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Boston Celtics: 3 ways the Golden State Warriors restored team’s swag

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 19: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics and Marcus Smart #36 laugh together during the game against the Phoenix Suns at TD Garden on December 19, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Suns defeat the Celtics 111-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 19: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics and Marcus Smart #36 laugh together during the game against the Phoenix Suns at TD Garden on December 19, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Suns defeat the Celtics 111-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

The Boston Celtics handed the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors their worst home loss in franchise history and found their identity while doing so.

They were defending, they were aggressive offensively and most importantly they were smiling.  In Tuesday night’s 128-95 thrashing of the Golden State Warriors, the Boston Celtics not only rediscovered their winning ways and winning attitude, they also got their swag back.

Led by Gordon Hayward and his 30-point performance, the Celtics jumped out against the defending NBA champions at Oracle arena and played their most complete game of the season.

With a season-high 38 assists, the ball movement was there, and the shots were going down. Everyone played well in this game.  Jaylen Brown was aggressive to the rim, Hayward looked like the Hayward of old, Jayson Tatum played big on both ends of the court and Kyrie Irving simply did Kyrie Irving things by setting up his teammates, picking his spots to take his shots and Uncle Drew even took a charge defensively.

Where did these Boston Celtics come from?

After Brown described the team’s underachieving as “toxic,” it appears the team has found something on their long flight to the Bay Area and it has them looking like the Celtics team that was predicted to give the Warriors some big-time competition in the NBA Finals.

With the much-needed victory, Irving and the Celtics proved they can compete with the best.  What they have to do going forward is sustain it and play the way they played Tuesday night consistently.  Even when the shots aren’t falling, part of that consistent play is battling through the hard times.

"“Obviously, we’re not going to make every shot like we did tonight,” Irving said following the game, as transcribed by WEEI.  “I told these guys, we’re going to have to battle through some tougher road games as we continue to go on and we have to be able to stay the course, stay together and still have a defensive identity. We’ll be fine every single game if we do that and we stay connected.”"

Perhaps now is when that leadership begins to kick in.

In all, it was just one game, but here are three ways the Golden State Warriors helped the Boston Celtics find their swagger again.

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