Overview
- Boston fell to 38-20 with Wednesday’s 103-84 defeat to Denver, ensuring it cannot reach the 40-wins-before-20-losses mark that has correlated with most recent NBA champions.
- Over 90 percent of champions in recent decades cleared the 40-before-20 bar, but notable exceptions include the 1995 Rockets, 2004 Pistons, 2006 Heat and 2021 Bucks.
- Only three teams have met the standard this season: the Thunder (45-15), Spurs (42-16) and Pistons (43-14), according to multiple reports.
- Context softens the omen for Boston as it reached 20 losses in 58 games without Jayson Tatum, who is practicing in 5-on-5 scrimmages with his return timing described as his call.
- Analysts still list the Celtics as viable contenders given their second-place standing in the East, strong recent form and coaching recognition for Joe Mazzulla, with health viewed as the swing factor.