Part Of Being A Championship Caliber Team Is Finding Ways To Win Despite Playing Like Absolute Dogshit

Joe Murphy. Getty Images.

Over the course of 82 games, not all games are going to be pretty. In fact, given the schedule, there's a strong chance you're going to have to navigate several stinkers during the year, especially once we hit this part of the year and tanking teams are in full tank mode. When that happens, it's an easy "look ahead" type of situation where we see teams get caught all the time. They assume they can just show up and blow doors, but in reality, the scrappy no-name underdog team puts up a fight and the next thing you know, you're staring at a HORRIFIC loss at a time when, as a contender, you need to be stacking wins.

A great example of this can be found in the last two games from the Memphis Grizzlies. First, against the Nuggets and then last night against the Celtics. Heading into the game against the Nuggets, the Grizzlies had lost 8 straight games. The Nuggets were -13 favorites and a team that many consider a contender. What happened? They didn't come ready to play. Jokic turned it over 10 times, they had 19 as a team, and the next thing they knew, the Grizzlies won that game 125-118. A devastating loss at a horrible time for a Nuggets team that is fighting for its life in the West.

Last night, the Celtics entered their game against the Grizzlies as -15.5 favorites. Unlike the Nuggets game, this time around the Grizzlies sat virtually their entire roster. As Celts fans, we knew what this meant. Double-digit favorites against a completely shorthanded tanking opponent? We've all seen that movie before.

Given they are in a seeding battle of their own, these are the games they cannot afford to lose. Not at a time when all the teams around them continue to stack wins

Not when the Knicks are on a stretch of games against UTA/IND/GS/IND/BKN/WSH/NO, and the lead over them for the 2 seed is only 2 in the loss column. Games against a depleted Grizzlies team have to be a W. Period.

And while they ultimately pulled it out, let's not act like the Celts didn't have one of their worst overall showings of the season on both ends of the floor. They played like complete dogshit. I would argue it was a game they had no business winning. The Grizzlies played harder, they played faster, they shot better, they took better care of the basketball, they executed better in transition, the list goes on and on. 

But, this is what championship caliber teams do. They can be having their worst night in months, and when it comes time to lock in and somehow find a way to win, they find a way to win. You take the W, and you move on. You don't let things ultimately end the way the Nuggets did, you dig deep and make enough plays down the stretch to flip the game and avoid disaster.

So while I think we all would have preferred a much less stressful evening, you do have to remember that the Boston Celtics we know and love are adversity addicts and will always make life harder than it has to be as some sort of sick joke. Yet, in a weird way, I came away from that game both disgusted by how they played, yet proud of how they turned it around in a high-leverage situation to pull out a win. Instead of a disaster loss, they ultimately finished with a disgusting win, which I'll take every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

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It wasn't always pretty, but it doesn't have to always be pretty. This time of year is about stacking Ws, however the hell you can get them.

Let's begin.

The Good

- There was a lot of competition for the top spot despite most of the team playing terrible basketball, but after crunching the numbers and listening to my heart, we cannot start with anyone other than the Garzilla. This wasn't just his best game as a Celtic at a time when they needed someone to save him, it might have been the best game I've ever seen Luka Garza play as an NBA player period

I'm not even being hyperbolic when I say that Luka Garza completely changed this game basically by himself. Not only has he been arguably the best story of the season in terms of the bench depth's development, he's just flat out good now. To think of where we were in October to where we are now doesn't even feel real. And yes, I know this is all coming against a Grizzlies team that was barely playing NBA players. Please understand, I do not give a single fuck. Luka Garza has been doing this shit against EVERY opponent he faces whenever he comes into the game. He's been one of the more consistent bench players in the entire league, regardless of opponent.

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The consistency comes from the fact that 99% of the time, Garza is going to outwork whoever else is on the court. That's his superpower. He's going to play hard as hell and battle on the glass like his life depends on it. It sounds simple, but playing hard consistently is a skill. You combine that elite motor with a great sense of awareness of where to be on the court, and that's how you get this type of career season from a guy who had virtually zero NBA experience up until this season. The Basketball Gods reward players who respect the game, and that's how I would describe Garza. 

He doesn't cheat the game and he doesn't skip steps. He accepts his role and gives 110% at all times. That doesn't mean he won't make mistakes, but what it does mean is you know what you're going to get from Garzilla every time he steps onto the court. What he did in this game is basically what he's been doing all year. Fighting like hell on the offensive glass, reading the floor and putting himself in great positions to finish in big moments, making his open 3s, setting some of the best screens we've ever seen etc. 

In the biggest moment of the game, with the Celts down 7 in the 4th quarter, Garzilla helped save the day with his 11 points on 5-5 (1-1) production while playing 11:24 of the 4th and finishing a team best +11 in that frame. The Celtics simply do not win this game without the effort and production of Luka Garza. Yes, that is a real sentence. 

The second Vuc went down with a broken finger, Garza slid right back into the rotation and immediately gave this team about 85-90% of what Vuc's role needs to be, which isn't surprising given the fact that Garza had been playing great just prior to the trade. He's fully embraced being part of the "Stay Ready Group", and the best part? Brad Stevens already has him locked in next year for just $2.8M. The man truly never misses, it's incredible.

- Then of course, there was the continued brilliant play of Jaylen Brown. On a night where the majority of the rotation was a gigantic brick, Jaylen was there to backpack the offensive load. Sometimes, you just need your best player to say "not today, Satan" and carry his team over the finish line

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I loved pretty much every part of Jaylen's night. I loved how early he made a legit effort to try and get Tatum going while he got off to his slow start, often passing off on open looks for himself so he could instead get Tatum even better looks. I loved how he went 8-8 from the line and is now shooting 61 of 65 (93.8%) over his last 7 games. I love how during the first 3 quarters when the team needed someone to actually score, Jaylen responded with an efficient outing and then didn't force things in the 4th once the others started to get going. I loved the 6 AST and only 1 TO in his 38 minutes. 

And most importantly, I love that production like this has become the norm. Most 30 balls in the East. The 2nd most 30 balls in a season in Celtics history. The consistency is what stands out most to me this season, this level of Jaylen Brown is just who he's become now. The man rolls out of bed and can give you 30, while also showing a real leap in playmaking. He's a much more well rounded player in 2026, and the way he's reading the floor and understanding where and how to attack defenses has made a real difference. 

One thing I've noticed really ever since the Spurs ejection, is that when we see Jaylen drive to the rim, he's much more patient. Instead of trying to continue to challenge these bigs at the rim, get fouled, have it be a no-call, and then allow that to take him out of games mentally, we're seeing Jaylen deploy an approach that is very similar to Jimmy Butler. He'll use his size and strength to attack, but then he waits for a split second, pump fakes, and then goes up strong off two feet. It's why he's averaging 11 FTA since that ejection, because he's adjusted his approach on those drives. Safe to say, it's working.

- He was nowhere to be found for the majority of the game, in fact I'd say he was mostly terrible, but when we needed Derrick White most in that 4th quarter, Derrick White was there for us.

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11 points on 5-10 (1-5) and a +9 in his 12 minutes in the 4th, the takeover that we got from White and Garza in the final frame is why the Celtics were able to flip the script and change the momentum of this game. Not only is it great to see Derrick White make his 3s again, but it's also great to see one of the best 4th quarter players on the team get back to being a monster in the 4th quarter when the team needs him most. 

Given the Celts started the 4th quarter with non-Tatum/Brown minutes, it was basically up to Derrick White to be that guy. The fact that those lineups got the job done and allowed Joe to keep them on the floor speaks to the depth of this team, but also the level of trust they all have with one another. It never felt like White played in a way that was forced. Instead, he just made the right play after the right play, and everyone just did their job. It shows you that regardless of who is on the floor, this team has an identity and understands how to play when they are at their best. 

- Baylor Scheierman may have the most impactful 2/4/3 games you'll ever see. That line seems like nothing on the surface, but the second he steps onto the court, he does nothing but make a positive impact. Between his offensive rebounding, the defense, taking big charges, you can't keep him off the floor anymore. It's never going to jump out at you looking on the box score, but Baylor is a winning player, I dunno how else to say it.

- As I say, every game Hugo does something on the court that makes your brain go to dangerous places. Here is last night's example

He's going to be so good. Brad Stevens man, what an absolute genius. 

- How do you survive a game in which you shoot 26% from three as a team? You finish with 18 OREB and 28 2nd chance points. Talk about a prayer. The Celts hadn't won a game all year shooting that poorly as a team, but with Neemy/Garza combining for 9 OREB and then the crashing wings going their thing, once again offensive rebounding saved the day. 

The Celts currently sit 6th in the NBA in OREB and 5th in OREB%, and if you were curious where they were last year, they were 10th in OREB and 18th in OREB%. That leap has defined their season, and is one of the reasons (combined with low TOs) that their ORTG has been among the best all season, despite not having an elite shooting year. They rank just 14th in TS% and 13th in eFG%, yet they own the 2nd best offense in the NBA. Why? Rebounding and ball security.

The Bad

- Admittedly, you should never be in a dogfight against a depleted tanking Grizzlies team. I know it's the NBA and anyone can get beat on any given night, but with full health the Celts really had no business being in this close of a game. Defensively, they were horrendous, with nobody really staying in front of their man. How many times did we see Hauser get blown by? Or Tatum? Or Derrick White early? Everyone felt a step slow, and the resistence was nowhere to be found.

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In classic Celtics fashion, they allowed guys like Tyler Burton, who had 23 career points, to finish with 23 points on 7-13 (5-9) off the bench. Any time it looked like the Celts were going to get some separation, they immediately gave the points back, and that's something that went on for around 80% of the game. Zero stops and zero buckets is not a winning formula, and it's no surprise that the game flipped in the quarter in which they held the Grizzlies to their lowest point total (24). 

A lot will be made about the shooting, but the defense was the bigger issue for me. I just hate when this team decides to not defend with energy and effort. When they let guys into the paint at will, when they don't close how strong to shooters, it's losing basketball. 

- It finally happened. We got our first true Tatum stinker since his return. Oh well. I can't imagine caring about that. So he's in this section not for how he played (he looked very slow), but rather the reaction to it. I couldn't help but see some Celts fans melting down over his poor night (still had 9 REB), and I just cannot understand this behavior. It's a BLESSING that he's even playing at all! For 99% of his return, he's looked great, and to not expect there to be ups and downs within the first 10 games of his return is beyond stupid. That doesn't mean you can't critcize when he plays poorly like he did last night, but at the same time this entire year is basically a bonus. The fact that he's even on the floor provides value, even when he plays like ass. 

Also, act like you've been there before. Let's not pretend like we didn't see Tatum shooting stinkers pre-injury. Is it just engagement doom baiting or something? I don't get it. I can understand the trolling from opposing fanbases because you mention Tatum's name and it takes off, but from Celts fans? Very weird, I can't lie. 

- Another rough night for Hauser. Didn't make a shot, didn't really defend, I almost wonder if we're at the point where we may need to see a shift in the starting lineup. Maybe slide Baylor back in or bring back Walsh from DNP-CD hell. 

The Ugly

- I know he had a big 19 points off the bench, but I didn't love how Payton Pritchard played. WAY too careless with the basketball (4 TOs) which was very weird to see. I don't think we've seen that poor of a passing game from Payton all year, and while the shotmaking was big, I need better ball security.

Turnovers were the story of how the Grizzlies were able to stay attacked, with the Celts allowing 23 points off TOs. That formula is exactly how you allow a bad team to pull off an upset win. We saw the Grizzlies do it against the Nuggets, and the same was true last night outside of the 4th. All they really did was play with ball pressure, and that's something to note moving forward, especially as we get closer to the playoffs. Teams are going to be up the Celtics asshole with ball pressure, and they need to be MUCH bettter at handling it. You allow a playoff caliber team to have 23 points off TOs, you are going to get blown out. Period. 

But hey, a win is a win is a win. Ugly or not, what matters is the W. With MIN (no Ant) and OKC up next, the Celts couldn't afford to drop this game against the Grizzlies, and thankfully, disaster was averted. If they could please play much better over these next two that'd be great, because both of those teams are a much different beast than the tanking Grizzlies. You got your free pass for playing like shit, so please don't make it a habit.