The Boston Celtics return home from a 3-1 west coast trip in which they appeared to find team unity, but there are four ways they can redeem the season and go far in the playoffs.
The Boston Celtics appeared to get things going in the right direction on their four-game West coast trip following a tumultuous four-game losing streak coming out of the NBA All-Star break. Despite a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers to end the trip, there is still encouragement about the team closing out the season.
With a 41-27 record, the Celtics currently sit in the No. 5 seed in the East, which is disappointing considering the expectations the team had coming into the season. That aura of disappointment has blanketed the team throughout the first half of the season.
Not only did it have Kyrie Irving barking back at the media and fans calling for a Gordon Hayward trade, it created a “toxic” environment in the locker room that most of the players feel healed itself during a long plane ride out west.
It certainly appeared that way as the team played Boston Celtics basketball in blowing out the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors to start the trip. With that win, it appeared things clicked with the team. The camaraderie and trust both on offensive and defensive ends of the court showed a glimpse of what the Celtics could be and who they should be as a championship contender.
In an up-and-down season, a few games won’t spark complete confidence from Celtics fans, but the way they played and how they are now believing in one another should give a glimpse of hope that a so-far disappointing 2018-19 season can be redeemed.
To do so, the Celtics will have to go very deep in the playoffs, if not win it all. Here are four things
they need to be the team they themselves believe they can be.
Above “average” Al Horford
Due to all the drama on and off the court, the one positive that has been overlooked is the play of veteran big man Al Horford.
As the sometimes forgotten star on the team, Horford has really stepped up his game offensively and defensively.
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Since the All-Star break, Horford is averaging 14.9 points and is looking great in the two-man game with Kyrie Irving. Along with his ability to pass the ball, Horford makes the Boston Celtics a tough team to beat when he is playing at a high level.
With his health now being back to a point where he can compete at a physical level game-to-game, Horford recognizes himself that he is playing the best basketball he has players perhaps since he joined the team.
"“It’s fair to say I’m playing my best basketball of the year, probably since I’ve been in Boston, to be honest,” Horford told the media following the team’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers. “I’m at a really good point in my career right now. Just the way coach is using me, and I can bring to the team, I’m at my best right now.”"
For the Celtics to go far, Al Horford will have to consistently play at an All-Star level, especially with some of the teams and big men the team will have to face in the playoffs.
Joel Embiid, Marc Gasol, Brook Lopez are just three of the big men who come to mind. Horford’s ability to defend and stretch the court offensively will help offset any disadvantage the team has in those potential matchups.
The continued progression of Jaylen Brown
The play of Jaylen Brown off the bench over the last few weeks has been encouraging. His level of play both offensively and defensively needs to be consistent for the Boston Celtics to have a shot to go far in the playoffs.
After starting the 2018-19 NFL campaign on a down note, Brown has changed his attitude on and off the court as the season has progressed and so has his defensive intensity. He has also developed a nice mid-range shot which has made him a more versatile player on offense who can create his own shot from anywhere on the floor.
Simply put, Brown along with Jayson Tatum have to be the players they were during last year’s deep playoff run as acknowledged by ESPN First Take co-host Stephen A. Smith.
"“The biggest reason for the Celtics run, if they’re gonna win anything, is Jayson Tatum along with Jaylen Brown,” Smith said on a recent episode of First Take. “You got to get back to what worked last year. You got to get these two guys going. Jayson Tatum has been coming on strong of late, averaging 16 a game, shooting 45 percent from the field, making things happen. He needs to continue making things happen.”"
That same sentiment goes for Jaylen Brown. The confidence he exhibited during last year’s run is a must if he is to continue to be a factor off the bench and thus help the Boston Celtics fulfill their NBA Finals aspirations and predictions.
Gordon Hayward’s consistency
The most promising part of the four-game West Coast swing was the play of Gordon Hayward.
With a 30-point performance against the Golden State Warriors and a game-winning shot against the Sacramento Kings, it appears the Gordon Hayward the Boston Celtics signed to a max deal has found his game.
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He may not be completely back to All-Star form, but a productive Hayward will be vital to the Celtics NBA Finals hope. As confidence and a continued aggressive approach to the game will the key to his consistency, having Hayward play close to how he played against the Warriors makes the Celtics a tough team to beat.
Coming off a season-ending lower leg injury, Gordon Hayward finding his way physically and mentally towards the end of the season and into the playoffs would help ease all the frustration he has battled throughout the season.
In all, he needs to score above the 11.0 ppg he has averaged all season and have an impact on the game whenever he enters. That involves being a playmaker and being less a liability on the defensive side of the court.
Kyrie Irving’s leadership
Kyrie Irving has struggled with his leadership role throughout the season. From his feud with the media to calling out his young teammates, Irving hasn’t been the leader he left LeBron James to be.
In fact, he turned to James for advice on how to lead a team full of young talent. While the ups and downs of this NBA season should be used as a learning tool for the young players Irving has called out, it also has been a learning experience for him as a superstar in the league.
Within his annoyance with the pressures of NBA stardom, Kyrie Irving has learned that it is his play and attitude on the court and in the locker room that ultimately translates to leadership. In believing in his teammates and trusting in their ability, he is showing them that recognizes their growth.
The best thing about Irving’s transformation over the last week or so is that he is taking accountability for his role in the team’s struggles. From apologizing to the media to openly applauding his teammates, the five-time All-Star is showing his own maturity.
To get past teams like the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks, the Boston Celtics need Kyrie Irving to flourish as one of the leaders. That means sharing the role with either Al Horford or Gordon Hayward or even both.