After Another Clutch Win, The Celtics Are Slowly But Surely Turning Their Season Around

Abbie Parr. Getty Images.

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You woke up this morning to a Boston Celtics team that has won 4 in a row, 6 of their last 7, owns the longest active winning streak in the East, and sits in the 5 spot just 1.0 games from a top 4 seed. When the Celts headed out West, I think most people would have been happy to split the first two games. The goal was to come back at least 2-1 and continue to show signs of playing the right way and building momentum towards the postseason. Well, here we sit, now winners of both games to kick this trip off against two pretty good teams last time I checked. Both have guy who make up the top 3 of MVP voting. Yet it was the Celtics that had the best player on the floor in both of these games.

The journey of saving this Celtics season is a long one. It's not anywhere close to being finished. I'll be consistent here now that things are on the positive side. A singular win doesn't really change anything. The Celts are just 3 games over .500, that's not what I would call "good", but big picture we're starting to see a team that looks like it's figuring things out. This is a team that's been one of the best in the league since the trade deadline

Record: 8-3 (4th most wins)

Offense: 114.4 (9th)

Defense: 107.1 (5th)

Net rating: +7.3 (4th)

As amazing as someone like Jayson Tatum has been during this stretch, it's not hard to understand why we've seen the Celts have a little mini turnaround here. It's their defense. Until this team showed that they were committed to fixing their defensive issues, nothing was ever going to change. Now that they have, look at how much better things are. It's getting harder and harder for people to discredit what we are seeing because it doesn't come "against good teams". Well now what. 

We were looking for signs that this team was actually going to turn things around. To show some level of consistency. So far, that's exactly what we've had since the deadline. All without the main guy they even traded for at the deadline by the way.

Crazy what can happen when this team finally has its main rotation guys healthy and playing. Almost like they are a whole lot better or something. That's a wild concept I know. While they still have way more to prove and the work is no where close to being done in terms of turning around this mostly dogshit season, there's no denying that the Celts have looked a whole lot better. Something we were all begging to see.

The Good

- There are still a group of Celtics fans that are of the thought that Marcus Smart needs to be traded and removed from this team. They were mad that Ainge didn't do something about that this deadline. Do we see why maybe that would have been a mistake? He hasn't been perfect since his return, in fact there were times where I would argue he did more harm than good. But now that he's fully healthy, we're seeing just how valuable and important he is to the turnaround of this team

Ever since that heave against the Pelicans, Smart has turned into a different player. His shot selection has been fantastic and under control, he's shooting 59/50% in the fourth quarter since the trade deadline, and last night was by far the best defensive effort of his season. That was the All Defense Marcus Smart that we know and love. It's not just the eye test either, the actual data backs it up.

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vs Damian Lillard: 21 possessions / 3 points / 1-5 shooting

vs CJ McCollum: 10 possessions / 2 points / 1-3 shooting

They do not win this game without him. That's now the 3rd or so time during this streak that we can say that. What a difference it has made for this team that Smart has transitioned back into his defend first/playmake approach. His FGA are in line with his AST and that makes all the difference in the world. I don't know who it was, but someone got to him. You're telling me you wouldn't take 4-9 (3-5) shooting paired with 7 AST and just 2 TOs with All NBA defense against two of the best guards in the league? What a two way performance.

There are a lot of people who should be credited with this little run, and Marcus Smart is near the top of the list.

- But of course, Jayson Tatum also exists. I'm only slightly still drunk off the Celts Kool Aid as I write this, but we might be witnessing the best version of Jayson Tatum we've ever seen. 

It's starting to get a little scary. He's well on his way to a 2nd All NBA season, now that he's fully past his covid issues look at what he has returned to being. The production is as elite as you'll see in this league

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Since the deadline, he's turned into one of the best fourth quarter players in the entire league. Now up to 8.3 points on 53/57% shooting in the fourth, it's no surprise the Celts are now 3-0 in their last 3 clutch time games. Tatum is carrying this group when it becomes winning time. This is the player we all know he can be and it's been this way for some time now. Outside of his down month which was clearly impacted by covid, Tatum has been a legit monster this season. The work he's doing on the glass these last 3-4 games has also been huge. He's engaged defensively, and then on the offensive end we're seeing a version of Tatum that is playing with the aggressiveness we've always wanted. He's not really setting for iso ball during this stretch and again, look at how much better they look.

Last night was a great example of why I'll never care if Tatum decides to take the side step three in a big moment, make or miss. I know he can make that shot. He out clutched Damian fucking Lillard for crying out loud. The man was 8-12 in the second half, basically getting whatever he wanted offensively. It was beautiful to watch. He's had double digit FTA in 2 of his last 3 games, can you imagine what he'll look like if he continues to get the star whistle he so rightfully deserves? 

- It's not a coincidence that this team is finding ways to win games in which they have 30 assists on 42 FGM. Three players with at least 5 assists. They are sharing the ball, passing up good shots for great shots, and the Basketball Gods are rewarding them. Kemba and Smart have been so much better in the playmaking department over this stretch it's refreshing to see them actually make defenses move. 

- You sometimes forget when Tatum goes on one of these runs that this team also has Jaylen Brown. You know, another All Star 20 something wing. Imagine being someone that truly believes and said out loud that it was time to break these two up. That he and Tatum can't work together. What are those people watching

As good as Tatum has been, Jaylen is right there with him. Now up to 22.6/6.7/2.0 on 49/43% with 3.3 3PM in the month of April. It appears that his knee issues are finally behind him. The fact that they are getting this type of efficiency from Jaylen has been gigantic for this team's offense. We're seeing Jaylen get into the midrange and thrive, finish at the rim, and once he does that it opens up his three point shot.

Defensively I'd say we're getting a more consistent effort as well. His on ball defense has improved, and we're seeing fewer mental mistakes. He may not get the headlines, but he's been VERY good for the Celts during this stretch. I just want that to be known.

- It was a welcomed sight to see Kemba get off to a great start after all these games of him really struggling early. If this is the version of Kemba this team can get for the rest of the way and the playoffs, it raises their ceiling for sure

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What I liked most about Kemba's night was during the stretch where he legit could not hit a shot after his hot start, I think he missed like 6 or 7 straight, Kemba still found ways to make an impact. The way he moved the ball and found buckets for his teammates was exactly what I want him to do in that situation. I'll take 21/8/7 on 41/36% splits with 4 3PM. I wouldn't have a touch more efficiency but that's pretty much in line with what Kemba has been his entire career. Defensively, he wasn't terrible holding McCollum to just 2-7 shooting as his primary defender. It was passable. 

There's no denying that he's struggled shooting the ball so far in April especially from three, just 41/29% this month, but he's been a whole lot better as a playmaking (7.0 AST), while barely turning it over (1.5). If his scoring can come around as a consistent #3 guy like we saw in this game and he continues to pass the ball like we've seen, they can win with this version of Kemba.

- It didn't even really feel like Rob played all that well and then you look down and he has 16/7/4 on 8-12 shooting

Surprisingly he didn't finish with a block or a steal, but you felt his impact for sure. He held both Nurkic and Kanter scoreless on a total of 20 possessions. Nurkic usually destroys this team and there Rob was, basically making him a non factor. That was certainly a surprise.

- For a game that had 24 lead changes and 8 ties and required the Celts to come up huge in clutch moments, it's hard to not be really pleased with how they won this game. They kept punching. They didn't sulk when the Blazers went on a little 10-0 or 10-2 run. Instead they responded. When McCollum hit that gigantic late three, they immediately came down and made a play of their own. That's the type of resolve that will matter down the stretch.

- Every fiber of my being believes that making your fourth quarter FTs is important. So the fact that missing two fourth quarter FTs was in fact how this team won really broke my brain. I'm not sure how to process that. I was certain that Dame heave was going to drop because that's how things have gone so far this season. What a prayer.

The Bad

- We're starting to see one of my biggest worries come true. I think Payton Pritchard might be hitting the rookie wall. He was just 1-7 (0-3) last night, and he's shooting just 30/23.5% this month. He's now the primary backup point guard and it's why I felt like maybe it was worth bringing in a NBA vet point guard at the deadline. Maybe this won't matter when Fournier is back and Brad can run the offense through him, but they need Pritchard to be more impactful in his minutes. If he's not going to score, he needs to be a facilitator yet he only has a total of 2 assists in his last 3 games.

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- To be honest, none of the bench played all that well offensively. They had a total of 10 points on 4-14 shooting. That's not great! I dunno about you, but I am counting down the days until Evan Fournier is back. Even if you don't think he's a savior, at least he gives this team a legit offensive threat in the second unit. As we can all see, they desperately need it.

- Of course Melo goes vintage Melo and drops 25 off the bench. One of his best performances of the entire season. You go scoreless against the Heat but do that last night. Very cool. Credit him for making shots but jesus christ.

The Ugly

- Still don't love the fact that the Celts are surrendering so many 3s. Another 17 last night, while their individual defense on Dame/CJ was good, that number is still way too high. They normally live around the 12-13 range when their defense is truly at its best. That's the last stage for me in terms of believing that this defense is back to where it needs to be. It's not rim protection, it's not points in the paint, it's defending the three point line. This team does that, they can beat anyone in the league. Can they? That remains to be seen.

- Grant's foul to end the half about 50 ft away from the basket while in the bonus was one of the worst fouls these eyes have ever seen. Sadly, he has had a lot of those this season.

The Celts now have an opportunity to close this trip out with a win against a depleted Lakers team. What I don't want to see is the Celts show up and just assume they'll win because the Lakers are injured. That shit never works. Play with the same type of intensity and approach we've seen at the start of this trip and you can really have something brewing. They are showing signs of being the team we know they can be, but there is still more work to be done. Now is not the time to take steps backwards, keep that pedal to the metal and let's go on a run.