While it smelled of rotten clover in the streets of Boston a month ago, the Celtics recovered spectacularly and confirmed it this Sunday by securing a serene victory once morest Atlanta, 105 to 95. A game notably dominated by Jayson Tatum (38 points), the winger allowing Celtics fans to extend their very good recent pass a few days before the All-Star Break.
Was it enough to be in good shape? Apparently yes.
A somewhat simplistic answer, of course, but it was the first thing that came to Tatum’s mind at the end of the match, interviewed by Malika Andrews ofESPN. It is true that by being able to count on everyone, Boston can now try to reach its ceiling, which seemed distant at the start of the season. In the space of two or three weeks, Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka have found the perfect combination so that these Celtics reach their maximum potential, and it shows at the moment on the floors. Hopa small transfer from Juancho Hernangomez. Hopthe return of Marcus Smart to the rotation. Hopwe remove Dennis Schröder, Enes Freedom and Josh Richardson from all this mess and free up space for the real bosses. Hop, an excellent little Derrick White who integrates the rotation. Even before the ex-Spurs guard joined the Boston franchise, the Celtics were already in great shape. Low-level teams broke up at home or away, but with style, which allowed Marcus Smart to applaud the collective play of his two young leaders and the exceptional defense of Robert Williams under the hoops. One, two, three, four, five, six wins in a row, what we wanted to see was if Boston might continue like this. Then there was Denver, in a grotesque money-time but which saw the Celtics come out with the win, which was clearly not the basis since mid-October. Until then, close end of the match and Boston it rhymed with huge choke.
Seven wins in a row, Atlanta therefore showed up at TD Garden in the hope of making a big result, knowing that John Collins was absent. The energy of the Celtics was also absent, early in the game, the Hawks creating the gap behind the charms of Trae Young, a gigantic awkwardness from Boston and motivation to make a professional procrastinator blush. However, there was nothing to panic regarding the hosts. Between the aerial exploits of Time Lord Williams or the new very good entry of D-White off the bench, Boston remained in contact and we felt that Atlanta might quickly crack, despite the huge shots planted by a bloody Bogdan Bogdanovic on the green floor (26 points) . Then came the third quarter, and the cold shower for the Hawks: 42 to 23 for the Celtics, Jayson Tatum who catches fire (38 points in total), and the meeting which switches in a snap of the fingers. While the public of Boston pounced until then, the fast faults imposed on De’Andre Hunter totally freed Tatum who took the opportunity to stick a lesson to his defenders and the second group of Atlanta. All the offensive baggage of JT developed under the eyes of his people, well almost everyone since the son Deuce was more concerned regarding an episode of Thomas the Tank anything else on his phone. But that was not the most important. He was in the defensive effort of these Celtics and a better collective reading on offense to punish the Hawks, which Trae Young and Clint Capela will not recover from. No more stupid shots from afar, Brown and Tatum put everything inside and when it was necessary to stop the other exteriors of the Hawks, the first line finally responded.
Finally ? Without forcing, without panicking, without really wondering if it was going to crack or do it, the Celtics have kindly dismissed Atlanta and have thus offered themselves a solid 8th victory in a row, enough to put them ahead of Toronto to now occupy 6th place in the Eastern Conference. We know that in the East this season everything is going very quickly so many things can change. A month ago, Brooklyn was number 1 and James Harden saw himself finishing his career with the Nets lol. A month ago, it was shit in Boston in terms of prospects for this season. A month ago, Ben Simmons had no plans to play basketball once more this season. So who knows where the Celtics will be in mid-March? We do not know, and this is not what must occupy the mind of Ime Udoka. The Boston coach knows it, he must cement his group, develop chemistry with the main players concerned and ensure that the green machine rises in rank until the 2022 Playoffs. If it continues like this, the Celtics will clearly be the kind of team that nobody wants to face in the 1st round, and maybe we will be entitled to a pure finish from the green men. Or else… as we have already seen, all it will take is a few grains of sand in the boots for it to go off once more in the locker room. Who knows ? Boston has today, now, and today now is the hottest team in the entire NBA.
This Tuesday evening? The Celtics give us an appointment for a sacred test. Travel to Philadelphia to face the Sixers, and potentially ruin the debut of James Harden in his new team. You already know what to do this Tuesday. And we advise you to watch Boston right now, because with the start of the season, it’s simply day and night.
