The Celtics Returned From The All Star Break And Immediately Gave The Warriors The Belt To Kick Off Their Big West Coast Trip

Jed Jacobsohn. Getty Images.

I know that score says 121-110, but do not let that fool you. This was an ass whooping. A true belt to ass situation out in the Bay. The Celts led by as many as 34, and were up by 29 entering the 4th. The deep bench trolled a little bit to start the final frame, the Warriors had a fake comeback and things settled at +11, but don't get it twisted. Celts came back from the break and blew doors.

If I had to picture a perfect start to this West Coast trip, last night is what it would look like. Obviously the Warriors are severely shorthanded, but that's not exactly my problem. Anything can happen in the NBA on any given night if you don't come prepared and execute. 

What we got, was one of the better all around performances of the Celts season. The defense was locked in, the offense flourished, guys made shots, the rebounding was great, the ball security was solid, everyone filled their roles perfectly, and when you add all that up, that's how you go belt to ass. 

After such a long break, you never really know what to expect. You hope for the best, but there can be times where it takes a while to get back into the swing of things. For the Celts, that was their first 2-3 minutes of the game. After that? Dominance. 

Also, is the Chase Center/Oracle Arena just TD Garden West? Many people are saying it.

Steve Kerr called the Celtics a machine after the game, and he's right. That's exactly what they are. The best part?

They can be even better

I'm not even talking about the whole adding Jayson Tatum thing either. I'm saying just this group, as they are now, can be even better. Last night wasn't their ceiling. Just think about that for a second. 

Now that we're post-All Star Break, the standings and seedings matter, especially with how tight things are at the top of the East when it comes to seeds 2-5. Every game matters. With the Cavs rolling (W6, 9-1 over last 10), the Celts needed to take care of their business last night after the Cavs beat the Nets and the Knicks got dogwalked (again) by the Pistons. This win now puts the Celts up 2 in the loss column over both NYK/CLE for the 2 seed, and that's important because they do not own the tie breaker against the Knicks at the moment. 

Advertisement

West Coast trips are tough, there's usually some weirdness that will happen at some point, and with LAL/PHX/DEN up next with the last two being a B2B, the Warriors game is the one you absolutely could not drop. Thankfully, they didn't and instead gave both Al Horford and Porzingis a front row seat to the ass whooping. 

We have a lot to get to, so let's dive in.

The Good

- Coming out of the break, I am of the belief that it's the responsibility of your best player to set the tone and get the team off on the right foot. That's just part of being "The Guy". Everyone is rested, everyone is healthy, you're playing a shorthanded team that stinks, thats the spot where your best player not only needs to play well, but he needs to set the tone.

That's exactly what Jaylen Brown did

Advertisement

As a general blog rule, if you do some shit that puts you in the same sentence as Larry Bird, you get the top spot. 

While Jaylen was under his scoring average, in my opinion, this was one of his better overall performances of the season. He was efficient (10-18), he rebounded his dick off (15), he had probably his best passing performance of the season (13 AST), and the best part? He finished with only 2 TOs. 

On the defensive side, his most common matchups were Al Horford (24 possessions) and De'Anthony Melton (18 possessions) and he allowed just 2 points on 0-5 shooting. 

Like he so often does, it was Jaylen who set the tone early with 8 points in the first quarter on 4-6 shooting, but nothing was forced. He also had 4 AST in that opening frame. I felt as though we saw a perfect balance of a player being aggressive when it came to attacking defenders who stood no chance at staying in front, while also making sure he consistently made the correct basketball play to help set up his teammates. 

While I am a tad concerned about his 3PT shooting regression, what I liked about last night was that he didn't settle. He had a few great looks that didn't drop, but he didn't spam them. Instead, he played to his strengths and had what I consider a pretty perfect shot diet

This was a great reminder that if you are a team that does not have the ability to guard the perimeter, especially at the wing position, you are in trouble. The Jays have been feasting off those teams for nearly a decade. Unfortunately for the Warriors, they're just too small. No real wing length/strength to prevent penetration, and if you're letting Jaylen get two feet into the paint, things most likely are not going to work out well for you.

When I talk about the best player needing to show up and set the tone, this is what that looks like. Making an impact in every facet of the game. That's what #1s do. It's not just about the points or the FGA or the USG%. You have to do everything. Score, rebound, pass, defend. That's not only the role, but it's what this team is going to need from Jaylen for the rest of this trip. 

- Someone you never have to worry about when it comes to being locked in and ready to go, is Payton Pritchard. After the Simons trade shifted Payton back to his 6th Man role, I think it's safe to say he's picking right back up where he left off as the defending 6MOY

Advertisement

What this season has taught us is that it really doens't matter what role you put Payton Pritchard in, he's going to thrive. He was solid as a starter and that role for the time the team needed that from him, and he's now filling the same role he had last year at a high level. When you hear his perspective on it, that makes sense

Advertisement

The one noticeable difference in this new role compared to his starter role is that now we're back to seeing Pritchard with the ultimate green light. Not that he didn't have that as a starter, but in that role, there's more responsibility in terms of playmaking and making sure everyone else eats.

But in this role? As the offensive firepower off the bench? He's back to letting it fly. Possessions that may have resulted in unneeded extra passes are now back to being 30ft bombs, which are back to dropping at an elite rate. In 2026, so the last 21 games, Pritchard is shooting 40% from deep on 6 3PA a game. Given how slow he started the season from behind the arc, it's great to see that part of his game get back to normal, especially at a time like this when his role now requires him to be a consistent C&S threat. 

- It remains insane the level of winning impact Hugo Gonzalez makes the second he steps onto the court. The guy was a +15 in his first 5 minutes. He was everywhere, causing chaos defensively, owning the glass in his minutes, and then offensively showing us glimpses of the future and I can't lie, the future looks fucking incredible

Between the C&S 3PM for his first bucket and that nifty behind the back lefty finish, the rise of Hugo Gonzalez might be the best storyline of the entire season. We were hoping that maybe we'd see him get some minutes here and there heading into the season. In reality? I'm ready to give him 20-25 minutes a night in the playoffs. We're deep enough into the season where you simply cannot ignore his impact. The second he steps onto the floor, good things happen. It's remarkable.

I love the way Hugo always seems to find the ball. To me, that's a skill. The way he rebounds for a wing is erotic, and when you watch the Celts pla,y whenever there is a rebound to be had or a loose ball to be corralled, Hugo gets it. Every. Single. Time. He doesn't wait for the ball to find him, he finds the ball. Does that make sense? Some players are passive, others are aggressive. I would firmly plant Hugo in the aggressive camp.

- These are the Sam Hauser 3s where you know he's locked in

Advertisement

Much like Pritchard, Hauser is another guy who's back to being automatic now that we've hit 2026. He's sitting at a nice 42.3% from deep on 7.8 3PA per game, and it's only a matter of time before he's back to over 40% for the season (39.2%). 

Now, if you're telling me Hauser is also going to be giving us an automatic midrange game for when teams run him off the line as well?

you certainly have my attention. 

When the Celts are getting the versions of both Pritchard and Hauser that are 40% shooters mixed with the current version of Jaylen/White, well no shit Steve Kerr called them a machine. When Mazzulla Ball is operating at it's full level, it's overwhemling. An avalance of 3s, stops, and dominance. It hits you so quickly you don't even know what to do. That's what happened as the Celts blew this game open. Once you start to see Hauser touch nothing but net, you know what's coming. He's always been the barometer of just how nuts Mazzulla Ball can get. When he can't miss? The Celtics almost never lose. 

- Speaking of Mazzulla Ball, a nice little 121 points, 51/42% splits and 17 3PM. Add in some 58 points in the paint as well, and the Celts are virtually unbeatable when this happens.

The actual record? 45-4 all time and 17-0 since February 2024.

- How about the ball movement? 36 AST?

Giphy Images.

We haven't seen the Celts finish a game with 36 assists since January 2024. Jaylen may have led the way with 13, but everyone was great in this department. DWhite had 8, Hauser had 5, Pritchard had 7, all while collectively the Celts only turned the ball over 13 times.

Add in their 13 OREBs, and what you saw was the formula for the Celtics success. They dominated the possession battle, and when that happens, they are incredibly tough to beat. Attack the glass, take care of the ball, make your open shots. Basketball doesn't have to be complicated.

Advertisement

- I'm just continuing to monitor the Ron Harper Jr minutes. So far, he looks like another real NBA player, joining the likes of Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez.

That was another strong takeaway from this win. Just like they've done all year, the Celts got quality minutes from all their young bench pieces. Sure the 4th was a disaster, but the game was over. When things were in the balance, they were great. I thought Jordan Walsh's stint is what helped change the momentum of the game with his 3PM and steal, then you ahd Ron Harper Jr making a couple 3s, Baylor hit the glass, and Hugo was Hugo. Great stuff.

- For all the talk about Vuc's defensive issues, I do think it's important to inform you that while he's been on the floor as a Celtic, the team has a 105.6 DRTG in his 105 minutes. 

Is he perfect? No. That closeout on Draymond was bad. But outside of that? Vuc was more than passable. For me, that's really all I need. It's the same way I viewed Simons. Can you just be passable on that end? The Celts have enough elite team defenders to make up for some of his issues, so can you just find a way to hold your own?

I'd say Vuc did that in this game. He was solid against Porzingis, he was good at contesting without fouling, and there weren't too many possessions where he got himself into trouble on that end. 

The Bad

- Derrick White might be having the most hilarious Celtics season that I can remember. The guy literally cannot make a shot this year, and absolutely none of it matters.

A brutal 4-13 (0-5), yet he finished a +10 and just did everything else instead (10/5/8). Just a truly special player in every way.

But, we also don't have to lie and pretend like the shooting isn't at least a little concerning. He's too important to everything the Celts do to just miss nearly every shot he takes. Now the difference in last night's game was it felt like he had a few too many low percentage end of shot clock heaves, mostly being contested midranges. That's not his game.

The good news is White is able to make an elite impact even despite his shooting struggles. But the struggles are real and they've been pretty consistent outside of a little mini run in December. I don't worry as much when it comes to the contested jumpers, those are tough for anyone. The open C&S's though? Those are the ones he needs to get back to converting at an acceptable clip.

- While I do think Baylor overall has been great in his opportunities, last night felt like he was maybe putting a little too much dip on his chip. Some tough shots offensively mixed in with good intentions as a passer, but low percentage passes, it felt watching that he was forcing things a little too much. 

I do find it interesting that he's held onto the starting spot post-trade deadline, and I do wonder if we see Joe shift that around or if this is just how they'll roll until Tatum eventually returns. 

- If there's one thing that the Celts have put on tape that's a little concerning, it's how badly they clearly struggle against ball pressure. This has been true dating all the way back to the preseason. Remember that Raptors collapse? If I'm an opposing coach in a playoff series, I am playing this card. The Celts seem to get rattled whenever their airspace is taken up and defenses are physical against ball handlers. 

It wasn't even Jaylen last night either. It was the guards. I don't think I can remember a time where both Derrick White and Payton Pritchard both melted like that against ball pressure. They couldn't even dribble!

The Ugly

- That issue is what helped cause that dogshit 4th quarter. I mean, this is objectively gross

Advertisement

Up 29 entering the 4th, start the quarter allowing the Warriors to shoot 5-5, end the quarter giving up 37 points on 61/40% splits, all while you nearly had the same amount of TOs as FGMs.

Given how the deep bench started the frame, it forced Joe to put the starters back in, which is something you never want to see when you enter a quarter with a 29 point lead. You should be able to close that out. Not that it ever got truly dicey, it was just annoying seeing the Celts waste another legit point differential boost.

- So, this was pretty weird from Al right?

What could that be? Something deeper than basketball? Was that bullshit and he just didn't want to say how he really felt? That doesn't feel like the Horford we know, so what happened? Will we ever know? Probably not.

As the pursuit towards 40/20 continues, this one was big. Celts had to go 5-0 out of the break to do it, and last time I checked, you can't go 5-0 unless you start 1-0. Getting off to a good start was nice, but now it's time to build on it. Continue to increase your lead in the 2 seed and continue to play good basketball and you'll be surprised at what can happen. Then you add Tatum to the mix? Oh buddy. Buckle up.