A. Sherrod Blakely’s NBA Power Rankings: Raptors rise, Rockets fall

BOSTON -- Beyond the Black Friday sales and the turkey with all the fixings - and the tryptophan-induced naps to follow - this time of year serves as a reminder for many just how fortunate they are.

Especially in the NBA with several teams - the Boston Celtics included - having lots to be thankful for this season.

Boston has been among the top teams in the Eastern Conference despite a slew of injuries and illnesses to key players and a roster full of youthful, inexperienced players who have collectively played with a maturity beyond their years.

Because of their play and the growth of the team’s young-vets like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Celtics are poised to remain among the top teams in the East with seemingly someone new stepping up whenever one of their core players goes down.

But by no means are the Celtics in exclusive company.

There are a number of teams who can relate to how Boston has managed to overcome less-than-ideal circumstances.

And for those teams near the back of the pack or stuck in the middle, there’s a lot of season left to play which for them is indeed something to be thankful for.