The Celtics are on the doorstep of NBA history.
After turning in a historically dominant performance during the 2023-24 regular season, Boston has continued its dominance during the postseason as it pursues an NBA-record 18th NBA title.
Despite outside criticisms, the Celtics are piecing together one of the most dominant playoff performances the league has ever seen. With a win over the Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Celtics have gone over a month since their last loss.
Let’s take a closer look at just how dominant Boston has been throughout its run in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
MORE: Luka Doncic’s dominance no match for Celtics’ depth in Game 2
Celtics playoff dominance by the numbers
More impressive than Boston’s 14-2 start to the NBA Playoffs is that the team has opened the postseason with a flawless 6-0 mark away from TD Garden.
| Record | 14-2 |
| Road record | 6-0 |
| Offensive rating | 118.7 |
| Defensive rating | 107.6 |
| Net rating | 11.1 |
| 3PM/G | 14.4 |
| 3P% | 36.2 |
The Celtics’ 11.1 net rating through 16 playoff games falls just shy of their league-leading net rating of 11.7 during the 2023-24 regular season. Sustaining that level of dominance on the postseason stage is not something to scoff at.
Led by Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, the 2018 Warriors are the last NBA team to post a net rating of greater than 10 throughout the NBA Playoffs. Golden State went 12-5 in the Western Conference before sweeping the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals to win the title with a 16-5 record.
This Celtics team is led by All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, while Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White have each stepped up in different moments. Each of the six players has scored 20-plus points in at least one playoff game, and Boston has had four different single-game scoring scorers during its run.
MORE: Why the Celtics need Kristaps Porzingis to close out the Mavericks
Celtics 2024 NBA Playoffs game log
After dropping Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Cavaliers on May 9, the Celtics have won nine consecutive postseason games, including a sweep of the Eastern Conference Finals and wins in the first two games of the NBA Finals.
The Celtics have held their opponent under 100 points nine times through 16 playoff games.
Eastern Conference First Round: (1) Celtics vs. (8) Heat — Celtics win 4-1
| Date | Result |
| April 21 | Celtics 114, Heat 94 |
| April 24 | Heat 111, Celtics 101 |
| April 27 | Celtics 104, Heat 84 |
| April 29 | Celtics 102, Heat 88 |
| May 1 | Celtics 118, Heat 84 |
Eastern Conference Semifinals: (1) Celtics vs. (4) Cavaliers — Celtics win 4-1
| Date | Result |
| May 7 | Celtics 120, Cavaliers 95 |
| May 9 | Cavaliers 118, Celtics 94 |
| May 11 | Celtics 106, Cavaliers 93 |
| May 13 | Celtics 109, Cavaliers 102 |
| May 15 | Celtics 113, Cavaliers 98 |
Eastern Conference Finals: (1) Celtics vs. (6) Pacers — Celtics win 4-0
| Date | Result |
| May 21 | Celtics 133, Pacers 128 (OT) |
| May 23 | Celtics 126, Pacers 110 |
| May 25 | Celtics 114, Pacers 111 |
| May 27 | Celtics 105, Pacers 102 |
NBA Finals: (1) Celtics vs. (5) Mavericks — Celtics lead 2-0
| Date | Result |
| June 6 | Celtics 107, Mavericks 89 |
| June 9 | Celtics 105, Mavericks 98 |
MORE: Kyrie Irving guarantees Mavericks will make it back to Boston for Game 5
Best NBA Playoff records since 2003
In 2003, the NBA adopted a best-of-seven format in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, meaning it would require 16 wins to win an NBA title. Since 2003, the 2017 Warriors posted the best playoff record by losing just one postseason game, falling to the Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
With a championship win in 2024, the Celtics would become the ninth team since 2003 to win the NBA title while losing five or fewer games in the playoffs.
| Rank | Team | Year | Record |
| 1. | Warriors | 2017 | 16-1 |
| 2. | Nuggets | 2023 | 16-4 |
| Spurs | 2007 | 16-4 | |
| 4. | Lakers | 2020 | 16-5 |
| Warriors | 2018 | 16-5 | |
| Cavaliers | 2016 | 16-5 | |
| Warriors | 2015 | 16-5 | |
| Mavericks | 2011 | 16-5 |