It was the kind of message you like to see.
After dropping below .500 with a loss to the lowly Kings, the Celtics gathered as a team in the locker room after the game to start looking at themselves in the mirror. The payoff was the kind of performance Brad Stevens and Co. have been starved for, turning in a complete team effort in beating Orlando, 112-96, Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.
This doesn't fix things, by any stretch of the imagination. But it should send a message, to one person in particular -- Danny Ainge.
The argument could be made that it makes no sense for the Celtics' chief decision-maker to swing a deal heading into Thursday's trade deadline. This is a team that still sits 8 1/2 games out of the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
But stranger things have happened when it comes to talented teams turning things around heading into the final months of the season. The C's do, after all, reside just a game back from the conference's No. 4 spot.
If this was a team devoid of top tier talent, the "why bother" crew should absolutely win out. But these Celtics have the necessary foundational pieces, but simply need one more significant perfect piece to complete a palatable blueprint.
Make no mistake about it, if nothing is done by Ainge this week, the season will be over. Good intentions might beat teams like the Magic, but that's about it. He has to know that.
The two players off the bench Sunday with the most minutes were Grant Williams and Semi Ojeleye, each logging 20. No reserve scored more than five points. That is on Ainge, and it should be his responsibility to fix it.
This was a step in the right direction, but it was nothing more than a well-meaning baby step. Now we will find out if these Celtics are serious about no longer running in place.
