It only took them six weeks, but the Boston Celtics are finally in playoff position in the Eastern Conference for the first time this season.
The Celtics were off on Wednesday after beating the New York Knicks on Tuesday, but they still managed to gain ground in the standings. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks both lost, falling to 13-10.
That allowed 12-9 Boston to pass them, jumping from the No. 8 seed to the No. 6 seed. It’s now only half a game behind the Orlando Magic for the No. 5 seed.
Only the top six seeds in each conference are guaranteed a postseason berth, so this is a big deal for the Celtics. Seeds 7-10 compete for the remaining two spots in the Play-In Tournament.
It’s been an uphill battle for Boston, which got off to a slow start this year by losing five of its first eight games. The Celtics have turned things around since then, however, and are one of the hottest teams in basketball after winning seven of their last nine games.
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That hot streak has moved Boston up to sixth in the Eastern Conference with room to keep climbing. The Celtics recently beat four of the best teams in the East, proving they’re still a legit contender even without Jayson Tatum.
It’s still early and Boston has a long way to go before it can officially secure a playoff spot. But for now, at least, the Celtics are on the right track heading into Thursday’s road matchup against the Washington Wizards.
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