Are the Celtics getting a little bit bit bored?
The Celtics are nonetheless nonetheless atop the NBA standings by means of 50 video games, however nearly naturally, they’ve regressed since their blistering begin to the season. After a 21-5 begin to the season, they’re 14-10 of their final 24 video games, at the moment within the midst of their second three-game shedding streak in that stretch.
Their nine-game successful streak that preceded this temporary slide confirmed how centered and related the Celtics will be, however they’re nonetheless exhibiting inconsistencies. Thursday’s extra time loss to the Knicks – by which the Celtics began robust, let off the gasoline, then surged late to power extra time earlier than shedding – was a microcosm of that.
“Great teams know why they’re good, and why they’re good all the time,” Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla stated. “And so we just can’t take possessions or time in the game for granted, and I didn’t think we played consistently the entire game, physical, detailed, connected basketball. When we turned it on, we really did. And so we just have to do that all the time.”
How do they do this on a regular basis? Mazzulla recommended there’s been some boredom. The C’s had been locked in to begin the season, however some complacency has appeared to seep in.
“Just not getting bored with the simple plays, just doing the little things that work all the time,” Mazzulla stated. “Sometimes that may be actually arduous over the course of a protracted season, and also you simply can’t get bored doing these issues. They are very, quite simple, and the only issues breed essentially the most reward on each ends. So you simply can’t get tired of doing easy issues. …
“Being a great team is really, really hard. You just have to work at it every single day, and you’ve just got to do the small, boring things all the time.”
Jaylen Brown attested that the Celtics have been responsible of being bored of a few of these particulars.
“At times, yeah,” stated Brown, who went 8-for-22 taking pictures and missed two expensive free throws within the closing seconds of Thursday’s loss. “That’s part of a season, and that also reflects leadership. As one of the leaders of this team, I’ve got to do better in making sure my energy is contagious to the rest of our group, and tonight was an example of that.”
After a historic offensive begin, the Celtics have dipped on that finish and fee as a middle-of-the-pack offensive unit during the last month – ranked 18th in offensive ranking over their final 15 video games – although their protection has drastically improved because of the return of Robert Williams.
Mazzulla stated once more Thursday that the Celtics’ spacing and ball motion wasn’t as much as requirements within the loss, however Jayson Tatum didn’t appear involved with the offensive decline.
“I feel like we’ve been playing the right way, we’re still playing with a sense of purpose and pace,” Tatum stated. “Sometimes that (expletive) don’t go in. It’s as easy as that.”
Tatum acknowledged that the Celtics didn’t play arduous sufficient in sure moments Thursday, however he’s making an attempt to maintain perspective about their present skid.
“It’s a balance. All things considered, we still got the best record and we’ve still had an amazing year,” Tatum stated. “So, those times when we won nine straight, you don’t get too excited, and when you lose three in a row, don’t get too down on yourself.”
Brown comes up brief
While Tatum was voted as an All-Star starter for the primary time in his profession – his earlier two All-Star Game begins had been as an harm alternative – Brown was on the surface wanting in as Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell had been named the East’s beginning backcourt.
Brown completed third in All-Star starter voting outcomes for East backcourt gamers behind Irving and Mitchell, as he completed third in fan voting, third in participant voting and second in media voting. Fans accounted for 50% of the vote, whereas gamers and media accounted for 25% every. Brown wasn’t disillusioned that he missed out on the prospect to be an All-Star starter alongside Tatum.
“None whatsoever,” Brown stated. “Obviously it’s an honor to represent your organization, your family, and the people who have supported you through the highs and the lows like moments like these. So to be able to participate and stuff like that, it’s really for that community and that’s really all I have to say about it.”
Brown will doubtless be chosen as an All-Star reserve, which might be introduced on Feb. 2.
Tatum completed third in All-Star starter voting outcomes for East frontcourt gamers behind Giannis Antetekounmpo, who’s the staff captain, and Kevin Durant. Tatum was third in fan voting, fourth in participant voting (behind Antetekounmpo, Durant and Joel Embiid) and first in media voting.
“It feels great,” Tatum stated of being an All-Star starter and now a four-time All-Star. “I said it earlier, it’s nothing I ever want to in a sense, get used to or take for granted. While I may have expected to make the team, I never want to take it for granted. It’s an honor. It’s just something I dreamed about as a kid, so to be named an All-Star starter, it meant a lot. I was very excited. It’s pretty cool.” …
Marcus Smart will miss his fourth consecutive recreation on Saturday night time in opposition to the Lakers because of the proper ankle sprain he suffered final Saturday in opposition to the Raptors.
Source: www.bostonherald.com