Nicely, that’s extra prefer it.
Contemporary off shedding my whole thoughts concerning the Celtics’ amateurish final ten days, Boston laid a complete new model of smack down on the lowly Toronto Raptors to the tune of a 125-71 victory. That’s 54 whole factors, the kind of margin that forces even essentially the most cynical of followers to look within the mirror and ask, “why did I ever fear?”
Such emotionally-potent oversimplifications aren’t precisely the very best type of dialog, however Boston actually took my bullet factors of points and checked nearly the whole lot off with excessive prejudice. Save for Al Horford’s continued struggles from downtown, the Celtics bought Jrue Vacation again (actually), Sam Hauser again (statistically) and Derrick White again (emotionally). Good things from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as nicely, they usually performed hilariously good protection from the starters via the top of the bench, permitting an unserious 71 factors. So, it’s all good within the neighborhood for now.
However with how mad I used to be about Sunday’s loss — and I’m not… on the group — all of us knew a pissed-off destruction of the ghost-of-the-Toronto Raptors was coming, although, even I didn’t assume it might occur with this a lot gunpowder. The Celtics have been cruising on all ranges, and this can be a nice confidence enhance heading into January. However man… January goes to be powerful.
Boston’s subsequent 4 video games are a highway journey via the American south and west like we’re a troupe of beat poets from the Nineteen Fifties, staring down the Timberwolves, Rockets, Thunder and Nuggets, often known as 4 actually good groups. The Celtics have now seemed utterly-dominant in two of their final three video games, however how about they appear that good on the highway in opposition to potential NBA Finals opponents. And notably, how about they appear good in opposition to the Thunder?
Motivation isn’t one thing you’ll be able to quantify, however the six-games-in-10-days-around-Christmas schedule is a tough one to get completely jazzed for. However a highway journey to place the Western Convention on discover about whose league that is? The Celtics shouldn’t have any bother getting up for that if they’re 1/third the aggressive sickos I believe they’re.
So… let’s see them do it. The buzzword from practices, press conferences and anxious residents like myself has been “inconsistency,” and to keep away from a return to the Celtics group that wanted its again plastered in opposition to the wall to play their greatest, they need to use this journey as a chance to exorcise these demons. And they need to do it massive time.
If Boston can look half nearly as good as they did in opposition to the Thunder, everybody within the NBA world might be reminded who’s boss. And that’s the prize they want their eyes lasered in on. The long-term concern for this group was shedding the concern issue, and dropping the hammer on this highway journey will deliver all of it the best way again after which some. If Boston nonetheless desires to be the alpha, lay any such smack down on the nationwide stage. Then, we’ll actually be in enterprise.
