Celtics Soar Into Eastern Conference Top Five On One NBA Power Rankings

The Boston Celtics have won four of their last five games and are above .500 at 9-8.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla’s group is still 10th in the clustered Eastern Conference standings entering action Monday though.

With two days off before an NBA Cup game against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin placed the Celtics 12th on his weekly NBA Power Rankings, but notably fifth among Eastern Conference teams.

The lead NBA writer credited Boston center Neemias Queta for the team’s recent hot stretch.

“The biggest question coming into the season in Boston was at center, because Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and Al Horford were all gone. Neemias Queta has answered that question — he has been impressive as the starting five, averaging 9.3 points on 62.8% shooting, and grabbing 7.9 rebounds a game,” Helin said. “However, his more significant impact is on the defensive end, where the Celtics are 19.8 points per 100 possessions better when he is on the court.”

The only conference foes that Helin ranked ahead of the Celtics were the Pistons (second), Toronto Raptors (sixth), Cleveland Cavaliers (seventh) and Miami Heat (10th).

Since losing their first three games of the 2025-26 campaign, Jaylen Brown and company have won nine of their last 14 contests.