SAN FRANCISCO — Are the Celtics again?
It’s just one win, and it was towards the shorthanded and struggling Golden State Warriors, but it surely was as resounding and much-needed as they arrive.
With the 125-85 thrashing of the Warriors on MLK Day, the Celtics improved to 30-13 on the season, and open up one other four-game Western Convention street journey with a victory.
The Warriors, in the meantime, have been with out Draymond Inexperienced, Jonathan Kuminga, and Brandin Podziemski, and regarded fairly lifeless from the beginning. Chase Heart was one of many quieter NBA arenas the Celtics have visited in current weeks, and the Warriors — who shot 34.8% from the sector on the evening — didn’t give the gang a lot to cheer for.
Nonetheless, this was a robust two-way efficiency by Boston and an important begin to the journey; Joe Mazzulla praised the Celtics’ physicality after the win.
Listed here are 4 on-the-ground observations from the Celtics 40-point win over the Warriors.
Six Celtics rating in double-figures en path to 33 assists
Tatum completed the evening with 22 factors (9-20 FG), 9 rebounds, and seven assists. Kristaps Porzingis continued his robust offensive play with 18 factors on 6-13 taking pictures alongside 7 rebounds, and Jaylen Brown posted an environment friendly 17 factors on 8-14 taking pictures.
In complete, six Celtics scored in double-figures, together with Jrue Vacation (10 factors on 4-5 taking pictures), Sam Hauser (11 factors on 4-7 taking pictures), and Payton Pritchard (14 factors on 5-10 taking pictures, 9 assists). That well-balanced assault allowed the Celtics to rack up 33 assists — almost 8 greater than their season common of 25.3.
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the Celtics profit from a brand new substitution sample
For many of this season, Jayson Tatum has performed your complete first quarter, and Jaylen Brown has subbed out on the six-minute mark. Sometimes, when Brown has actually had it going offensively, he’s performed your complete first quarter (as he did all of final season).
However, for the previous two video games, Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics teaching employees have combined it up, having Jayson Tatum sub out on the six-minute mark like he did for a lot of final season, after which having him verify again in for Jaylen Brown for the ultimate three minutes. In impact, that has meant that slightly than having one of many Celtics’ All-Stars play 12 first-quarter minutes and the opposite play 6 minutes, every has performed 9 minutes.
Brown has appreciated the rotation change — and he’s voiced on quite a few events that not taking part in your complete first quarter made issues harder.
.@RealBobManning requested Jaylen Brown on adjusting to this season’s rotations:
“I am often the one which set the tone for the crew so typically not being on the market we kinda have a sluggish begin … I do not actually complain or something I simply attempt to come out and be one of the best model… pic.twitter.com/dJugIuUGgn
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) January 21, 2025
“I’m often the one which set the tone for the crew so typically not being on the market, we kinda have a sluggish begin,” Brown mentioned. “I really feel like at totally different occasions at my profession, that’s been me to assist negate that. Completely different 12 months, issues get switched up, and also you simply bought to be alright with that. I don’t actually complain or something I simply attempt to come out and be one of the best model of myself.”
The Celtics jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, and completed the primary quarter up 29-18, setting an important tone for the remainder of the evening. The substitution sample change is way from the one purpose for the strong begin, but it surely’ll be attention-grabbing to see if Mazzulla and firm shift towards this new sample on a extra common foundation.
To this point, it’s resulted in two good begins for the Celtics.
Steve Kerr, Steph Curry say Celtics followers shouldn’t fear in regards to the Celtics
Earlier than the sport, Steve Kerr was requested in regards to the strategy of attempting to repeat and expressed optimism for the Celtics, who had misplaced 8 of 16 video games getting into Monday.
“The NBA season is such an extended haul,” Kerr mentioned. “And, in case you go to the Finals, it’s over 100 video games. And so, in case you go to the Finals and are available again the following 12 months, you’re proper again at base camp, and that’s intimidating. Particularly for the Celtics, they’ve been at it for 7, 8 years, taking part in deep into the postseason.”
Steve Kerr tells @RealBobManning he wouldn’t fear in regards to the Celtics if he was considered one of their followers:
“It’s completely pure for them to to have just a little little bit of an emotional hangover, and perhaps not be at their finest recreation after recreation. I’ve seen that one million occasions on this league. However… pic.twitter.com/oFom4ODloC
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) January 20, 2025
Kerr is aware of the problem of attempting to go back-to-back fairly effectively; he’s coached the Warriors to 4 championships, and so they have been the final NBA crew to go back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. Kerr additionally received 4 consecutive NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls from 1996 to 1999.
“It’s completely pure for them to have just a little little bit of an emotional hangover and perhaps not be at their finest recreation after recreation,” Kerr mentioned. “I’ve seen that one million occasions on this league. However, what I might count on is, come playoff time, they’ll be able to roll. They’ve nonetheless bought guys of their primes, well-oiled machine, well-coached, they know who they’re, so I wouldn’t fear in regards to the Celtics if I have been considered one of their followers.”
Joe Mazzulla has repeatedly mentioned this season that the Celtics aren’t viewing this season as a title protection — slightly, they’re merely attempting to play their finest basketball.
“Each season, whatever the previous outcome, brings about challenges, alternatives, ups and downs whatever the previous,” Mazzulla mentioned. “So on the finish of the day, it’s extra about ensuring we’re sticking to the method of attempting to play our greatest basketball as finest as we will. Holding one another accountable to that, and simply taking regardless of the common season presents to us as a chance to study and develop. So, I believe that’s the mindset that we’re in, and that’s sort of the place we’re at proper now.”
Steph Curry, who has received 4 championships of his personal, echoed that sentiment postgame.
“It’s a marathon of a season — you do have a championship sort of aura about you, and you may sort of carry that, however you’re getting everyone’s finest shot each evening. Groups spent all summer season attempting to determine how one can beat you since you’re the one which was holding up the trophy. And now, you’re sort of held to a championship commonplace figuring out that you just’ve achieved it.”
“So there are gonna be lulls all through the season. It sort of occurs. However you attempt to get to the playoffs with a very good id, good momentum, good confidence, good well being, and you then simply roll the cube attempting to run it again.”
Steph Curry on the method of attempting to defend a title:
“Groups spent all summer season attempting to determine how one can beat you, since you’re the one which was holding up the trophy.”
“I don’t know what folks anticipated, however they’re 30-13. They’re doing alright.” pic.twitter.com/3YaOVnbsas
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) January 21, 2025
Curry mentioned the Celtics’ report speaks for itself.
“I don’t know what folks anticipated — they’re 30-13. They’re doing alright.”
Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh shine in rubbish time
Baylor Scheierman, Xavier Tillman, Jordan Walsh, and Jaden Springer all bought some uncommon taking part in time within the ultimate minutes, serving to the Celtics shut out a 40-point win. Jordan Walsh regarded comfy in his PT, hitting 2-3 threes.
Baylor Scheierman, in the meantime, hit his first NBA three-pointer, summoning enthusiastic celebrations from their bench. He additionally grabbed three rebounds and hit a pull-up jumper en path to recording a career-high 5 factors.
“You attempt to discover small moments to have these guys spend time with us — to validate the work, to proceed to see what we’re doing right here,” Mazzulla mentioned. “So, he’s had an important angle.”
The Celtics’ street journey continues Wednesday vs. the Clippers
The Celtics are off on Tuesday as they journey to Los Angeles, however might be again in motion on Wednesday, the place they’ll face the Clippers, who ought to have two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard out there.
Then, they’ll play the Lakers on Thursday and the Mavericks on Saturday earlier than returning dwelling for a two-game homestand towards the Rockets and the Bulls.
