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Boston Celtics need to learn how to close out blowout games

By Alan Nahigian

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 03: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden on March 03, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 03: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden on March 03, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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As I was watching the Boston Celtics take on the Brooklyn Nets last night, I thought everything was smooth sailing.

The beloved Celtics outscored the Nets 37-15 in the first quarter. Jaylen Brown was having a typical big first quarter for him. Shots were falling, stops were being made, everything seemed to be trending toward a blowout victory. And then something weird happened.

The Celtics got lackadaisical, careless, and stopped playing their brand of basketball. This saw the Nets come back from a 28 point deficit and beat the Celtics 115-105. So this got me thinking: haven’t we seen this too many times before?

Haven’t we seen the Boston Celtics have big leads and then turn the games into unnecessarily competitive? I know I have! So this all leads to the sudden realization I had thinking about it late last night: the Boston Celtics need to learn how to closeout blowout games.

Boston Celtics getting starters rest in blowout games

One good thing about blowouts is that you can get rest for your starters. This is something that this particular Celtics team can use from time to time.

Jayson Tatum is a prime example. He averages some of the most minutes per game in the entire NBA. Could he use a quarter off to get him ready for the next game? It’s safe to say that’s valid!

Related Story. Celtics and the night they blew a 28-point lead: ‘Analytics’ of a collapse. light

What about a guy like Al Horford? He already doesn’t play the second night of back-to-backs for load management reasons. Wouldn’t we like to have “Big Al” fresh and ready for another (hopefully!) long postseason run?

Then of course, guys like Brown, Robert Williams III, and Marcus Smart could save some minutes for when they’re needed in highly competitive games.

This is something the Celtics need and I’m not sure if they realize it as much as they probably should.

Boston Celtics having Joe Mazzulla getting reserve guys more minutes

We know that Joe Mazzulla was worried about the Celtics collapsing last night. That’s a bad sign when your start of the game looks like it’s heading for an easy win.

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In these blowout type of games, Joe Mazzulla can utilize his bench even more. He has to in order to get to where they all want to get to: an NBA title.

We hear it repeatedly: the Celtics didn’t have enough bench depth to match the Warriors last season.

So in a blowout: guys like Luke Kornet, Payton Pritchard, and Blake Griffin should be getting some minutes. Keep them fresh too in case you need them in the playoffs, in a crucial moment.

This is something the first year Celtics head coach needs to realize moving forward.

The bottom line with the Boston Celtics and blowout games

In order to win a championship, you need to be able to put teams away early and get those easy wins.

Next. Jayson Tatum needs to rediscover his MVP mojo. dark

Championship teams know how to win every type of game during the regular season and especially in the playoffs. Could the Celtics step it up in the postseason? Sure they could! But WILL they is the real question?

Especially if this team wants to get back to the number one seed in the East and keep it, they need to finish blowout type games. Plain and simple. Beat the inferior opponents with ease and get yourself back to that one seed!

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