The Boston Celtics are going to be just fine

Every little thing goes to be high-quality.*

*Whereas I firmly consider the above assertion, I admit that the phrase “high-quality” is doing a double shift of labor right here.

Forgive an outdated author for waxing poetic and making an attempt to share some “King Solomon in Ecclesiastes” sort knowledge. While you’ve coated a workforce for a few a long time, you choose up on some macro traits. We take care of a whole lot of the day by day trivialities right here on the weblog and I’m simply as pissed off as the following man with the latest rollercoaster journey. Nonetheless, it’s at all times wholesome to take a step again and take a look at the larger image.

Let’s begin right here: I firmly consider that the Celtics might have received any of the final 3 Championships if a number of issues went their means. 3 years in the past they received a entrance row seat for Steph Curry’s legacy showcase. But when a butterfly flapped its wings resulting in chain of occasions that pushed a number of Jordan Poole pictures an inch or two to the left, perhaps we’re having a complete totally different dialogue. The following yr you might substitute Poole’s title with Caleb Martin and the assertion can be simply as true.

We discuss so much about what classes the workforce realized alongside the way in which that made them Champions final yr. There’s definitely some benefit to that. Nonetheless, I might submit that generally issues simply fall your means, and generally they don’t.

I’m not saying that the Celtics have been simply “fortunate” final yr, although each Champion in historical past has had some quantity of luck on their aspect. It goes again to the philosophy that Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla dwell by. Develop good habits, execute the gameplan, and put your self in place to succeed. It received’t at all times work, however you study from the errors and hold refining the method to offer your self a greater probability the following time.

Or mentioned one other means, in case you are making the proper cuts, transferring the ball to the following logical possibility, and taking pictures the pictures that open up, then you take the proper shot. One of the best shooters on the planet fail 60% of the time, however that’s nonetheless 5% higher than most. Perhaps the Warriors Finals was shot that simply didn’t go in. Perhaps the Warmth loss the following yr was a missed learn that led to a barely rushed shot. Final yr was only a full yr of the ball whipping across the court docket and draining an open 3. Make or miss league, proper?

Going again to my authentic level. Every little thing’s going to be high-quality. You may take any particular person loss from this season and clarify it away with some form of excuse or rationalization. Gamers out and in of the lineup. First recreation again from a highway journey. Again to again recreation after a tough fought battle the day earlier than. Neglected opponent because of their file or Ewing Principle. Or simply primary long-season boredom. (“This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind”)

Stacked all collectively, they go from elevating eyebrows to elevating alarms. The hazard is that they’re creating unhealthy habits that might present up within the playoffs. Good coaches are taking dutiful notes about what works and doesn’t work in opposition to this workforce and so they’ll be throwing all the pieces they’ve at them to encourage these unhealthy habits to floor once more.

The excellent news is that there’s nonetheless over 30 video games left within the season. We have now an All Star break developing. The Celtics have the 4th best energy of schedule remaining. There will probably be various nights in opposition to tanking groups the place the Celtics can follow the proper muscle reminiscence workouts after which let the bench mop up with a Gino soundtrack enjoying within the background.

Kristaps Porzingis seems to be hitting his stride. Jayson Tatum is quietly having his greatest season. Derrick White has been a bit up and down, however has been significantly better as of late. Jaylen Brown has been a bit up and down however I belief him to get issues collectively in time for the playoffs.

It form of boils all the way down to religion. This workforce constructed up a whole lot of religion fairness with me, not simply this yr, however over the previous 3. The bumps within the highway are troubling and have to be addressed, however I believe they are going to be.

So yeah, I believe that this workforce goes to win a whole lot of video games for the remainder of the yr. They’ll put themselves in place to defend (assault?) their title. They’ll make the proper reads, transfer the ball round, and shoot the open shot. That doesn’t assure something. Perhaps the shot will go in, or perhaps it would bounce the mistaken means and the Cavs or Thunder will get to hoist their very own trophy.

The 2008 title was magical. The following couple of years have been thrilling however finally irritating as a result of they didn’t repeat, however that doesn’t diminish the 2008 title. Win or lose this yr, nothing can take away the banner #18 hanging within the rafters proper now. But it surely certain can be candy if we might add one other one subsequent to it.