Ladies and gentlemen, the Boston Celtics are title contenders! Yes, let it sink in for a minute. I know it’s been a few years where the thought has crossed your mind or those words were uttered. It is hard to imagine the quick turnaround because earlier this season the Celtics were blowing big leads, playing mediocre basketball at .500, and treading at the bottom of the conference. I am not saying the team will win it all because that pressure is squarely on the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and the Phoenix Suns. However, the Celtics have emerged as contenders for the title because of how and who they are playing in this vital part of the season. In this article, we discuss the positives from the performances in the past week and look at the road ahead.
1. Celtics 120-Grizzlies 107: The Celtics were playing the better basketball but headed into halftime with only a 57-55 lead. However, they seized the moment in the third quarter by executing a good defensive strategy. The Celtics sagged off the three-point line, daring Morant to shoot rather than to attack the paint, and it was effective in limiting him to 8 points at the half. Morant finally made his first three-pointer in the third after missing his first 6, and the reliable Desmond Bane started 1 of 6. The Celtics managed to build an 11 point cushion heading to the fourth, and it was crucial because Ja Morant imposed his will on the game proving why he is an MVP candidate. He poured in buckets and ended with 38 points on the night. However, it was not good enough thanks to Jayson Tatum who matched him shot for shot in scoring a ridiculous 21 points in the fourth quarter. It was another quality win by the Celtics at home against a Memphis team that has surged to the second seed in the Western Conference.
2. Celtics 126-120: The biggest criticism of the Celtics is that they may not be able to win a high-scoring game because their offense is not quite as good as the defense. In this high-profile matchup, we saw the team dispel this theory. I believe Jayson Tatum played his best game in the NBA in scorching any defender the Nets threw at him. The All-Star forward poured in 54 points, 16 of 30 from the field, and 14 of 17 from the free-throw line. Tatum showed everything in his game with elite shot-making, brilliance in attacking the rim, mesmerizing handles, and making the right pass out of the double-team. The performance also came in a head-to-head matchup against Kevin Durant contributed an efficient 37 points on the night. Importantly, the Celtics smashed the idea that they cant win a close game because there were 28 lead changes, and it was decided by a dagger three by Jaylen Brown from a hockey pass by Marcus Smart. Brown made a surprising return from an ankle injury in adding 21 points and five assists. It was a big win against a Nets team only missing Ben Simmonds and desperate to get out of the play-in tournament position.
3. Celtics 115-Hornets 101: this game could easily have been a trap game after all the emotions of the Sunday afternoon contest against the Nets. The Hornets started the season well but gradually regressed to fighting for a spot in the playoffs as a lower seed. It was only a 4 point at the half and a 9 point lead at the end of the third quarter. However, Jayson Tatum took over the fourth quarter and did what a superstar does for his team. He poured in 16 of his 44 points in the period to squat the Hornets’ hope of a comeback. The opponent looked demoralized on back-to-back possession when Tatum made a side-step fade away three and after defensive stand dribbling to the three-point line and draining a pull-up three. He capped the performance by blowing a kiss to the fans. It now rivals Trae Young’s bow as the signature to end the opponents’ hopes.
Yes, Jayson Tatum is looking like a top-10 player in the league, the Celtics’ defense is special, and the team is what the city of Boston is proud of supporting.
4. Road Ahead: The Celtics return home to play the feisty Pistons, and they retire Kevin Garnett’s jersey on Sunday after playing a nationally televised game against the Mavericks. Then, they head on a west coast trip to play Warriors, Kings, Nuggets, and Thunder.