Jayson Tatum and Derrick White wore headbands on Wednesday night time towards the Brooklyn Nets. It was a small, meaningless determination that each one of Boston Celtics Nation seen.
“JT stated he needed to put on a headscarf, so I stated, ‘I’ll experience with you,’” White instructed Abby Chin of NBC Sports activities Boston at halftime.
The Celtics completely clobbered the Nets, incomes a 136-86 victory and heading into the All-Star break on a excessive be aware. Oshae Brissett threw down a windmill dunk, Payton Pritchard loved a fourth-quarter scoring explosion, and Luke Kornet sang some Whitney Houston on the bench.
Vibes have been excessive in TD Backyard. Boston was having enjoyable.
But it surely’s straightforward to have enjoyable throughout a blowout.
At 43-12, the Celtics personal the perfect file within the league with a 4.5-game cushion between them and the Minnesota Timberwolves. They’ve been the highest canine within the NBA, however that’s anticipated of them. Greatness comes with the territory in Boston, and something much less is unacceptable.
Mentality has been on the forefront of Boston’s success. Specializing in the day-to-day fairly than the season at massive has helped the Celtics keep their focus. However having enjoyable is simply as essential.
“I feel that it’s an idea that I feel is necessary,” Joe Mazzulla stated on Wednesday night time. “Typically enjoyable could be checked out as a distraction, however I feel the power to have enjoyable and construct togetherness and compete at a excessive, excessive stage is necessary for the fellows.
“And so, it builds a stage of connection. However regardless if these guys wore headbands or not, they’re going to compete each night time, in order that’s actually all that issues, so long as they do it collectively.”
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Throughout their latest win over the Washington Wizards, the Celtics discovered themselves down at halftime. The Wizards have gained 9 video games this season.
Washington was operating in transition as Boston lagged behind, clearly out of kinds only a few video games previous to the All-Star break. With no rhythm and no defensive strain, Mazzulla took it upon himself to ignite a spark.
He did his greatest stand-up routine.
“I instructed a few jokes within the third quarter,” Mazzulla stated.
Down by eight factors to one of many bottom-feeders of the East, Mazzulla tried to make his workforce snort. By the tip of the third quarter, the Celtics flipped an eight-point deficit right into a 13-point lead, coasting by the fourth quarter regardless of a late Wizards run.
They gained a recreation that might have gone sideways within the blink of an eye fixed, and all of it stemmed from their potential to play freely. Quite than specializing in the rating and strain that comes with being the Celtics, they tried to have enjoyable.
“Each time we’re not possibly like simply operating by the opposite workforce, we’re virtually like, ‘Ugh, like, that is closed, like, this can be a recreation.’ We’re type of like, our power is a bit bit down,” Kristaps Porzingis stated.
“I feel, in that second, it made sense for us to be like, ‘Yo, that is basketball. We’re not going to be excellent each recreation. We’re not going to be up on a regular basis.’ And so, it made sense to simply ease up the temper and simply type of go on the market, have enjoyable, [and] play arduous.”
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Basketball is a recreation. From toddlers enjoying on child Nerf hoops to taking pictures round in your yard pretending to hit a buzzer-beater (and magically resetting the shot clock whenever you miss).
Even within the NBA, the place persons are paid thousands and thousands to don a company’s colours and assist them compete for a title, it’s all only a recreation. And it’s meant to be enjoyable.
“Yeah, I imply, clearly we’re all locked in, and we all know what the large aim is, however I imply, it’s a recreation,” Derrick White defined. “One thing that we’ve executed since we have been little children. And I feel, for most individuals, you play higher whenever you’re having enjoyable. Competing, however having enjoyable with it. So, that’s at all times a superb reminder.”
Boston followers are a few of the most crucial in sports activities, and it’s as a result of they care. They need nothing greater than to see their favourite workforce succeed. However on the finish of the day, gamers are human. Perfection is an impossibility, and happiness shouldn’t be unique to blowouts.
“I imply, 82 video games is quite a lot of video games,” White stated. “That’s not even together with the playoffs, particularly should you go deep. So, should you don’t have enjoyable with it, you’re not having fun with it, you’re not bringing that pleasure to the sport, it’s going to be a protracted season for you.
“So, clearly, there are going to be ups and downs. You’re enjoying nicely, you’re making photographs, and that’s straightforward to have enjoyable [with]. However when occasions are dangerous, and also you’re lacking photographs or no matter it may be, nonetheless having enjoyable, discovering the enjoyment within the recreation, I feel that’s actually necessary.”
So, fairly than permitting strain to dictate their emotions, the Celtics are centered on the alternative – one headband and joke at a time.
