Though the Celtics returned home with three wins, they didn't play their best throughout their four-game road trip as ghosts of their past reemerged.
The Celtics know they can and must play better and that relying solely on talent is a risky game.
“We’re talented, and because of that, sometimes you can win games just based off of that,” Kristaps Porzingis said following Boston’s loss to Charlotte. “We don’t want to become that. We want to be a team that shows up and plays the same way no matter who we’re playing against.”
In the end, the Celtics will be just fine. After all, they still have the NBA’s best record at 11-3. It’s all part of the inevitable ups and downs of an 82-game slate. Besides, if you finish 3-1 over a supposed lull, is it really all that bad?
They’re not going to be perfect. There will be times when the Celtics lack discipline and focus and it burns them. However, they can’t let it become a trend, and that’s where we’ll start this pre-Thanksgiving Celtics notebook.
Can’t let recent mishaps become a trend
Blown leads, chronic lack of focus, and poor execution down the stretch. All factors that have hindered the Celtics from accomplishing their ultimate goal and all bad habits that have resurfaced in Boston’s last three games.
Though it only resulted in one loss, the Celtics blew a double-digit lead in each of their four games. In fairness, leads aren’t as safe as they once were due to how effectively offenses can score in bunches. However, when the Celtics build these big leads, especially against inferior opponents, they need to find a way to stay focused and keep their foot on the gas.
As for their execution late in games, prior to Sunday night’s game against the Grizzlies, executing in the clutch was a strength of the 2023-24 Celtics. For whatever reason, they got away from the things they had found success with in those situations and reverted to the Celtics of old.
This Celtics team has shown they can execute down the stretch, it's just a matter of playing the right way.
On the In-Season Tournament
The Celtics are in Orlando for a mid-afternoon matinée against the Magic on Friday as they will play the third game on their four-game In-Season Tournament slate.
The tournament consists of two stages - Group Play and Knockout Rounds.
For Group Play, all 30 teams were randomly selected into six groups of five (three in each in conference) based on their win-loss record from last season. The Celtics are in “East Group C” alongside the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, and Orlando Magic.
With a win on Friday, the Celtics would clinch their group and a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Knockout Rounds, which begin with the quarterfinals on December 4, will be single-elimination and home court will be awarded to the two teams with the best record in Group Play games. The Semifinals and Championship will take place at a neutral site in Las Vegas.
Tiebreakers will come down to point differential, followed by total points scored.
If the Celtics beat Orlando on Friday and Chicago on Tuesday, the Celtics would finish Group Play 4-0.
The only other Eastern Conference teams that can finish Group Play 4-0 are the Indiana Pacers, who host the Pistons on Friday, and the Milwaukee Bucks or Miami Heat, who play each other on Tuesday.
For what it’s worth, the Bucks have a +19 advantage over the Celtics in point differential.
So Celtics fans interested in the In-Season Tournament should keep an eye on Indiana, Milwaukee, and Miami.
Paul Pierce’s continued praise of Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum has made some incredible strides as a scorer this season.
The 25-year-old is averaging 28.2 points per game on 50.7% shooting from the field and 38.4% from deep, using all three levels to score.
According to Cleaning The Glass, 33% of Tatum’s shots this season have come at the rim (layups, dunks, and tipped shots), 26% from midrange, and 41% from three.
Tatum has also developed a lethal post-up game, posting up 11.3% of the time, averaging 1.35 points per possession, good for fifth-best in the league, and scoring on 70% of his post-up possessions (third in the league).
Tatum’s post-ups have been huge for the Celtics, as posting up has become a big piece of their offense.
As Tatum puts together yet another All-NBA campaign, his growth hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Celtic legend Paul Pierce, who has spent time at the practice facility this season and worked with Tatum over the offseason, believes Tatum has grown to be the best American-born player in the league, passing the likes of Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
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