On February twenty seventh I wrote an article explaining why I consider on this group as a contender. Since that point they’ve gone 1-4. (Be aware: this was written yesterday) I joked in that article that I wasn’t large on jinxes however now I’m questioning. I’m not superstitious, however I’m a bit ‘stitious (my household has sailors and fishermen in it, so I’ve been educated). My Knicks fan buddy even urged mentioning him once more in my subsequent article to interrupt the jinx. Shoot, I’ll attempt something.
So simply in case I’ve angered any hoop deities on the market, right here’s my mea culpa and try at counterbalance. A listing of the explanation why I’m involved about this group.
Accidents
Any group may have key gamers get injured at any time. That’s a given. The Celtics have Robert Williams III who appears to be injured a bigger share of the time than your common participant. I see him as a ceiling raiser on this group. If he’s out or not at full velocity, this group simply isn’t pretty much as good. It isn’t simply him both. Marcus Sensible is at all times one dive away from one other damage. Brogdon has been recognized to overlook his share of time. Up and down the lineup gamers have missed time with one factor or one other this season. And I’m contractually obligated to say Al Horford’s age in an article like this.
Focus
Basketball is a recreation of runs, we all know this. It is extremely onerous for any group to stay locked in and hyper targeted for a full 48 minutes, specifically on a random recreation in the course of the season. Different groups blow leads and take their foot off the gasoline at inopportune instances. It occurs.
Nonetheless, it does appear to occur to this group greater than the common group. (Sorry, I do not need any stats to again this up. That is only a feeling that could possibly be influenced by my hyper concentrate on one group)
The Celtics haven’t simply blown leads that led to losses. Additionally they blew numerous leads that led to closer-than-they-should-have-been wins. It’s maddening as a result of you may have proof that they CAN beat a group proper there within the first quarter. Then sooner or later they begin getting away from what received them the lead and abruptly its a recreation once more.
I additionally don’t perceive why they go into clock-killing (forestall protection type) mode with a number of minutes left as a substitute of continuous to assault.
Grant Williams
Talking of focus, I’m formally nervous about Grant Williams. Between the droop and the DNP and the missed free throws, I’ve to surprise what’s happening there. I’m no armchair psychiatrist however it wouldn’t shock me if he’s urgent a bit realizing that his contract scenario continues to be up within the air.
Grant is an excellent position participant who has expanded his recreation past simply 3-and-D. I believe that he’s going to finish up being crucial to this group within the playoffs. I simply hope he can keep targeted on “being a celebrity in your position.”
Teaching Inexperience
I’m one who thinks we followers fixate an excessive amount of on timeouts and rotations as a result of they’re simple to level to. I believe Joe Mazzulla has a mode and a technique he feels comfy with and I respect that.
With that mentioned, he’s additionally a rookie head coach. Even the most effective head coaches look again and admit that they had been struggling to maintain their head above water of their first yr on the job. Irrespective of how pure you might be to a job, you merely get higher the extra expertise you may have in it.
He’s made errors this season and he’ll make some extra within the playoffs (in opposition to coaches which have been across the block a number of instances). We simply need to hope that the group is gifted sufficient and that he’ll study at a quick sufficient tempo to reduce these errors (or their influence).
Peaked Too Early?
Final yr the group struggled out of the gate, mounted a number of issues, and completed the yr on an absolute tear. They continued that momentum proper on by means of the playoffs till they met a human strolling supernova named Steph.
This season we began off on a tear. Maybe fueled by the reminiscence of developing simply in need of the title. That was numerous enjoyable when it was taking place and it gave this group a heck of a cushion within the standings. They’ve wanted it although.
It isn’t like they’ve gone again to early final season ranges of struggling. This group nonetheless solely has 21 losses. They’ve simply are available bunches (which speaks to the main target concern). The NBA’s 82 recreation season is a marathon and it looks like they had been sprinting firstly.
There was additionally a component of capturing luck originally of the yr. A number of gamers had been punching above their weight. On common the group continues to be capturing fairly effectively, however on any given night time (or a number of nights) the reliance on the deep ball can chunk them when these photographs aren’t falling.
I do know I’m rambling at this level. That matches with my present nervous mind-set. I’ll end with this. I’m nonetheless a giant believer on this group due to Tatum and Brown and the deep bench and all that stuff I wrote about within the final article. However I do need to admit that I’m a bit involved. Quite a bit has to go proper for a group to win the title. Let’s hope all of it comes collectively within the playoffs.
