Boston Celtics: Charles Barkley spot on with this 1994 team comparison

The Boston Celtics have a habit of proving NBA analyst Charles Barkley wrong, but the NBA legend is spot on in comparing team to the 1994 Phoenix Suns.

With the talent and depth the Boston Celtics have, there is no doubt the 38-25 record they have posted thus far in the 2018-19 NBA season has been the biggest disappointment.

If it wasn’t for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers barely staying afloat to even make the players, the Celtics currently stuck in the No. 5 position in the Eastern Conference would be biggest story of surprise in the NBA.  Yet, Kyrie Irving is still confident the team will turn it on come playoff time.

That confidence is all good, but NBA legend Charles Barkley knows it isn’t exactly that easy.  In an interview with the Sporting News, Barkley sees the same qualities in this Boston Celtics team as he saw with the Suns when he joined back in 1994.

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In fact, his mindset was exactly the same as many of the Celtics players following a trip to the NBA Finals just a season prior.

"“When I first went to Phoenix,” Barkley said.  “We got together and I said, ‘We’re going to go to the Finals, and we’re going to play the Bulls.’ I remember having that conversation. ‘We’re going to play the Bulls for the championship, and I think we’re going to win.’”"

That certainly sounds like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum with their guarantees about how far the Boston Celtics will go.  Like that talented Phoenix Suns team, the Celtics have mostly slept walk through the regular season.

What chemistry?

In trying to work Gordon Hayward back into the lineup, guys have accepted roles and therefore Brad Stevens is battling a chemistry issue with the team.  While Brown has found his game again coming off the bench, Terry Rozier has regressed to the point where he has become a liability when he is in the game on most nights.

Jayson Tatum has been mostly good, but even his play seems stagnant at times.  So, is it really chemistry or is it just a lack of “soul” like Marcus Morris has described?  Whatever it is, the Celtics led by Kyrie Irving and Al Horford have a chance to save the season and prove Charles Barkley wrong once again.  But, at this point in the season, even they have to admit Barkley is spot on.

"“I said it is going to be interesting with this Celtics team because Tatum and Brown got a chance to have the limelight.  They’re going to want them to take a step back with Kyrie and Gordon back.  I said that s— is not going to work.  And it’s not working,” Barkley said.  “And then, Rozier is like, ‘S—, I’m trying to get a deal.  I’m not trying to be Kyrie’s backup.’  It’s just there now.  I’ll be honest with you.  I don’t know if they can come out of it.”"

That may be where Charles Barkley is wrong.  Let’s hope so at least.  Except for Gordon Hayward, this is basically the same team that played through the 2017-18 regular season.  They know how to play with Kyrie Irving so that chemistry could be found again, especially if Hayward becomes a more consistent contributor.

What it mostly comes down to is the team buying in once again on the defensive end.  They have to find that trust within one another they had and just play with a sense of urgency.  Once they do that consistently, perhaps they can indeed turn it on in the playoffs and become the Boston Celtics team fans and the entire league has been waiting for.

If they do, Kyrie Irving may just have the last laugh with the media for sure.