The Boston Celtics are supposed to look a certain way. Boston Celtics wins are supposed to look a certain way. Boston Celtics box scores are supposed to look a certain way. And that win against the Dallas Mavericks yesterday looked all the ways it’s supposed to.
Jaylen Brown was aggressive getting to the basket. Jayson Tatum was controlling and consistent, as was Kristaps Porzingis. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday bounced back all at once, like they were jumping on the same trampoline. And their scores reflected it. The bench pitched in, but the scoring came from exactly where it was supposed to: the starting lineup went nuts, and Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard pitched in with two threes each.
That’s what I’m talking about. A shorthanded opponent became the catalyst for a massive Celtics bounce back, and it got them back to playing the kind of ball they need to be playing; big minutes for Jrue and DWhite, and meaningful contributions from the bench without relying on them.
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One would think that where the scoring comes from doesn’t matter, but it does. A top-heavy scoring output from all five Celtics starters, who combined for 104 of Boston’s 122 points, means they were dominating when they meant to dominate, and weren’t out of sorts and needing a bailout. That kind of scoring means they could afford to not play Pritchard 30+ minutes, which in turn helped them execute defensively. That is crucial.
It’s not that the bench, and particularly Pritchard, bailing them out is a problem, but it’s not the kind of basketball they’ll be able to play against good teams. And the Mavericks, albeit shorthanded, are a well-run and professional franchise. Playing this quality of ball against them is a great sign.
For all my negativity — which has abounded in recent weeks — fully healthy, this team is still the team to beat… in the Eastern Conference. I am really not sure about the Oklahoma City Thunder, but we do not get paid enough to worry about a potential NBA Finals matchup right now. But the Celtics still have more tools in the toolbox than any other team in the East.
It’s hard to be good at your job every day of the year. But the Celtics need to follow this win up with another, good-looking win. Because for Boston, we already know they’re good. It’s time to look that way more often.
