If this Celtics season has taught us anything so far, it’s that culture, tradition and collective buy-in truly matter.
Those terms aren’t just buzzwords coaches, players and executives throw around for the heck of it. They encapsulate what separates the franchise from so many others in the NBA, and this Celtics team embodies those mantras as much as a group possibly could.
They took a collective bite into the term gap year, chewed on it for a few seconds, then spit it out in disgust. They weren’t going
to let the rest of the Eastern Conference off that easily. The East runs through Boston every year until further notice, and they’ve made it abundantly clear that this year is no exception.
Sunday’s dominant 123-91 Game 1 victory over the 76ers didn’t carry much drama, but it didn’t offer fans an opportunity to think back to how far this team has already come. Many expected the Celtics to be somewhere around a 7-seed, outmatched on the road against a superior opponent trying to fend for their playoff lives.
Instead, the Celtics are the No. 2 seed, demolishing inferior opponents and fully capable of winning the whole thing. It was just one game, but this win illuminated how far they’ve come and how far they can go.
Here are five thoughts on the state of the series and the Celtics’ potential path:
1) JOYFUL JAYSON
Just like the Celtics weren’t supposed to be here, Jayson Tatum wasn’t supposed to be here. He was supposed to be watching from the bench, cheering his teammates on and desperately wishing he could be out there.
Instead, he attacked his rehab with conviction and didn’t settle for anything less than the best-possible outcome. It’s still hard to fathom how close to pre-injury Tatum he looks. He’s scoring with ease, finding his teammates, rebounding at a high level and playing lockdown defense.
Tatum finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, and he could have potentially had a triple-double if it were a closer game. When asked about his journey, Tatum made it clear he doesn’t take the experience for granted.
“I understand the magnitude of the injury and the narrative around me coming back and everything in between,” Tatum said. “I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish and return to play and all those things. There were many days where I wasn’t even sure I was going to play this season, let alone get a chance to play today.”
2) MANAGING MAXEY
The only way the 76ers have any chance in this series (they don’t have a chance, but just for kicks) is if Tyrese Maxey goes nuclear. Even if he catches fire in a game or two, the Celtics will still likely win in five or six. If he doesn’t, it could be a sweep.
The Celtics limited him to 8-of-20 shooting and 1 of 4 from distance. Maxey finished with a respectable 21 points and eight assists, but he had to work for nearly everything and often took contested, off-balance shots.
Give the Celtics a lot of credit for their defensive execution as a whole. The 76ers shot 39 percent from the floor and 17 percent from 3-point range. That’ll do it.
“We did a good job with our positioning and our activity, and some of the things that we can control,” said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “It kind of goes back to that focus on the stuff that we can’t control, both ends of the floor.”
3) RED PANDA-MONIUM
Let’s take a moment, at the midway point of this article, to acknowledge the greatness of Red Panda. Tatum set the tone in the first half, Red Panda followed suit at halftime and Jaylen Brown finished the job in the second.
She’s quite gifted, and seeing it in person adds a whole other level of appreciation. Simply the best.
People come to sporting events to watch a show, and they watched two shows Sunday afternoon.
4) BENCH MOB
Outside of Tatum’s return and Brown’s ascension, the consistency of the Celtics’ bench is the biggest story of this season.
Guys like Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez were all fringe NBA players and are now consistent contributors on one of the best teams in the league.
The coaches deserve a lot of credit for that, and the players do as well for meeting the moment. As the playoffs progress, I expect the Celtics to continue to have a clear edge when it comes to bench production.
In every series outside of a potential Thunder matchup in the Finals, which I’d consider a wash, the Celtics should continue to win those minutes.
Brown said his message for the newcomers logging their first significant playoff minutes was to breathe and manage their emotions.
“They might go on a run, they might not go on a run, but just stay together,” Brown said. “Win the fight. Be a hard-playing team and guard.”
5) NO COMPLACENCY
The Celtics know they’re the better team, but they also know this was just one game and anything can happen in a playoff series.
While it’s highly likely Boston will advance, it’s important that the Celtics continue to not underestimate the 76ers. This team seems to really understand that, which goes back to the culture, tradition and collective buy-in that define the franchise.
Everything they desire is right there in front of them, but their focus is on Game 2. It’s not a gimmick; it’s a mind-set.
“They’ve got some really talented guys and guys that played hard,” Tatum said. “So you have to show them that respect and know that by the next game they’re going to make adjustments and just preparing for that.”
