What a difference a few days make amirite?
On Tuesday night, the Celtics looked like a team that had never played basketball before.
It wasn’t just the fact that their shots finally fell, it was everything about how they played.
It was a big time exhale throw in game.
I think we all needed to see a win like this.
Brad, Joe, the players, the fans, all of us.
When you look at the Celts recent struggles, it’s not a talent issue.
It’s not a strategy issue.
It was an execution and effort thing.
Usually, that happens when you lose confidence and then things start to snowball.
That might seem overly simplistic, but last night pretty much confirmed it.
No one cares that they took 43 3PA last night, because they made 16 3PM.
The ball movement was no different last night than it was in the OKC loss.
The difference was effort and shotmaking.
In basketball, confidence is EVERYTHING.
Not ideal, not what maybe we all wanted, but passable.
Before we worry about that though, let’s talk about last night.
That’s pretty good!
Early in this game Tatum couldn’t buy a bucket, but he did everything else.
This is what people want right?
They always say they want to see Tatum step up in big games against high level competition.
That’s when Tatum and the team are at their best.
Finding ways to make a winning impact even when the shots aren’t falling.
- The same is true for Jaylen.
Like I said, when your stars do shit like this, it’s contagious.
The rest of the team adapts that mindset.
The same is true when Jaylen or Tatum sleepwalk or don’t take an opponent seriously too.
That’s how important both guys are.
- The Celts got tremendous guard play from every point guard that touched the floor.
I don’t think I need to explain why that’s so crucial.
Last night, I would argue it was one of his best showings.
This game asked him to be a consistent secondary scorer/shooter, and he responded.
He had open 3PA after open 3PA and finished 4-9.
Defensively, he was dominant.
DPOY pop in shit.
Almost always you see the defender foul on this pop in of play.
It raises their ceiling to dangerous levels.
The good news is, performances like this are pretty much the norm for him at this point.
- As I said though, Smart wasn’t alone.
They’ve been killer.
This was the most aggressive I think I’ve seen Brogdon look in weeks.
Derrick wasn’t thinking, he was just playing.
Once they had some confidence, you notice how the drive and kick 3PA they took mostly dropped?
Shooting is rooted in confidence, especially for these two (and Grant).
When they struggle and lose their confidence and get gunshy, things never work out well.
Outside of a few Brogdon blow bys, I thought they were solid defensively.
In this game, his guards showed up and as you expect the Celts crushed.
- Quick little update on Mazzulla Ball.
You tell me if this is good.
How large of a sample do you all need to just love and trust it?
Yes, there are going to be nights where the Celts don’t shoot well and they lose.
Welcome to planet earth.
But the process of Mazzulla Ball in terms of generating great looks has never been the issue.
That shit was stupid with Brad, it was stupid with Ime, and it’s stupid with Joe.
But then he started playing and now I don’t know what to think.
Maybe Grant is the leader?
Grant wants to be paid this summer, well keep playing like that.
What we saw in this game was a $16M player.
Plays off the dribble, good defense, didn’t play scared etc.
That’s the Grant we know and love.
Not a good level, an elite level.
The 124 points is cool, but the 95 allowed is way cooler.
- Rob continuing to look like Rob makes my heart so warm.
I feel like he always has moments whenever he plays BOS, regardless of the team he’s on.
- In a blowout like this, I don’t see why Payton couldn’t get more run.
You were up by a billion.
Save the legs of your regulars and give Payton some run.
That’s what he’s here for!
It’s not like you need him to initiate the offense.
Play him off ball if you want.
Payton is good, let him play.
- Not the cleanest transition basketball I’ve ever seen the Celts play.
Just take the two points just.
- Very annoying how the Celts came out of the break and went about 3-4 minutes without scoring.
Couldn’t buy a bucket from the outside and when they weren’t missing they were turning it over.
That’s all fine and good, but I did not love how they looked to start the quarter.
Once they stopped doing that shit and got back to what gave them their initial lead, things exploded.
The Ugly
- I just have one question.
What does Jayson Tatum have to do to get a normal whistle?
I’m not talking about a superstar whistle where maybe you get a 50/50 call in your favor.
I’m talking about things that are CLEAR fouls.
What’s the deal?
Let me ask you this.
Do you think Luka gets those calls?
These aren’t plays that are even all that close, and then people complain that Tatum gets upset.
I’m sorry, just call the fouls that are fouls and there is no issue.
He gets killed a lot and I feel like they don’t call it on him either.
It’s very strange considering you cannot even breathe on Luka.
If they play like we saw last night, things will be just fine.
This is the team we know and love, and they’re the best in the goddamn league.
