The Boston Celtics are going to be just fine

All the things goes to be superb.*

*Whereas I firmly consider the above assertion, I admit that the phrase “superb” is doing a double shift of labor right here.

Forgive an outdated author for waxing poetic and trying to share some “King Solomon in Ecclesiastes” kind knowledge. Whenever you’ve lined a workforce for a few many years, you choose up on some macro traits. We cope with a whole lot of the every day trivia right here on the weblog and I’m simply as pissed off as the following man with the latest rollercoaster journey. Nonetheless, it’s all the time wholesome to take a step again and take a look at the larger image.

Let’s begin right here: I firmly consider that the Celtics may have received any of the final 3 Championships if just a few issues went their means. 3 years in the past they received a entrance row seat for Steph Curry’s legacy showcase. But when a butterfly flapped its wings resulting in chain of occasions that pushed just a few Jordan Poole photographs an inch or two to the left, possibly we’re having an entire totally different dialogue. The following yr you would change Poole’s title with Caleb Martin and the assertion could be simply as true.

We discuss loads about what classes the workforce discovered alongside the best way that made them Champions final yr. There’s definitely some benefit to that. Nonetheless, I might submit that generally issues simply fall your means, and generally they don’t.

I’m not saying that the Celtics have been simply “fortunate” final yr, although each Champion in historical past has had some quantity of luck on their facet. It goes again to the philosophy that Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla reside by. Develop good habits, execute the gameplan, and put your self in place to succeed. It received’t all the time work, however you be taught from the errors and maintain refining the method to provide your self a greater probability the following time.

Or mentioned one other means, in case you are making the best cuts, transferring the ball to the following logical choice, and taking pictures the photographs that open up, then you’re taking the best shot. The most effective shooters on the earth fail 60% of the time, however that’s nonetheless 5% higher than most. Perhaps the Warriors Finals was a superb shot that simply didn’t go in. Perhaps the Warmth loss the following yr was a missed learn that led to a barely rushed shot. Final yr was only a full yr of the ball whipping across the court docket and draining an open 3. Make or miss league, proper?

Going again to my unique level. All the things’s going to be superb. You possibly can take any particular person loss from this season and clarify it away with some form of excuse or rationalization. Gamers out and in of the lineup. First recreation again from a highway journey. Again to again recreation after a tough fought battle the day earlier than. Neglected opponent as a result of their report or Ewing Concept. Or simply primary long-season boredom. (“This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind”)

Stacked all collectively, they go from elevating eyebrows to elevating alarms. The hazard is that they’re creating dangerous habits that might present up within the playoffs. Good coaches are taking dutiful notes about what works and doesn’t work in opposition to this workforce and so they’ll be throwing every part they’ve at them to encourage these dangerous habits to floor once more.

The excellent news is that there’s nonetheless over 30 video games left within the season. We’ve an All Star break arising. The Celtics have the 4th best energy of schedule remaining. There can be various nights in opposition to tanking groups the place the Celtics can follow the best muscle reminiscence workouts after which let the bench mop up with a Gino soundtrack taking part in within the background.

Kristaps Porzingis seems to be hitting his stride. Jayson Tatum is quietly having his greatest season. Derrick White has been a bit up and down, however has been a lot better as of late. Jaylen Brown has been a bit up and down however I belief him to get issues collectively in time for the playoffs.

It form of boils all the way down to religion. This workforce constructed up a whole lot of religion fairness with me, not simply this yr, however over the previous 3. The bumps within the highway are troubling and should be addressed, however I feel they are going to be.

So yeah, I feel that this workforce goes to win a whole lot of video games for the remainder of the yr. They’ll put themselves in place to defend (assault?) their title. They’ll make the best reads, transfer the ball round, and shoot the open shot. That doesn’t assure something. Perhaps the shot will go in, or possibly it’ll bounce the fallacious means and the Cavs or Thunder will get to hoist their very own trophy.

The 2008 title was magical. The next few years have been thrilling however finally irritating as a result of they didn’t repeat, however that doesn’t diminish the 2008 title. Win or lose this yr, nothing can take away the banner #18 hanging within the rafters proper now. But it surely positive could be candy if we may add one other one subsequent to it.