Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
Celtics have won 8 of 9 after an endurance run with the Clippers.
(PHOTO CREDIT: John Tlumacki/Boston Globe.)
So we’ve looked at a few teams that might have a crack at this year’s championship. We talked about the Sixers being very talented. We talked about the Raptors having the heart of the champion. We talked about the Lakers jumping on LeBron’s back.
Not far behind the Raptors are the Celtics, who have kept up with the defending champs by winning 8 of 9 games. They are 38-16, which is good for 3rd in the Eastern Conference. And I think we’re all surprised that they have been this good.
I know people are going to look into the chemistry issues immediately. That’s very true; we’re not hearing any rumblings or negativity from that locker room. But the Celtics wouldn’t be here if Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown didn’t make that proverbial leap this season.
Tatum showed in that Clippers game how unstoppable he has been offensively this season. He scored 39 points in that double overtime marathon and scored in various types of shots. Fadeaway jumper. Stepback threes. Reverse lay-ups. He even worked the post. Plus he’s a much better defender. He might be the NEXT guy if he already isn’t THE guy for Boston.
Brown didn’t play in that Clippers game but he’s also made that jump. While he was relegated to the bench for most of last season, he made statistical improvements in nearly every category this season. He’s playing with a lot more confidence on both ends and it’s a testament to what he’s been able to overcome (especially about his anxiety). Brown is having an all-star season himself even if he wasn’t selected on the team.
Kemba Walker has been the calm for this team. Granted, he’s never been on a very good team but he’s also never been surrounded by talent like this. This generation’s Employee Number 8 can do his work in the background while Tatum and Brown grab all the headlines. Gordon Hayward was anointed along with Kyrie Irving as the two guys that would take the Celtics to the next level a few years ago but we knew about his awful injury in his first game in that uni. Now he’s also doing background work while getting back to where he was during his Utah Jazz days. That foursome gives teams a lot to handle.
The rest of the team cannot go unnoticed. Daniel Theis is an undersized center that works so hard on both ends. Enes Kanter is a rebound machine. Marcus Smart has all the intangibles and can even hit the open three-pointer now. Brad Wanamaker has been a steady hand at back-up point guard. And they got trucks in Grant Williams, Semi Ojeleye, and Robert Williams. They may not be as talented up and down the roster like in recent years but they’re still scary to go up against, especially with Brown and Tatum on the rise.
Now their only true big in the rotation is Enes Kanter and he hasn’t been awful defensively. While they’re holding their own on rebounding this season, this could be a big problem against bigger teams like Toronto and Milwaukee (who lead the league in boards). Their pick-and-roll defense isn’t great, either (as they showed against the Clippers).
Still, the Celtics will probably dare teams to outplay them in the wings. It’s anybody’s guess what happens to this team when the basketball gets bogged down in the playoffs but they’ve showed so far that they could hold their own against anybody. Hell, we know that the Bucks are the favorites to come out of the playoffs but it’s still going to be a huge dogfight in the East.
Bullet Passes
There were only two games on Thursday night as we are now in all-star break. Thanks, LeBron James, for suggesting that the break should be a week long. We’re not getting any more regular season games until Thursday, the 20th.
The almost-traded Danilo Gallinari went for 29 points in the OKC win. I am glad that he was not dealt because I want to see this team attempt to make a run in that postseason. They have certainly been one of the bigger surprises in the league as they are tied for 6th in the West with a 33-22 slate.
Zion Williamson did go for a career-high 32 points in that game. Like I said, man, he is getting terrifying.
The Scoreboard
LAC 133 (37-18) @ BOS 141 (38-16) (2OT)
OKC 123 (33-22) @ NO 118 (23-32)
Watch This Play
This was such a casual shot from behind halfcourt by Steven Adams.
(VIDEO CREDIT: Bleacher Report.)
Look at him hit that shimmy, too!
Slam dunk contest preview tomorrow!
GG.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.
I sign off “GG” which means “good game” but also to honor Gianna “Gigi” Bryant.