As the Celtics hit the quarter-pole of the season, boasting the NBA’s document and eviscerating seemingly anybody of their path, Jaylen Brown was requested after Sunday’s win over the Wizards to evaluate the place his crew is at this stage of the season.
“I think we’re in a good spot, and I think that we still haven’t played our best ball yet,” Brown stated.
It’s onerous to think about them enjoying any higher than they’re proper now.
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Charlotte Hornets and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics collide through the first half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Maria Menounos and her husband Keven Undergaro through the first half of the NBA recreation towards the Charlotte Hornets on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Blake Griffin #91 of the Boston Celtics dunks through the first half of the NBA recreation towards the Charlotte Hornets on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Malcolm Brogdon #13 and Blake Griffin #91 of the Boston Celtics defend P.J. Washington #25 of the Charlotte Hornets through the first half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Kai Jones #23 of the Charlotte Hornets screams out as he dunks through the first half of the NBA recreation towards theBoston Celtics on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics tries to cease James Bouknight #2 of the Charlotte Hornets through the first half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics passes round Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Charlotte Hornets through the first half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Nick Richards #4 of the Charlotte Hornets holds his neck in ache through the second half of the NBA recreation towards the Boston Celtics on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics hangs on the rim after dunking whereas Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Charlotte Hornets appears to be like off through the second half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dunks through the second half of the NBA recreation towards the Charlotte Hornets on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics places two factors up as he strikes previous Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Charlotte Hornets through the second half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Grant Williams #12 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics embrace through the second half of the NBA recreation towards the Charlotte Hornets on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Blake Griffin #91 of the Boston Celtics falls to the ground as Grant Williams #12 and Mason Plumlee #24 of the Charlotte Hornets struggle for the ball through the second half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics and Kai Jones #23 of the Charlotte Hornets had been enjoying with colourful hair through the second half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics retains Kai Jones #23 of the Charlotte Hornets from scoring as Marcus Smart #36, Nick Richards #4 and Luke Kornet #40 look on through the second half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Jayson Tatum #0 and Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics rejoice through the second half of the NBA recreation towards the Charlotte Hornets on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics falls to the bottom attending to the ball to Jayson Tatum #0 through the second half of the NBA recreation towards the Charlotte Hornets on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics dives for a unfastened ball together with Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Charlotte Hornets through the second half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics steals the ball from Jalen McDaniels #6 and Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Charlotte Hornets through the second half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Luke Kornet #40 of the Boston Celtics defends Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Charlotte Hornets through the second half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Jayson “Deuce” Christopher Tatum Jr. guards his dad, Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics through the NBA recreation towards the Charlotte Hornets on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Blake Griffin #91 of the Boston Celtics falls to the ground through the second half of the NBA recreation towards the Charlotte Hornets on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
BOSTON, MA – November 28: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics and Kai Jones #23 of the Charlotte Hornets had been enjoying with colourful hair through the second half of the NBA recreation on the TD Garden on November 28, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
On Monday night time, the Celtics continued to defy logic of their absurd, historic offensive begin to the season. An evening after they smoked the Wizards with out Jayson Tatum, the Celtics didn’t have Brown or Al Horford and it didn’t come near mattering. Tatum scored 35 factors – and didn’t must play within the third quarter – because the 17-4 Celtics coasted to a 140-105 victory over the helpless Hornets at TD Garden.
The Hornets had been severely depleted – with out the companies of Terry Rozier, LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward – however the Celtics nonetheless placed on a clinic that was past expectations. Marcus Smart scored 22 factors and dishes out a career-high 15 assists. The Celtics’ season-high 140 factors was aided by 40 assists, the primary time they’ve had that many since 2008. They made 24 3-pointers – together with six from Smart – and shot 59.1% from the ground, and led by as many as 42.
“This is a treat,” stated Malcolm Brogdon, who had 21 factors and 6 assists off the bench. “I think for any NBA player, whether you ask Marcus Smart, Tatum, Brown, anybody. It’s a treat playing on a team like this.”
“Spectacular,” Smart added of the efficiency.
“We know and understand that Charlotte had a lot of guys out. We had some guys out, too. Tonight for us, we just wanted to come in and focus on us and build great habits.”
The Celtics gained their thirteenth recreation of their final 14, and are persevering with to take action in a decisive method.
It was simply two months in the past when the Ime Udoka scandal threatened to derail a season with championship aspirations. Instead, they’re thriving with an unstoppable offense that’s on a record-setting tempo with no plans to decelerate. Even with key gamers out and in of the lineup on a nightly foundation, the Celtics have continued to constantly carry out at an elite degree.
“A lot of people probably thought we would never get to where we’re at now because of those obstacles,” Smart stated. “When you bought duty like we do due to how we play, it’s simple so that you can take the foot (off the fuel), particularly in a recreation like tonight and permit that to slide up on. Staying centered and staying disciplined has been key for us.
“It hasn’t been easy because there have been times where we are playing so well that you tend to feel a little bit overconfident in yourself and we have to humble ourselves and bring ourselves back down before that happens or when that does happen. It’s been a balance for us but Joe’s been doing a good job of making sure we continue to humble ourselves and play the right way.”
“Gino Time” got here with 5 minutes left within the recreation because the Celtics led by 40, however this rout was by no means really doubtful after the primary quarter.
Leading 16-10 with 7:17 left within the opening interval, the Celtics went on a 27-6 run highlighted by seven 3-pointers as they ran away from the Hornets with ease. The C’s scored 45 factors within the first quarter on 73.9% taking pictures. They even dedicated six turnovers, however nonetheless led by 26, they usually by no means let off the fuel.
Other takeaways from the win:
– Without Horford, the Celtics turned to Griffin because the veteran large synthetic his third begin of the season after sitting for 5 consecutive video games. He made it appear like he missed no time in any respect as he made a right away influence. Griffin gained the opening tip earlier than Smart discovered him for a wide-open 3 on the high of the arc for the primary factors of the sport. A couple of performs later, he saved a possession alive with a pair of offensive rebounds that led to a 3-pointer for Derrick White.
Then, Griffin made the play of the night time within the second quarter. Tatum discovered White within the lane after being double-teamed, and Griffin crashed in from the nook. With only one defender standing of their method, White threw up a lob for Griffin, who turned again the clock and dunked it together with his proper hand. The Celtics bench went nuts, and Tatum put his fingers within the air. Griffin later threw down one other dunk as he scored 9 first-half factors.
– Smart practically had a double-double within the first quarter as he scored 10 factors and dished out eight assists. His 15 assists marked his fifth double-digit recreation of the 12 months as he continued his profession playmaking season.
“With X-ray vision,” Smart stated of how he’s seeing the ground. “Trying to at least, trying to get everybody the ball at the right time when they need it, where they like it and just to get us some easy baskets by doing that.”
– Luke Kornet had one other large recreation off the bench because the Celtics’ main backup large as he completed with 9 factors on 4-for-4 taking pictures and eight rebounds in 18 minutes. Smart discovered him on a number of lobs, together with one within the third quarter during which he threw it on the rim and it nonetheless went down, prompting a celebration during which he mimicked a chicken flying together with his fingers that he stated was impressed by Stromile Swift.
Bhagyashree Soni is a software engineer with soft writing skills. She is a degree holder from the International School of Entrepreneurial Leadership. She has been a state-level badminton champion and chess player. A woman with a forthright attitude enjoys her writing passion as her chosen career. Writing in the context of feminism, social cause and entrepreneurship is her forte.