Boston Celtics prove they are their own toughest competition

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens says the team is “not as good as advertised” following a 102-95 preseason loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.

No LeBron James, no problem for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was just a preseason game, but the Boston Celtics looked like a team still chasing the Cavs through most of the game at TD Garden Tuesday night.

There was no Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward is still working his way back into the flow of the game, but those are no excuses for a team as deep and talented as the Celtics.  In losing their second of three preseason games, it’s not the losses that has head coach Brad Stevens frustrated, it is the way his team has played or haven’t played.

"“We’re not as good as advertised right now,” Stevens said following the game, via NBC Sports Boston.  “So at least we know that.”"

Although just an exhibition game, what Tuesday night’s 102-95 loss against the Cavaliers proved is that the Boston Celtics are going to get every team’s best effort.  As the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference, it is not the Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers or the Washington Wizards that present the toughest challenge, it is the Celtics themselves.

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Too early for concern?

Coming out with lackluster efforts will cause this team to lose more games than it should.  Especially when they allow a team like the Cavaliers get out to early 20-point leads.  It is something Stevens is preaching even when his players think their struggles are no big deal.

Check out what Jaylen Brown said after the disappointing performance.

"“It’s fair words.  It’s early though,” Brown said of his coach’s comments.  “I mean, let’s not overreact.  It’s a fair assessment from Brad, but at the same time, let’s not jump ship.  Let’s just continue the course.  It’s preseason.”"

Brown does have a point.  We all know this Boston Celtics team is closer to the one who blitzed the Charlotte Hornets in the first half of the first preseason game rather than the one who looked like a team still looking up to the Cavs.

But, simply stepping on the court is not going to get it done.  The Celtics need to continue to play the ball they have become known for and not think they can just cruise into the playoffs.  The Raptors, the Sixers and other Eastern Conference teams are aiming to take them out and take them down.

Talent alone won’t get it done and Brad Stevens knows it.  That is why he is using a preseason, meaningless game in early October to get his point across.

"“No shot we dominate off talent alone.  No team does that,” Stevens warned.  You have to play together, you have to play the right way.  If you have really good players and they all do that, then you can have a special year.”"

It will be very special when the team gets back to Boston Celtics basketball.  That means execution on both sides of the court.  It also means not taking any team lightly.

As good and deep as the Celtics are, if they don’t come to play, there could be more nights like Tuesday night when the games really count.  In that respect, they could be the team standing in their own way.