For fans who suffered through an agonizing Red Sox last place season in 2022 or are sad about the departure of star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, or New England Patriots supporters who currently watch their football team try and climb out of the AFC East basement, there is good news to report. The local winter sports teams might be your saving grace because both might win championships.
The Celtics and Bruins have been hotter than the sun as autumn turns to winter. Perhaps even more remarkable is that both teams went a combined 16-0 at TD Garden in November, going undefeated at home. You’ll be hard pressed to find a month like that between two franchises from the same city in the history of any sport. Boston currently has the two best teams in the NBA and NHL.
Were the Celtics expected to be this good? No. They were predicted to be one of the favorites to make it back to the NBA Finals, but no one saw this kind of early season domination on the horizon. Did anyone in the hockey world envision the Bruins starting 21-3-1, claiming themselves as the early favorite to win the Stanley Cup? Not a single human being.
In perhaps the wildest twist of all, each team had significant early season off-court drama hit their organizations, which most thought would derail both teams on the court. Celtics’ Head Coach Ime Udoka was suspended for the season before opening night and the Bruins also had serious controversy on their hands when they signed Mitchell Miller, a 20-year-old free agent who had a troublesome past. The signing rightfully enraging the fan base. Team President Cam Neely decided days after the signing that it was the wrong move, and they parted ways with Miller. This would undeniably disrupt the Bruins winning ways, right? Wrong. Much like the Celtics, the Bruins just keep winning.
With Christmas around the corner, Boston sports fans can wonder if this could be the year that the Bruins and Celtics both win championships.