Boston Celtics: On the road, out west, the enigma continues

Guessing what version of the Boston Celtics will show up on any given night has been a fun little game in 2018-19. Out west, the championship contenders have returned.

Is it possible the Boston Celtics have just been toying with everyone this entire time? Maybe Kyrie Irving was right when he told reporters after a recent ugly loss, “I still don’t see anyone beating us in seven games.”

Much like a punishment-filled practice filled with running ladders, the Celtics have experienced quite a few ups-and-downs in 2018-19. Outside of the locker room, judgement has been passed, believing the Celtics a team with discontent and a lack of chemistry. Speculation swirls as to who should be starting, with trade rumors and constant talk of Irving’s impending free agency also in the air.

And of course, a favorite talking point: when will Gordon Hayward return to form?

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The first two games of this four-game California-swing have returned a taste of hope to the Celtic faithful. First, there was a dismantling of the Golden State Warriors, a near-perfect performance from start to finish. Second, there was a last-second victory over the upstart Sacramento Kings, on a night when the Celtics again played without Irving (for the 12th time this season).

Hayward was the star in both games, in different ways. Against the Warriors, Hayward had a game reminiscent of his time in Utah, dropping 30 points on 12-16 shooting. And against the Kings, he didn’t have quite the same game (12 points), but hit the game-winner.

Rushing out to purchase championship banner 18 might be a bold move, but the Celtics appear to have taken steps to finally get on the same page. And have found a way to make basketball fun again.

An enigma on the court

In a vacuum, if looking at only stats, the Boston Celtics have the makings of a top-5 team. They are near the top in three-pointers made and hold opponents to 106.6 points per game, good for fourth in the NBA. Individually, Irving is having one of the best seasons of his career.

Collectively, however, the “it” factor has gone missing for stretches of games at a time. One week, the Celtics are stringing together victories in style. The next week, they are getting throttled by the Chicago Bulls.

Do these results simply boil down to boredom? No longer are they the scrappy underdogs or coming together in the face of adversity. Boston is a team that had high expectations placed on their shoulders and perhaps they’ve sleepwalked their way through chunks of the season.

Or maybe this is a team that knows their ability and their potential, conserving their energy until just the right moment. Playing good enough to make the playoffs, but not horrible enough to fall out of contention. Setting records for victories is fine, but winning when it matters is even better.

It would be understandable if this were the case. The Celtics, even as frustrating as their play has been, could easily be prepping for greatness.

Games against the Los Angeles Lakers, who are going through a disappointing season of their own, and the Los Angeles Clippers remain on the west coast trip. A 4-0 finish to this trip would be the perfect way to start the stretch run.

Sixteen games remain, nine against teams currently in playoff position. We’ve been waiting around most of the season to see the championship play of the Celtics. Hopefully, patience has finally paid off.