Again in mid-November, the Celtics discovered themselves sitting with a 5-7 file – nonetheless trying to find consistency, struggling to shut out tight video games and looking for their id.
Since that time, they’ve seemed like a mature and battle-tested workforce that has the solutions to the take a look at. The Celtics are enjoying impressed basketball and have been one of many league’s most harmful groups in latest weeks.
After Friday’s 126-105 win over the shorthanded Lakers, they’re now 14-9 and displaying no indicators of slowing down anytime quickly.
Listed here are 10 takeaways, as Boston took care of enterprise as soon as once more to safe its fourth straight victory.
Jaylen Brown was as soon as once more the most effective participant of the ground. He racked up 30 factors, 8 rebounds and eight assists, highlighted by a 15-point third quarter that prevented the Lakers from coming again.
Brown acquired nearly wherever he wished and made the sport look straightforward. He’s now scored 30-plus in 5 of Boston’s final six video games and is enjoying with a first-team All-NBA swagger.
He lets the sport come to him, sizes up the opposition then picks the proper second to strike.
LeBron James (sciatica/arthritis), Luka Doncic (start of kid) and Marcus Good (again) all missed Friday’s sport.
Good, maybe as a refined nod to his unique NBA house, sported a black jacket with inexperienced spots. He posed for footage with followers and genuinely seemed delighted to be again in Boston.
The Lakers have been shorthanded, sure, however the Celtics deserve credit score for not taking their opponent evenly and leaving little question.
3) Help-ematic wear-down
The Celtics sizzled to begin, taking pictures 64 p.c within the first quarter and constructing a commanding 69-46 halftime benefit.
The ball motion was pristine, and having Brown on their aspect definitely didn’t damage. They’ve now scored a mixed 271 factors of their final two video games and haven’t completed with fewer than 115 since Nov. 21.
Boston ended up with 31 assists, and it actually appeared like much more.
Jordan Walsh, who shot 4 for 4 on Tuesday and eight for 8 on Thursday, saved it rolling with a 6-for-7 efficiency Friday evening. Sure, that’s 18 for his final 19. Sure, that’s very, excellent.
Walsh (17 factors) is enjoying with supreme confidence and continues to hold himself like one of many higher wing defenders within the league. His shot has come a great distance, and shot choice has additionally performed a vital position.
He additionally displayed his passing skill, letting a defender fly by and delivering a pinpoint wrap-around cross to Neemias Queta. Walsh deserves a substantial amount of credit score for actualizing the potential he’s at all times had. Now, it’s about sustaining it.
Payton Pritchard’s stability and physique management have at all times been elite, however it looks like he’s taken it to the subsequent degree currently. His skill to create off the dribble when nothing else materializes separates him from the pack. Pritchard’s step-backs are cash, his really feel for the sport is terrific and his contact is elite.
He hit three robust mid-range jumpers and rattled house a nook 3 within the first half, to go together with 4 assists. Pritchard contributed 15 factors and 6 assists and served as a stabilizer all evening.
The Celtics shot 53 p.c from 3-point vary, connecting on 24 of their 45 makes an attempt in a very lights-out displaying.
Derrick White (19 factors, six assists) led the best way with 5, Sam Hauser and Walsh have been proper behind him at 4 and Brown and Pritchard added three every.
Eight Celtics hit a 3, and each participant who tried not less than one shot not less than 42.9 p.c. That’s a product of nice taking pictures, sure, however it additionally speaks to the ball motion and general stream of the offense.
Lakers coach JJ Redick appeared to have an thought what was coming. Earlier than the sport, he put it effectively, noting: “I really feel like with them, it’s a whole lot of math.”
The mathematics was mathing on this explicit evening, because it has throughout most of this stretch.
It wasn’t simply the offense, because the Celtics protection additionally executed at a excessive degree within the win. The Lakers shot 23 p.c from the ground within the first quarter and seemed misplaced.
They began to determine it out within the third, however as soon as they did, the Celtics responded to cease the risk nearly instantly.
Having Walsh, Josh Minott and Hugo Gonzalez is a luxurious, and Celtics had coach Joe Mazzulla is aware of it. The Celtics went small early within the fourth and performed the sport on their phrases, as they did the majority of the evening.
The one Laker who had his method a lot of the evening was Austin Reaves, who’s, in truth, nearly as good as marketed.
He began off slowly, however ended up dropping 36 on 9-of-18 taking pictures. He racked up 15 free throws to go together with eight assists and displayed why he’s now thought to be one of many premier offensive gamers within the league.
In a video on the Jumbotron, Brown named his all-time Celtics beginning 5: Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Larry Chook, Kevin Garnett and Invoice Russell.
No qualms right here. It’s a matter of opinion, however that’s a reasonably stable checklist.
For some time, the Celtics seemed like a workforce destined to complete round .500.
Now, they seem like a workforce that would make some noise within the playoffs.
In the event that they do, this stretch will doubtless be seen because the turning level, once they turned potential into manufacturing and located a profitable method.
