The Celtics have yet to prove they are a better team than last year
The Celtics through 25 games are currently 20 - 5. The 2022 Celtics through 25 games last year were 21 - 4. They were on pace to be break the All Time NBA record for offensive output and efficiency. They were coming off a heart breaking loss in the NBA Finals to a more seasoned All Time Great squad in the Warriors. 2022 was the Celtics turn to take the final step. They had gone through all of the necessary training over the years. The common mistakes and missteps you see from young teams. The 2022 Celtics were all but assured another trip to the NBA finals and through 25 games last year everyone believed it. Then they choked. Again. To a more physical team in the Heat who could win in more ways than knocking down 40% of 100 3 point attempts per game. They are 0-3 in OT. Mazzula is 4-10 as the Celtics Head Coach. Please, tell me how the 2023 Celtics are different? Because they are telling you they are? Please.
The Celtics have failed the one test they have had this year. The IST. They lost to the Indiana Pacers in a playoff atmosphere as the more physical team imposed their will. Stop me if you’ve heard that before. Not only did they lose to the Pacers in the IST, their worst lost of the season came in an IST game against the Magic, 113 - 96. The green teamers will say the IST doesn’t matter because the Celtics lost. But, anyone watching those games could see it mattered to the players. The LOS ANGELES LAKERS, the greatest franchise in NBA history (Sorry Celtics fans, it’s true) just hung the freaking banner next to their 17 championships. It doesn’t matter if it was important because the league said it needed to be, or if it was the $500,000 price money, or the Vegas hoes. It mattered and the odds on favorite, Boston Celtics, choked it away.
I’m not saying the Celtics suck. They are clearly one of if not the best team on the court on any given night. Shit, on every night. They are undefeated at home. Your starting five is unmatched. The subtraction of Marcus Smart is just as we here at Simple Minds Sports anticipated it to be. Jrue Holiday & Porzingus > Smart, Brogdon, Time Lord, & Grant Williams by a country mile. It’s undisputable. It still comes down to Brown and Tatum when the chips are on the table.
So, can we pump the breaks on the Jalen Brown masterclass talk after a December game against the Magic? Porzingus is starting to become a real question mark health wise. Pritchard and Hauser have played well in their roles, but are unproven in the playoffs. Frankly they all are unproven until we see otherwise. Disagree? Please see Jalen Brown’s game 7 vs the Heat last year.
Again, this team doesn’t suck. But, unfortunately the only time they can prove they have taken steps forward is in June. Until then there is very little upside to defeating the Orlando Magic’s of the world. They should blow doors on 95% of the teams in the league. And they should. Every single night. Fuck this load management or coasting to the playoffs. You’re not Lebron on the Cavs for a 2nd stint with 2 titles in your pocket. You’ve shown the tendencies to get lackadaisical and complacent. So, don’t. That will show me something. Go undefeated at home and have a margin of victory through the roof. All gas- no breaks.
There is one goal this year. Stop telling me how great the Celtics are in December. The 2022 Celtics were a failure. Another year with out hanging banner 18 will be a trend, if there isn’t one already. An underachieving trend. A Loser trend.