Boston Celtics set the pace in Indiana: 3 reasons fans are smiling

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Boston Celtics Aron Baynes (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /

They really can turn on the switch

The 117-97 win against the Indiana Pacers was definitely a statement win for a Boston Celtics team that seemed to be going through the motions most of the season.

When Kyrie Irving said this team just needed to get to the postseason and games that mattered, fans and critics of the team were skeptical, but what they have shown against the Miami Heat and Pacers over the past week is that they are a very hard team to beat when they are engaged.

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Without Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier, who left the game due to illness, the Celtics proved exactly how talented and deep of a team they are. A lot of that has had to do with health.

We are seeing the impact Aron Baynes has when healthy and of course there is Gordon Hayward, who is showing his All-Star form once again. Both players have been able to establish a tone on the defensive and offensive end that is allowing Celtics head coach Brad Stevens to be more creative with his rotations and working certain matchups.

It was all on display Friday night in Indiana where execution, not momentum carried this talented and engaged Celtics team.

"“I don’t think it was one of those games where it wasn’t about momentum, it was about winning every possession,” Stevens said following the game. “I think they are really tough…it wasn’t their best game, we know that. If you’re not locked in in the moment, they’ll beat you up…we just have to maintain that throughout the game. It was a series of making singles, not playing in runs.”"

That goes back to turning on the switch.

The Boston Celtics have simply been playing for each other the last few games and it is really showing on the court during important times in the game on both ends of the court.

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