After a frustrating start to the season, the Boston Celtics entered the All-Star break as the hottest team in the NBA.
The C's are 17-7 since the calendar flipped to 2022 and 9-2 since Jan. 28. That torrid stretch helped them finish the first half of the campaign with a 34-26 record and a sixth-place spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They're only 4.5 games behind the first-place Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls.
Tatum makes statement with NBA All-Star Game outfit
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So, what's been the key to Boston's turnaround? Reggie Miller asked Celtics star Jayson Tatum that question during Sunday's NBA All-Star Game.
"I think first and foremost is our health," Tatum said. "I think just in the last month and a half it's the healthiest we've been all season. At first we had a new coach, a new staff, a new group of guys. We didn't jell as fast as people probably expected, but it's a long season. As long as we click at the right time, everything will work itself out."
Between injuries and health and safety protocols, the Celtics had trouble finding their rhythm for the first couple of months of the season. They also struggled mightily with closing out games in crunch time.
Lately though, Boston hasn't just won games -- it's won them in convincing fashion. Six of their last 11 wins have come by at least 29 points. Their latest victory vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. 15 came by 48.
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The C's will look to stay healthy and continue their impressive run when they resume their season on Thursday. They'll visit the Brooklyn Nets, who they beat by 35 back on Feb. 8.