With simply greater than every week remaining within the common season, it might be too late for the Celtics to catch the Bucks within the race for the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, particularly after Tuesday’s horrendous loss to the Wizards.
But that didn’t cease them from making an announcement in Milwaukee on Thursday evening.
The Celtics had been due for a powerful response – provided that loss and the opponent – however most likely not this sturdy. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics went into Fiserv Forum and handed the most effective workforce within the NBA its worst lack of the season, a 140-99 bludgeoning that was over by halftime.
The C’s didn’t overreact after Tuesday’s loss in Washington, saying it was a one-off sort of efficiency throughout a powerful stretch. Two nights later, after they responded to one in all their worst losses of the 12 months with one in all their greatest wins, the tone didn’t change a lot.
“Honestly, they played last night,” Al Horford informed reporters in Milwaukee of the Bucks, who had been coming off a blowout win over the Pacers. “That’s just the way the NBA schedule works and we benefited from that.”
Did he really feel just like the Celtics made an announcement?
“At this point, it’s not about sending messages,” Horford informed reporters. “I think it’s for us to do what we have to do, handle our business. We knew it was going to be a big challenge to come in here and I was just happy with how we responded as a group.”
The Bucks had been definitely enjoying the second evening of a back-to-back – and seemed prefer it with their woeful efficiency on each ends – however this dismantling might have some ripple results if the 2 groups find yourself assembly within the Eastern Conference Finals in a few months.
The Celtics at the moment are two video games again of the Bucks with 5 video games left and personal the tiebreaker after successful the season collection, 2-1. It’s nonetheless unlikely that the C’s will make up that floor to reclaim the No. 1 seed, however even when they don’t get home-court benefit over the Bucks, the dominant exhibiting was continued proof that the Celtics gained’t be apprehensive about going into Milwaukee and get a win if they should this spring.
In their three conferences with the Bucks this season, the Celtics had been greater than as much as the problem. They gained by 21 in Boston on Christmas Day. Even of their lone loss to the Bucks final month, the Celtics had been with out 4 starters and compelled extra time. Then got here Thursday’s dismantling, which the Celtics managed from begin to end.
Could these performances give the Celtics some further confidence in a possible playoff collection?
“There might be. I don’t know,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla informed reporters. “Our confidence should come from our togetherness, it should come from our execution, it should come from the details that we put into it more than anything else.”
Tatum led the best way with 40 factors – together with an encouraging 8-for-10 efficiency from 3-point vary – and Brown added 30 factors, because the Celtics ran the Bucks out of their very own fitness center. Brown scored 17 factors within the first quarter earlier than Tatum took management with 13 factors within the span of lower than three minutes. Behind sizzling capturing from Tatum and Al Horford, sturdy bench play from Malcolm Brogdon, power performs from Robert Williams and a poor 3-point capturing evening from the Bucks, the Celtics went forward by 28 at halftime with a 75-47 lead.
Mazzulla praised the Celtics’ consideration to element and sport plan execution. Horford beloved the best way they performed offensively, particularly the tempo and spacing they so typically preach. But greater than their prolific shot-making, Mazzulla was impressed along with his workforce’s mentality.
“I thought we had a different approach to our mindset,” Mazzulla informed reporters. “It’s something we have to continue (moving) forward.”
The Bucks by no means made a run or threatened a comeback after the Celtics overpowered them within the first half. The C’s prolonged their result in 39 when Brown hit a pull-up jumper with 4:25 left within the third quarter. Similar to when Phoenix coach Monty Williams pulled the plug in Boston’s demolition of the Suns again in December, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer waved the white flag at that time and pulled his starters. Mazzulla rolled along with his starters for the rest of the interval as Boston pushed its result in 43. They led by as many as 49 within the fourth quarter.
It was a reminder that when the Celtics are at their greatest, they’re virtually inconceivable to beat.
Still, as Tuesday’s loss taught them once more, these moments can show fleeting. As spectacular as their win Thursday over Milwaukee could also be, the Celtics appeared much less involved about making statements and extra about constructing the consistency that has escaped them at factors this season. They have to show the web page shortly with a back-to-back of their very own again house at TD Garden on Friday evening towards the Jazz, figuring out Thursday’s win means much less in the event that they lay one other egg.
“I want them to be happy that we won, I want them to understand why we won, I want them to feel that,” Mazzulla informed reporters. “At the identical time, no matter tonight’s consequence, we’ve to play (Friday). … I stated that earlier than the sport and it’s much more necessary now. …
“The most important thing is how we respond (Friday). So we responded well to the loss. It’s just as important that you respond well to winning as you do to losing. I think that’s important.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com