The New Year’s Day game between the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets was certainly a wild one, featuring star performances from some of the biggest names in the game, a wild and raucous crowd, and a basketball hoop that needed adjusting.
These are the two best teams in their respective conferences, with the Celtics leading the East and the Nuggets taking the top spot in the West.
When the final buzzer sounded, it was the Nuggets who won, claiming a huge 123-111 victory over their Eastern Conference rivals.
Not only was the win a big boost to Denver’s morale, but it also helped them take the Celtics down a notch.
After their loss to Denver last night with a poor shooting night, the Celtics are not first in halfcourt offense for the first time this season.
Brooklyn now has the best offensive efficiency in the halfcourt, scoring 1.06 points per possession.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) January 2, 2023
As Hardwood Paroxysm noted, the Celtics are no longer the best in halfcourt offense for the first time in the 2022-23 season.
The Brooklyn Nets now hold that honor with an efficiency rating of 1.06 points per possession at the halfcourt.
All season long, the Celtics have had a stellar, unstoppable frontcourt offense.
Is that about to change?
Are the Celtics on the verge of slowing down or, worse yet, faltering?
It’s far too soon to fear for their future but this is a sign that although the Celtics are very good, they are not perfect or infallible.
They are no longer the best team when it comes to frontcourt offense and they are barely hanging on to the top spot in the East.
Believe it or not, it’s those same Nets who are sneaking up in second place right behind Boston.
If the Celtics have a few more off nights and the Nets continue to thrive, they could swap places within the week.
That would be a huge underdog victory for the Nets – and cause for alarm for the Celtics.
NEXT: The Celtics-Nuggets New Year's Day Game Was Very Bizarre