Celtics Rising at the Right Time
#CUsRise is the slogan that the Boston Celtics used for their playoff run last year and it has remained the team’s official hashtag on social media for this season but the team has done a fair amount of faltering. Suddenly though, it seems like the Celtics are finding their stride at the right time.
With last night’s 140-115 loss to the LA Clippers, the Celtics are heading back east with a 3-1 record for their 4-game California road trip. After dismantling the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors 128-95 on Tuesday March 3 and and edging out the Sacramento Kings 111-109 the following night, the Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 120-107 on Saturday, March 9.
Even though the team had no answer for the Clippers - when a team records a season-high 61.6% field goal percentage it’s just their night – things are looking up for the Celtics. NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg reported on how the team’s long plane ride out west helped them bond.
“That long plane ride helped us out,” Kyrie Irving said. “We needed it. We needed it.”
The beat-down of Golden State was a thorough statement and the team was also able to fend off staunch third-quarter comeback attempts from both the Lakers and the Kings - where lack of consistency in the second half of games has plagued the team for much of the season. Things weren’t always like this.
Earlier in the season the young Celtics often aired their dirty laundry through the media, with Kyrie Irving calling out his young teammates and young stars like Jaylen Brown clapping back at him. And then there was a scuffle in a huddle, and finally players admitted to not having fun. But winning is fun and it always seems to fix everything.
Even though the Celtics dropped the last game before returning home they have to feel good about the team-basketball they played recently and how they have been “playing better,” a season-long mantra adopted by head coach Brad Stevens.
If the Celtics keep this up they could rise all the way to a deep playoff run.