Celtics push their way back into league’s top third in recent NBA power rankings

After a tough winter and early spring, the Boston Celtics look the part of a team turning their season around and finding their way as a unit. A six-game winning streak — currently the NBA’s longest — and better health have gone a long way towards that end, as has the introduction of new players at the trade deadline and most recently former No. 2 pick Jabari Parker.

And with twin star wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum looking every bit of the All-Stars they were named earlier this season in recent games with the latter flirting with superstar-like production in games of late, it’s no wonder the club has been charging up power rankings again.

Let’s take a look at where the Celtics are pegged by the experts.

The Athletic - No. 9

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

"Wait, are the Boston Celtics good again?" asks The Athletic, bumping Boston up from 13th to ninth. "Lately, the winning has come back, and the star power of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will be credited for that," they add. "However, the supporting cast has to be more consistent if the latest good feelings are going to last at all."

Bleacher Report - No. 9

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

"Boston has burst into the top 10 of this week’s rankings with an impressive six-game winning streak," notes B/R, who have the Celtics up from 12th last week. "The team is winner of eight of its last nine and swept its three-game West Coast trip," they elaborate. "It looks as if things are beginning to stabilize for the Celtics, who are now tied for fourth in the East."

ESPN - No. 9

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

"After a season's worth of ups and downs, the Celtics are playing their best ball, having won six straight and eight of their past nine," suggests ESPN's Tim Bontemps, who have Boston up from 13th as well. "Keeping that streak alive won't get any easier this week, however, as following Monday's home game against Chicago is a brutal back-to-back: home against Phoenix on Thursday, before playing at Brooklyn on Friday"

NBA.com - No. 8

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

"The Celtics are a league-best 8-1 in April, and their six-game win streak includes victories over four teams with winning records and the red-hot Stephen Curry," shares NBA.com, raising Boston from 14th the week prior. "All five of those wins were close (even though they led the Lakers by 27 points with eight minutes left on Thursday). After losing their first eight post-break games that were within five points in the last five minutes, the Celtics are 5-0 in the clutch this month."

CBS Sports - No. 6

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

"The Celtics nearly coughed up late leads against the Blazers and Lakers, but then mounted a comeback of their own to beat the Warriors on Saturday without Jaylen Brown for their sixth straight win," shares CBS Sports, who have practically put Boston on a pedestal compared to their ninth-place slot last week, "Boston is rolling and has won all six without Evan Fournier, who could return this week from health and safety protocols. Jayson Tatum has been on fire, averaging 30 points and eight rebounds on 52 percent 3-point shooting for the week, while Brown scored 40 points on 20 shots in the win over the Lakers."

1

1