It’s time for Celtics fans to adjust our regular season expectations and that’s OK

When the regular season began, many of us (myself included) naively believed that the Celtics would coast to a 60-plus-win regular season, earn the No. 1 seed without much resistance and head into the playoffs as the clear favorite.

When Boston started 21-5, that collective sense of invincibility and false security reached a new level. A repeat was inevitable, and nothing could stop them.

Ever since that 21-5 start, however, the Celtics are 11-10. That’s right, 11-10. They’re now 32-15 overall – well behind the Cavaliers and in danger of falling to the No. 3 seed with the Knicks gaining ground.

The Celtics have moments where they look like the powerhouse team we all know they can be (see: Warriors), then others where they look out of sorts and like a shell of themselves (see: Lakers).

I’m here to tell you that it’s officially time to recalibrate your regular season expectations. Sixty wins is highly unlikely, a shot at the 1-seed is essentially gone and the Celtics are back with the common folk at the moment after a brief stint as NBA royalty.

I’m also here to tell you, that’s OK.

Seriously, it’s OK. If the Celtics go, let’s say, 21-14 the rest of the way, finish 53-29 and earn the No. 2 seed, that’s just fine. All it takes is one playoff win in Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals to negate the Cavaliers’ dominant regular season.

I firmly believe that when the postseason arrives, the Celtics will rise to the occasion and play to their potential. They’re the most talented and complete team in the NBA, and historically, the most talented and complete teams often win the championship.

The Cavaliers, Thunder, Nuggets, Knicks and Lakers are all legitimate contenders, but there’s no team in the league with a higher ceiling than the Celtics.

The way I look at it, the regular season in the NBA mirrors March Madness in terms of unpredictability. On any given night, just like the No. 15 Cal State Northridge Matadors can get hot and stun No. 2 Kentucky, the 15th-seeded Wizards can get hot and stun the No. 2 Celtics.

It’s not likely, but it can happen, and even more so in the NBA with the talent at an all-time high historically. Offenses are more dynamic than ever, and defenses have consequently taken a step back. All it takes is one strong night and an upset is attainable.

But, I still maintain that it’s really, really difficult to beat the Celtics four times in seven games. If the Cavaliers, Thunder or another team do it, we’ll all have to tip our cap and enjoy our summer. I honestly just don’t see it happening, though.

If you limit the Celtics to 25 percent 3-point shooting one night and steal Game 1, there’s an excellent chance Boston is going to come back the next night and catch fire to take Game 2.

If you limit Jayson Tatum in Game 3, there’s a great shot Jaylen Brown is going to take over and will the Celtics to victory. If you somehow keep both Brown and Tatum in check in Game 4, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White will be ready. Oh, and there’s this 7-foot-2-inch basketball robot guy, Kristaps Porzingis, who drains deep 3’s and exploits mismatches in the paint.

If you somehow stop all those guys, you have to worry about Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet. The talent on this roster is just ridiculous. There’s too much firepower, too much chemistry and too much belief.

They’ve done it before, and I truly believe they will do it again.

So, my advice to you is to stop sweating the small stuff and have some faith. A loss to the Rockets in January, as perplexing as it was, isn’t the end of the world. What matters most is staying healthy, staying the course and building momentum for the postseason.

When it comes around, the Celtics will be ready. They always are, and now, they know what it takes to finish the job.