While there have been some head-scratching losses for the Celtics, they’ve come few and far between as part of a long 82-game season. The most recent data point is a blowout win over the Wizards on Sunday where the C’s met very little resistance from the worst team in the league.
In past seasons, the Celtics were often criticized for playing down to an opponent’s level. But as part of their 53-14 season, there just hasn’t been anything to nitpick about Boston’s game. Different members have stepped up; it was Sam Hauser’s turn Sunday with 30 points and 10 3-pointers before he had to leave the game with an injury. Celtics star Jayson Tatum described what’s different about his team this season compared to the past.
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“Understanding what we’re trying to do,” Tatum said, via NBC Sports Boston. “Really just trying to get better every single day and respecting the game and respecting the opponent by going out there and playing the right way. Whether it’s a banged-up team who hasn’t had a great season or a national TV game. Trying to go out there with the same mentality every single night.”
Of course, the Celtics will look to translate their workmanlike attitude toward the playoffs. That’s been a weak spot for the C’s in past years, where they struggled to put away opponents — especially at home. Well, the Celtics have a 30-3 record at TD Garden this season, showcasing their dominance.
So the Celtics will fine-tune their game over the next month. Regardless of what happens, though, they will be judged on the playoffs. Those are the expectations considering the C’s boast a championship-level roster, and this team hasn’t shied away from them. And, importantly, the Celtics finally look like a team that can put teams away consistently.
“This type of game, they were missing some players,” Al Horford said. “In the past, we’ve talked about it, the performance kind of goes down, we kind of relax a little bit. But I felt like our guys, we were on edge from the beginning. We came out, very determined, very focused. That’s what I like most about our group: We were ready to play.”
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