How are the Celtics doing in the inaugural NBA in-season tournament?

The Celtics are positioned to win Group C and potentially take home the NBA Cup in Vegas.

• By
  
  Ben_Dupont
  
• on
  November 19, 2023 9:00 am

I know, I know. Most of you can’t stand the In-Season tournament. But it’s happening, and the Celtics just might win it, so you might as well stay up to date.

After a 121-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets and a 108-105 victory against the Toronto Raptors, the Celtics lead Group C at 2-0, with an average point differential of +8.5.

The Nets are second in the group with a record of 2-1, followed by the Orlando Magic (1-1), and the Raptors (0-1) and Chicago Bulls (0-2).

Boston has two more In-Season games left against the Bulls and Magic on Nov. 24 and Nov. 28. Winning both will secure their advancement as the only undefeated team in the group.

If they win one more game, they can still lead the group with a 3-1 record. Otherwise, their differential could secure them a wildcard berth in the knockout round.

Seven teams share the “undefeated” label with the Celtics. The only team with more wins than Boston is the 3-0 Los Angeles Lakers.

Other teams making waves in the tournament are the Kings and Pacers. The Pacers have one of the most dynamic offenses in the league, while the Kings have shown they are taking the tournament seriously.

The Celtics might have to display a similar attitude to win the NBA Cup. Some teams are getting into it, as Boston isn’t on that level yet. The general feeling among the team might best be summed up by Kristaps Porzingis, who said he doesn’t view the tournament tilts any differently than regular season games.

“For us, it’s important to win every game,” he said last week. We’ll have to wait and see whether the Celtics remain too cool for the tournament after a few games. You can pretend you are, too, but admit it (if only to yourself), you’re a little excited.

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