Even as the Celtics made their way through the Eastern Conference on their way to an NBA Finals appearance, many believed Boston didn’t pass the smell test. Some games were too close for comfort against the Heat, Cavaliers and Pacers, particularly since each team’s star missed several games.
It’s fair to say that narrative is now behind the Celtics.
Joe Mazzulla’s team has made quick work of the Mavericks to this point, reeling off three straight wins to move within one win of the franchise’s first championship since 2008. The Celtics have had their share of impressive titles in their history, but 2024 You have a chance to join a fairly exclusive club.
If you feel like it’s been a long time since Boston’s last loss, you’d be right. A sweep of Dallas would propel these Celtics to a new level, even after the team’s near-disasters early in the playoffs.
Here’s a look at where the Celtics’ streak could rank among the all-time best in NBA history.
Celtics playoff record
The Celtics enter Game 4 of the NBA Finals with a 15-2 playoff record.
At times it felt like the sky was falling during Boston’s run through the East, even as wins piled up. Both of the Celtics’ losses came at unexpected times at home, when they were heavy favorites. Boston also played surprisingly close games against Cleveland when Donovan Mitchell was out, and the underdog Pacers scared the Celtics with and without Tyrese Haliburton in the lineup.
That led some to wonder: Would the Celtics’ difficulty passing the eye test against inferior and injured teams be a bad sign going into the NBA Finals, or would all those close finishes benefit them? Reality has aligned with the latter. Boston hasn’t been rocked at all by a battle-tested Dallas team, and the Celtics have had no problem closing out games both home and away.
The Celtics are now one of nine teams in win 10 consecutive games in a single playoff run, reaching the mark for the first time in its illustrious history.
Fewest losses in an NBA championship race
A Celtics sweep would not set a record for fewest losses in a championship race. That distinction is held by the 1983 76ers, the 2001 Lakers and the 2017 Warriors, who each had just one loss on their way to a title.
Here’s a closer look at each run:
1983 76ers
| Round | Adversary | Series record |
| First round | Knicks | 4-0 |
| Eastern Conference Finals | Dollars | 4-1 |
| NBA Finals | Lakers | 4-0 |
| Total | 12-1 |
2001 Lakers
| Round | Adversary | Series record |
| First round | Trail jackets | 3-0 |
| Second round | Kings | 4-0 |
| Western Conference Finals | Spurs | 4-0 |
| NBA Finals | 76ers | 4-1 |
| Total | 15-1 |
Warriors 2017
| Round | Adversary | Series record |
| First round | Trail jackets | 4-0 |
| Second round | Jazz | 4-0 |
| Western Conference Finals | Spurs | 4-0 |
| NBA Finals | gentlemen | 4-1 |
| Total | 16-1 |
The 2017 Warriors have the best playoff record in NBA history, winning one more game than the 2001 Lakers because the first round was a best-of-seven instead of a best-of-five. The 76ers, for their part, only played three rounds in 1983 and finished with 12 wins.
Here’s a look at the best winning percentages in a single playoff run, indicating just how rare the Celtics’ run has been:
| Year | Equipment | PCt winner. | Record |
| 2017 | Warriors | .941 | 16-1 |
| 2001 | Lakers | .938 | 15-1 |
| 1983 | 76ers | .923 | 12-1 |
| 1989 | Pistons | .882 | 15-2 |
| 1991 | Bulls | .882 | 15-2 |
| 1999 | Spurs | .882 | 15-2 |
| 2024 | celts | .882 | 15-2 |
A sweep would give the Celtics the fourth-highest winning percentage of any NBA team in a single playoff run.
The historic streaks of the Warriors and Lakers have some notable similarities. Both the Lakers and Warriors swept the Trail Blazers in the first round, and both swept the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Each suffered their only loss in the NBA Finals, with the Lakers losing Game 1 to Allen Iverson and the 76ers, while the Warriors started 15-0 before losing Game 4 to LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Both championships were the second of a dynasty. The Lakers would win their third title in 2002, while the Warriors would win their third title in four years in 2018.
The Celtics certainly hope their current streak is the start of a dynasty, although that’s becoming more difficult than ever with the parity of today’s NBA.
Dynasty or not, one more victory would put Boston’s streak among the best in league history.
