Boston Celtics: What we learned from the loss against Golden State
The Boston Celtics lost against the Golden State Warriors, 115-111 on Saturday night. However, there’s plenty the Celtics revealed about themselves in what was a battle of heavyweights.
Game of the year? Possibly. Whenever the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors get together, it’s always immensely entertaining. The two teams match up so well that it’s seen as the ideal NBA Finals clash.
The Celtics dropped their game against the Dubs at the Garden, but they showed exactly where they stand as they went toe-to-toe with the reigning champs.
First of all, Kyrie Irving and Steph Curry remain the best guards in the league
It’s not even a debate. Those two are the top tier, and while it’s easy to point out how James Harden and other stars have been playing outstanding basketball, Irving and Curry are the flashiest and the best at what they do.
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They match up perfectly, flashy passes and fancy dribbling for days. They can go one-on-one for a full 48 minutes, but are also the undisputed leaders of their respected clubs and can get their teammates involved with no problem.
Secondly, Gordon Hayward is going to be important in the postseason
There’s a tremendous amount of Gordon Hayward slander going around, and honestly guys…I am not here for it. Hayward just had a baby so it’s clearly a busy time in his life, but more than anything the more Gordon plays, the easier it is to see that he isn’t mentally back to where he needs to be.
The idea that he has to be traded though?
That’s too far. He’s going to get to where he needs to be, and he’s shown flashes. It’s going to take time though, and it’s not something any fan wants to hear but it’s true.
An injury of that magnitude isn’t easy to bounce back from, and it probably won’t be until next season that Gordon Hayward starts being more consistent. However, his experience and skill set will be important in the playoffs.
He can lead the second unit, and contributes to every part of the game if he’s not directly scoring. The rest of the regular season should be preparation to get him into the exact right form for what is hopefully a long postseason run.
Third, Robert Williams could have helped
Robert Williams‘ length against Golden State would have been a big help, especially to keep the Warriors out of the lane. Golden State was snagging offensive rebounds and Williams’ incredible athleticism would have allowed him to sky for some rebounds and he may have been able to help steal away some points from the Warriors.
He’s agile enough to stick with guys and as he keeps learning he’s only going to get better. They don’t need much out of him, and seeing him in the re-match in March would be a fun wrinkle for Brad Stevens to throw in.
Basically, the Celtics have work to do.
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This isn’t news, but Saturday night’s game was encouraging. The Boston Celtics are building toward’s something and as we enter the halfway point of the season, it’s fair to say they’ve come a long way. If they can figure out some inconsistencies, that rematch in March won’t be the last time they’ll see Golden State.