating:
1. ORL—106.2
2. NOP—107.7
3. NYK
4. MIN
5. OKC
6-10. MIA, BOS, DEN, HOU, CHA
26-30. TOR, CHI, LAL, UTA, WAS pic.twitter.com/Xms60t41pL— NBA University (@NBA_University) March 22, 2024
After the Celtics and Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers have the third-best offensive rating, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic hold the league’s best defensive rating with 106.2, slightly above the New Orleans Pelicans with 107.7.
Unsurprisingly, the Celtics remain the best team in the entire league.
They have now won seven games in a row and have a record of 55-14.
The team’s offense has been its strongest feature over the last several years and it’s only gotten better in 2023-24.
With that being said, some fans are disappointed by their defense, which is currently ranked seventh in the league.
If the Celtics wish to win their first Finals in years, they will need to remain strong on offense but also improve their defense too, especailly if they are playing another high-scoring team like the Denver Nuggets.
This year, the team’s top scorer is once again Jayson Tatum, who is posting 27.1 points per game.
He is followed by Jaylen Brown with 23.2 points and Kristaps Porzingis with 20.4.
But there is really no weak scorer on the Celtics because everyone on the team is contributing a lot.
That is why they have the best offensive rating in the league.
NEXT: Chris Russo Has Surprising Ranking For Jayson Tatum