Like the 2015-16 Warriors, who won an NBA-record 73 games, these Celtics are capable of winning 70 games.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr knows a basketball heavyweight champion when he sees one. There were loud boos when Kerr was introduced. He’s Hardwood Public Enemy No. 1, tarnishing Tatum’s superstar status. a pair of DNP-CD USA basketball matches against Serbia at the Paris Olympics.

Kerr tried to make it up to you, members of the Parke Congregation. HE Declared Celtics the best team in the league.

“I think it’s an interesting dynamic playing on a championship-winning team. I think there will be a different level of confidence that you have and will achieve next year,” Kerr said. This is what I see in Boston. They deserved it. They climbed the mountain. They know how good they are, and they’re a great team even without (Kristaps) Porzingis, even without Jaylen Brown.

“This Boston team has been at it for a while. It’s not like they snuck up on anyone last year. It was a very rough run. So it gets harder as you go, but once you win there’s also a deeper level of confidence that will carry you to success.”

The Celtics have deeper confidence, a ton of motivation coming off a summer of disrespect, a deeper rotation with the team. Payton Pritchard improvement And The emergence of Neemias Quetaand chemistry that is the envy of the NBA.

Like Golden State before them, they play an artistically pleasing offensive style that can easily overwhelm opponents. The Warriors popularized the three-point shot. The Celtics have perfected this as a mathematical weapon of mass destruction.

Boston erased a 14-point deficit in the third quarter in the blink of an eye. The Celtics, who made only 20 three-pointers in the first half, knocked down 10 of 21 three-pointers and entered the fourth quarter ahead 82-81. One of White’s seven 3-pointers on a team-high 16 attempts put Boston up 7 with 6:46 to go in the fourth quarter. Then they let go of the rope.

“They are a legitimate starting five, which makes it nearly impossible to defend them in the half court given the speed and strength of Jaylen, Jayson, Jrue (Holiday) and Derrick (White),” Kerr said. “It’s a tough job when you have so much area to cover and you also have to cover the paint.

“We have always been more focused in our shots. . . Of course we had the three best shooters on the planet with Klay (Thompson), Kevin Durant and Steph, but in my time we always played big men, traditionally we played a few big men. “We’ve never been a five-man team, and neither has Boston.”

This five-out offense, which produced the highest offensive rating in NBA history last season (123.2 points per 100 possessions) and led the NBA in scoring with 123.6 points per game, means the Celtics will never be out of play.

Perhaps the most important thing about this play was the role reversal. For years, the Celtics used Golden State as their measuring stick. But it was the Warriors who claimed a clear victory with a 7-1 start.

Tatum and the Celtics, meanwhile, shrugged it off as “it’s just a Wednesday” heading into Banner 19.

“It was a good game between two really good teams,” said Tatum, who dropped 24 of his 32 points in the second half. “They are better than last year. By their standards, I would say they didn’t have a great season last year. I’m sure they want to get off to a better start this year and have a better year. They’ve had a great start.”

“Brad Stevens used to say every game counts. If we won tonight, we still had to play on Friday.”

There was a time when the Celtics and their fans took pride in being the team that had the toughest fight against the Warriors. That little brother complex is extinct.

Even though it was just over two years ago, it feels like a new NBA era, with the Warriors capturing their fourth championship in eight years on the court. The Celtics heard the Warriors celebrate through the thin walls of the Garden that June night.

Golden State’s team enjoyed winning in Boston, partying until 4 a.m. at the nearby Big Night Live. Draymond Green trolled the Celtics With Banner 18 t-shirts.

But these are two organizations going in opposite directions. The champion Celtics are still on the rise. Golden State continues to cling on, clinging on to what remains of its rapidly fading championship courage.

not the warriors them They are warriors now. Splash Brothers broke up Thompson transfers to Dallas. Hield, who hit a 3-pointer in the fourth, is doing a good Thompson impersonation early in the season. But he is 31 years old in the number 5 team.

The biggest threat to the Celtics NBA collective bargaining agreementdesigned to try and prevent another Golden State-like dynasty run. Given that and the pending sale of the club, the Celtics’ window of championship opportunity likely won’t be as wide as it was for the Bay Area team.

But after years of trying and the nasty and disastrous fire of hubris of the Kyrie Irving era, the Celtics are truly the Warriors East this time.

Now is their time.

The Warriors won on Wednesday, but the Celtics now trail them only in the history books.

Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. follow him @cgasper and on Instagram @cgaspersports.