The Celtics are again – CelticsBlog

The Boston Celtics fanbase must get its act collectively.

The previous 2-3 weeks have been an absolute rollercoaster experience. Whether or not we had been appearing just like the sky was falling over a small March dip or shedding our minds over a couple of non-committal Jaylen Brown quotes from an interview in January, the fanbase has felt…clenched…because the All-Star break got here to an finish. However that notion doesn’t match actuality.

Robert Williams is again on the ground wanting like Robert Williams once more. Marcus Sensible is again getting hit within the jewels each sport. The stability has been returned to the group. It’s time to de-clench. The run has begun.

I believe we have to begin with establishing one thing crucial right here. Elite groups shedding basketball video games in March has no bearing in any respect on them profitable a title. Seeding is vital, however the Celtics have been the very best highway group in basketball this season. A 24-14 file away from TD Backyard is freakishly good and an 8-4 highway file within the playoffs final season ought to once more calm anybody’s nerve’s about seeding.

I do know you don’t need to push it, however all of us watched the Celtics win two Sport 7s on the highway simply final playoffs. Heck, I used to be within the constructing for his or her sport towards Miami. Whereas I’ll always remember the sound of Jimmy Butler’s missed 3 clanging off the rim like he threw an precise brick at it, a win is a win is a win.

However regardless of these data and people very spectacular wins, Celtics followers had been shedding their minds over a mid-March loss to the Houston Rockets. Positive, you by no means need to lose to the Rockets at any level, nevertheless it’s JUST one other random highway sport on the schedule. Identical factor with them shedding a barn-burner to the Jazz on the highway a couple of days later. Paradoxically, regardless of Celtics followers claiming the sky is falling, the Celtics would face off towards the Sacramento Kings, the #2 seed within the West, simply eight days later and beat them by virtually 30 in their very own home. One thing isn’t matching up right here.

After all of the chaos and tumultuousness because the All-Star break, the Celtics presently sit at 51-23. Regardless of a rookie coach, Rob Williams enjoying 30 video games, Marcus Sensible coping with accidents, and Jayson Tatum taking pictures sub-30% on pull-up 3s, the Celtics have already handed their win whole from final season. After one of many nice 2nd half runs in NBA historical past, the 2021-2022 Celtics completed the season 51-31. This group will simply surpass that quantity and would possibly even move the 2017-2018 group that completed with 55 wins. They’ve the third greatest offensive score, the 4th greatest defensive score. They lead the NBA in web score! This group is basically, actually good!

I’m unsure if it’s a case of ridiculously excessive expectations, nevertheless it looks like nobody moreover the meanly titled “inexperienced teamers” are even having fun with this season anymore. By the way in which, can we finish that time period? Shaming individuals for being constructive in the direction of the group they help is a resoundingly bizarre factor to do, particularly for a fanbase that’s as massive because the Celtics.

Anyway, my bigger level is that watching a very good basketball group is meant to be enjoyable. The Celtics are about to complete their seventh straight season of 48+ wins (I’m overtly ignoring the 2020-21 COVID season), they’ve the 2nd most wins within the NBA in that span with 343! That’s a whole lot of profitable!

Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Pictures

I urge of you Celtics followers, take pleasure in this group. The title run is right here, Rob Williams is again, Tatum seems to be like himself once more, Jaylen Brown has been face-meltingly scorching for a month now. It’s time to de-clench and get behind this group once more.

Earlier than we shut this out, let’s even have an actual dialog about Jaylen Brown. To begin with, I believe we must always all respect how advanced of a human being he’s, but additionally how prepared he’s to share that facet of him with the fanbase. Most athletes are very guarded and refuse to point out their hand. Jaylen has all the time been fairly clear about the place his head is at and the place his priorities are. He’s not with out errors or missteps, supporting Kanye West within the midst of his controversy will not be the very best look, however he’s given adequate explanations for his relationship and has publicly moved on from it.

After two latest interviews the place he talked about his previous and future with the Celtics, I believe the Celtics fanbase was cut up virtually in half on receiving information that an athlete needs to be paid the utmost quantity by the group they play for. It was a bit startling, none of his quotes steered he didn’t need to play for the group or was actively trying to go away. Right here is the total quote:

“We’ll see how they really feel about me over time and I really feel about them over time. Hopefully, no matter it’s, it is smart. However I’ll keep the place I’m needed. I’ll keep the place I’m wanted and handled appropriate.”

Perhaps I’m simply biased, however this looks as if a reasonably simple quote. “I’ll keep the place I’m needed. I’ll keep the place I’m wanted and handled appropriate.” That claims to me, if the Celtics pay me what I’m price, I’ve no motive to go away. Isn’t…isn’t {that a} fully regular factor to say? Don’t all of us need to be correctly paid and revered by our employers?

To not point out, he’s a VP with the NBPA! His complete job is to publicly and privately symbolize the participant’s curiosity as a complete. Him taking below-market offers or publicly stating that he’s going to remain it doesn’t matter what wouldn’t mirror properly on his place. In the event you concentrate, he has said a number of instances how a lot he cares about his VP function. I don’t assume he’s going to sacrifice that simply to make Celtics followers comfortable throughout interviews. I believe when you take an goal have a look at this case, Jaylen Brown will possible be a Boston Celtic for a really very long time if they’re prepared to pay him what he’s price. I can’t think about him leaving a championship-contending group in its prime if they provide him the total max, however even when he does, he’s given Celtics followers every thing he may throughout his time right here, regardless of them not likely giving him that very same respect again.

I believe Celtics followers have been caught up an excessive amount of within the trivia of this season. It’s simple to get sucked in with expectations being this excessive, however when you broaden the scope, the scenario seems to be way more promising. #2 seed within the East. Staff getting wholesome on the proper time. Jaylen Brown taking one other leap on the court docket. Tatum being aggressive on the rim once more. Rob Williams is definitely on the court docket, enjoying basketball!

When the Celtics are in the midst of their playoff run in a few month’s time, nobody goes to be fascinated by a random loss to the Rockets in March, we’re all going to be on the edges of our seats hoping they will get via one other powerful Japanese Convention playoff bracket. This can be a particular group enjoying for a particular franchise hoping to get to the very pinnacle of the game. I’m not a playing man, but when I used to be, I do know the place I’d put my cash proper now.