The Boston Celtics have won five of six and now hold a solid 10-8 record on the season. Boston has played better than their record suggests, too, leading many fans and analysts into a state of surprise about a team that was expected to be lottery-worthy in 2025-26 playing without Jayson Tatum. There are some people who advocated that the Celtics tank, but those arguments are silent now. It’s becoming more obvious (even to Boston’s doubters) that the Celts are a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference, especially given the possibility that Tatum returns later on in the season. CLNS Media’s dynamic reporting duo of Noa Dalzell and Bobby Manning recently discussed this newfound reality for the Celtics. Dalzell pointed out that the Celtics have been competitive in virtually every game this season, showing that no matchup is too much for them. Manning echoed a point recently made by Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff — there are still a lot of players on the Celtics’ roster that were part of the 2024 title season, including less-discussed guys like Jordan Walsh. Story continues below advertisement Although Walsh wasn’t a rotation player during the title season, he was a part of the Celtics’ franchise and gathered a ton of experiences that season that only added to his mental tool kit as a pro. Walsh has emerged as a surprising contributor in 2025-26, and it’s been a result of a couple of years of consistent work. Being around champions certainly hasn’t hurt Walsh during his development. Manning also suggested that the Celtics — if Tatum returns — have all of the ingredients required to take down a higher-seeded opponent in the playoffs, such as the Orlando Magic or Cleveland Cavaliers, whose cores lack that playoff experience together. Manning made the astute point that Boston won’t have any pressure on its shoulders in a playoff series because no one expected them to do anything this season. That could play as a huge advantage in a series against an Orlando or Cleveland that is desperate to break through and experience a deep playoff run. Story continues below advertisement