No staff within the Jap Convention has caught fireplace to the degrees the Celtics have, however even their red-hot streak isn’t sufficient for the staff to provide itself a well-deserved pat on the again.
The Celtics packed their passports — and their four-game successful streak — en path to Toronto, leaving with a fifth consecutive 121-113 victory on Sunday to keep up the longest energetic win streak within the East. It took surviving a last-minute surge from the Raptors, however defeating the Raptors gave Boston sole possession of the No. 3 seed, marking a unprecedented leap from the staff’s earlier No. 10-seeded place simply two weeks in the past.
In another season over the previous eight years, this is able to be thought-about ‘enterprise as regular’ for the Celtics. This season, nevertheless — initially considered as a ‘hole yr’ quite than a real competition push — a five-game successful streak, leaving them simply 1½ video games behind the Knicks for the No. 2 seed, is greater than spectacular; it’s remarkably uncommon for a staff lacking three of final yr’s starters, together with famous person Jayson Tatum.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, in the meantime, isn’t letting the locker room get forward of itself.
“No, it doesn’t imply something. It doesn’t present you something,” Mazzulla stated at Scotiabank Enviornment. “There are ebbs and flows alongside the way in which within the league. On the finish of the day, now we have a transparent id of who we’re, and the season presents alternatives and challenges — and exams of how lengthy you’ll be able to keep the perfect model of your self. And if you don’t, how shortly are you able to get again? We’ve acquired an enormous follow developing on Wednesday, and that’s the subsequent large take a look at — how we are able to method that day. It’s the one factor that issues.”
Whatever the level-headed focus Mazzulla hopes will unfold amongst his staff, the basketball they’ve been enjoying currently is price a more in-depth look.
Unprecedented is the one phrase to explain what the Celtics have grow to be over the previous few weeks. They’ve received 10 of their final 12 video games, rating second within the league in scoring (122.8 factors) behind the Nuggets, first in area targets made (45.3), first in 3-pointers made (17.4), and first in fewest turnovers (12.1). Boston has dialed in on the finer particulars to make up for the lack of star energy that made them an afterthought on Opening Night time.
From afar, it’s straightforward to dismiss a five-game successful streak — or 10 wins in 12 video games — as a fluke. Then once more, that will even be a misrepresentation of every little thing the Celtics have constructed up to now. Position gamers, a lot of whom weren’t thought-about difference-makers months in the past, have all of the sudden grow to be simply as important because the staff’s stars: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. Inexperience hasn’t held the staff again; it’s motivated everybody to benefit from their alternatives, and it’s beginning to give Boston’s unproven roster each motive to be assured transferring ahead.
Jordan Walsh, Hugo González, and Josh Minott haven’t been misplaced among the many pine bushes of Maine this complete season, and that’s as a result of they’ve been important in serving to the Celtics discover their groove.
“We’re getting contributions from all people,” White stated. “Each individual that checks into the sport is admittedly serving to us, and we’re all going for a similar purpose. So we proceed to all play the fitting approach, have fun one another’s successes, and simply be there for each other — we’ll do numerous particular issues.”
Walsh has remodeled from a developmental defensive piece right into a scoring menace, pouring in a career-high 22 factors towards the Wizards, adopted by 17 factors versus the Lakers on a mixed 18-of-19 capturing over consecutive video games. González, who struggled for enjoying time final yr with Actual Madrid within the Liga ACB, has grow to be a defensive menace with a still-evolving ceiling. And Minott, who hadn’t recorded a single profession begin by three seasons with the Timberwolves earlier than arriving in Boston, has helped fortify the frontcourt along with his athleticism, defensive prowess, and a sneaky offensive arsenal.
There’s no telling what this implies within the grand scheme for the Celtics, as their overperformance raises the query: Is it time to re-evaluate Boston’s expectations, or is it nonetheless too early?
For the remainder of December, Boston is scheduled to face the Bucks, Pistons, Warmth, Raptors (once more), Path Blazers, Pacers (twice), and the Jazz — and amongst these opponents, solely Detroit owns a greater file than the Celtics. 4 others (Milwaukee, Indiana, Portland, and Utah) are at present seeded No. 10 or decrease.
Favorable? It definitely appears so. Nevertheless, nothing about this stretch goes to trigger the Celtics to ease off the gasoline or abandon the ideas which were fueling them.
“Simply preserve going. Simply preserve getting higher, keep humble,” Brown stated. “Only one recreation at a time. Simply continue to grow, getting higher, and having enjoyable — and smiling.”
Brown added: “It’s extra enjoyable if you win. I’ll let you know that.”
