Tied for first. Three words inconceivable to associate with the Celtics in that order when January started, unless “not in” was preceding. Yet here we are, Boston is now tied for first place in the Eastern Conference standings with the Heat — who are trending in the opposite direction, but that’s a conversation for another day.
The same group that took the floor Sunday was complaining earlier in the season about ball movement. Somehow, the Celtics have gone from that to throwing alley-oops to one another off the backboard in transition while demolishing a Western Conference playoff team for the third time in four games.
But those kinds of plays, and the Celtics thrashing the same Minnesota team ranked eighth in the NBA in net rating 134-112, are further proof Boston isn’t simply on a heater. The talent is fully surfacing and gelling with the chemistry seamlessly.
“I think we’re just responding better,” Jayson Tatum said when asked about his team’s ability to handle runs opposing teams go on game-to-game. “As much as we can, we try to limit teams or limit guys. But it’s the NBA, guys are extremely talented. There’s going to be stretches where they go on runs and hit shots. But it’s all about how you respond.
“Early in the season, we struggled with that. But it’s something we found our identity on as of late, and we kind of know how to bounce back.”
“Bounce back” is putting it lightly. That would indicate teams are hitting the Celtics back hard. But for a long while now, it’s seemed like every team trying to respond to Boston’s haymakers is just punching water. The issue of the Celtics not setting the tone has become a nonfactor. Whether it’s good shooting, unstoppable ball movement or consistently suffocating defense that leads to transition offense, Boston is too much for everyone.
If this keeps up, there’s no reason for them to fear anyone on any given night — be it in the regular season or the playoffs.
“Teams manipulate where they want to play (in the postseason), and we’re not concerned about that,” Ime Udoka said after Sunday’s 22-point win. “Ours is winning, health and playing the best basketball at the right time. … There’s too much closeness to try to maneuver (or) manipulate things. Pick an opponent, you can go one to four, and five, six, seven can flip in a night. So we’re not concerned with that.
“As far as resting, that’s the main thing. We got some guys who’ve got some knicks now. Got to be smart about it. Home court advantage is the main thing, and wherever the chips fall, they kind of fall.”
While the Celtics probably won’t continue to blow out every postseason-caliber team they face moving forward, the adjustments made aren’t temporary fixes. Udoka has been consistent with his message and planning throughout the year. These are foundational adjustments that should carry this team even on poor shooting nights, turning them into a legitimate No. 1 seed in the East.
“The main thing that we’ve seen is consistency over the last few months (in) a lot of areas that we really targeted. Offensively, sharing the ball. Defensively, coming out with that mindset. Playing with a sense of urgency, getting off to better starts,” Udoka said. “So, the consistency is what we’ve done, and there’s no reason to go back on that. We see the success it’s brought us, and the unselfishness is contagious — everybody cheering for each other, playing a certain way. No reason to think that’ll fall back at all. We see what works and what didn’t work early on in the year. Fine-tuned a few things. Guys understand that, and it’s a pretty simple message: Play the same way we have to get us where we are.”