6 in a row.
10 of the last 11.
13 of the last 16.
That’s pretty much it.
Once again the Celts lead the NBA with 20+ point wins.
They once again are the only team in the NBA to own a top 5 offense and defense.
They own the NBA’s best road record.
This current 6 game winning streak?
All wins were by double digits.
During this stretch they went into CLE and beat that ass, then whooped the 3 seeded Knicks twice.
Their 13-3 record during their last 16 games is the best record in the NBA.
Opponents are shooting just 32.5% from deep, good for 4th.
While there are new media darlings this season, do not get it twisted.
Things still run through the Champs until proven otherwise.
Even a night like last night against TOR can tell you something.
Another double digit road win.
That shit is not normal, even if the Raptors may stink.
What it does do is show you how versatile the Celts are.
They have the ability to mold their lineups and approach to whatever the game needs at any moment.
That’s the strength of being solid 1-12 in your rotation while being led by a generational duo.
It was a fun one last night, so let’s dive in.
When Jayson Tatum is locked in, everyone else follows suit.
Tatum was STILL a team best +20 in his minutes…..because that’s what he does.
When he is on the court, he dominates.
Sometimes that’s through scoring, other times that’s through defense, other times that’s through passing.
What do we call that?
Again, he was a +20 in his minutes so it clearly worked.
What more could you ask for?
I especially look at how he closed the game in the final 3 minutes.
It starts with Jayson Tatum playing some of his best basketball of the season.
The Magnet Ball is back, and when that happens there’s just no defensive solve for this team.
He’s the first Celtic to EVER do something like that in an NBA game.
Since White’s rest day vs HOU on 1/27, he’s played 11 games.
In those 11 games, he’s shooting 50/46% with 3.9 3PM.
That’s what I mean when I say the magnet ball is back.
What the Derrick White release valve 3PM does cannot be overlooked.
It breaks the spirit of the defense and the fans (if on the road).
His makes are back to being pure, and that’s all I need to see.
Then you factor in the rim protection?
I mean what guard is doing this consistently??
As we say, as Derrick goes this team goes.
He never misses it.
In a way, it perfectly encapsulates what Mazzulla Ball is all about.
Being a good teammate.
Making the right play.
- On the road, down half of your top rotation, you know what that means.
That’s not new.
That’s what he does.
Only having 1 TO in his 34 minutes is also pretty much the standard.
What I loved about Pritchard’s night came in two stretches.
That took the lead from 7 to 13 entering the 4th, which would prove to be pretty massive.
What matters is the time and score.
It goes back to the stat I put at the top of this blog.
When they need to lock in, they can lock in.
It just needs to be a weapon he can go to that defenses have to worry about.
- Shoutout Jordan Walsh for what I thought were the most impactful minutes of any deep bench player.
Had they not been complete dogshit from deep (5-33), this is an entirely different ballgame.
That’s going to burn you against a better team.
- While Tatum at the 5 intrigues me, the results certainly weren’t all that great.
I can handle stepping on the sideline or maybe a travel.
It’s the live ball dribbling/poor passes that drive me insane.
- Baylor Scheierman, I dunno man.
On one hand, it’s Year 1.
Billed as a shooter, he’s 1-15 from deep as a Celtic.
Is it Brad’s first miss?
Time will tell, but things haven’t looked all that great in his limited spots.
- I know this sounds mean, but a game like this is exactly why Torrey Craig is here.
Shorthanded, bad team, this is what end of the bench buyout guys are for.
Part of that responsibility is making your open 3s.
This is not the Bulls.
To play on this team, there is an expectation of filling your role.
He’s a fine player, but that all depends on his ability to make open 3s.
If he’s not, he doesn’t need to play over younger legs.
The Ugly
- Nope.
You know the rule.
We’re done here until they lose again.
Winners of 7 straight vs Winners of 7 straight so something’s gotta give.
