The Boston Celtics just demolished the Golden State Warriors by 40 points. It’s a reminder of why we shouldn’t panic, even when the team goes through rough patches. This is what the Celtics can look like when they’re firing on all cylinders.
But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: boredom. Is it really the culprit behind the Celtics’ recent inconsistency?
Jayson Tatum touched on this after the game. He recalled a season where they tried to rush back to the Finals, skipping steps along the way. It cost them. Last year, they didn’t get bored with the process, and look what happened – they won a championship.
So, if Tatum understands the dangers of boredom, why would they fall into that trap again?
Maybe it’s not boredom at all. It could be fatigue, both mental and physical. We’ve all had those days at work where we’re double-fisting coffee just to get through. The Celtics might be experiencing something similar.
Winning a championship takes a lot out of you. There’s only so much you can give, and the Celtics might be trying to conserve energy for when it really matters. They can’t give their best shot to every team that’s gunning for them right now.
Jaylen Brown’s performance is a great indicator of the team’s energy level. When he’s engaged, the Celtics are great. Against the Warriors, he spent significant time guarding Steph Curry – that’s the kind of engagement we need to see consistently.
The recent lineup tweaks might also play a role. Joe Mazzulla has been experimenting with Tatum playing the entire first quarter, while Brown anchors the second unit. It’s an adjustment, and it might take some time for players to settle into new roles.
For Brown, being the tone-setter at the start of games seems important. When he’s scoring 15 points in the first quarter, it sets the Celtics up for success. Maybe getting back to that rotation could help unlock his best play.
The good news? Kristaps Porzingis looks like he’s getting back to form. If he and Brown can find their comfort zones, this Warriors game could be the start of the Celtics picking things up again.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Celtics’ recent performance, tune into the Locked On Celtics podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Celtics Podcast:
• The importance of Joe Mazzulla’s emotional intelligence in managing players
• How the starting lineup dynamics affect bench performance
• The challenge of maintaining consistency with lineup changes due to back-to-backs
