It came as no surprise that the Celtics were able to pull off their sixth straight win on Sunday night against an overmatched 5-27 Spurs squad. Boston was without Jrue Holiday but still probably had the best four players on the court, turning the game into a rout by outscoring San Antonio 40-23 in the third quarter. The 33-point blowout victory improved Boston to 26-6 on the year and was the team’s fourth straight road win overall.
After watching his team get crushed, a coach will often lament some of his own team’s woes. Instead, Gregg Popovich did nothing but heap praise on the Celtics in his postgame press conference and reflect on what lies ahead for them.
“They’re a championship-caliber team. That’s what they’re out there for, that’s their goal and they proved it once again. It’s a hell of a team,” Popovich told reporters in San Antonio. “Joe does a great job with them. They got good talent obviously, All-Star talent, and they’ve got the grit, they got the execution and they are getting better all the time. That’s a tough challenge at this particular time for our group.”
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While the Spurs trailed by as many as 37 points in the loss, Popovich actually commended the fight his team showed against Boston.
“The effort was there,” Popovich said. “It helps to make shots and we didn’t. They were great shot makers tonight and you have to keep up with that. We have to make some shots and we didn’t and that really puts you in a hole. I was pleased with their effort and their ability to hang in as best they could.”
Rookie phenom Victor Wembanayama was facing Boston for the first time in hi carer but couldn’t help but agree with Popovich’s assessment that something was different about this Boston group.
“Just looking at them, I think I can feel that compared to past years, they have something extra this year,” Wembanayama told reporters in San Antonio. “It’s difficult to play against them and a good challenge. I think we’re learning today.”
The Celtics will go for they 7th straight win against a much tougher opponent on Tuesday night as they take on the Thunder in Oklahoma City.
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