The Boston Celtics are at the moment standing in a peculiar scenario.
Because the reigning and defending world champions who cemented a historic marketing campaign final yr, expectations are sky-high for the Boston Celtics on this 2024-25 season. However just lately, they aren’t residing as much as the hype sufficient as inconsistencies are evident at their aspect.
From the losses, lack of effort, and incapacity to take care of their momentum, doubts and frustrations at the moment are rising for the Celtics heading to crucial a part of the common season.
Their Saturday night time 119-115 additional time loss in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks supplied the Celtics their newest loss..
Boston led by as a lot as 12 factors within the marquee contest and have been up by eight early within the fourth quarter, earlier than the Hawks outscored them 46-36 for the rest of the match.
The Celtics have been already on the cusp of successful it with 20.1 seconds left in regulation whereas main 103-100, however a Jrue Vacation turnover and a Jayson Tatum free-throw break up allowed the Hawks to push for an extension and finally get the escape victory.
Inquired if he’s bothered by this loss as this marks one other inefficient efficiency from Boston, head coach Joe Mazzulla merely dismissed any worries.
“There’s no concern,” Mazzulla mentioned. “I’m really extra excited at this juncture of the season than I used to be at first.”
He continued: “As a result of, as I mentioned, that is a part of it. It’s the enjoyable half. And once more, we speak about what we’ve been in a position to accomplish as a workforce up to now, and if we’re going to be on a journey collectively for nevertheless lengthy that’s, two years, regardless of the case could also be, that is what you join.
“That is essentially the most enjoyable half that you need to have. And so long as we’re in it, that’s how we’re going to assault it.
“So, I didn’t imply to chop off your query, however there’s zero concern in any way. If something, there’s pleasure. And that is the journey. So, signal me up for this.”
The loss in opposition to Atlanta gave Boston its fourth loss over the previous seven video games. As such, they’re now 8-8 within the final 16.
Their gradual motion all through this stretch have made their progress stagnant in establishing their floor atop the Japanese Convention standings. With a 29-13 file, their hole in opposition to the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (35-6) will get wider. In the meantime, the New York Knicks at the moment are simply 2.5 video games behind in trailing them on the No. 2 spot.
On the finish of the day, Mazzulla accepts the problem as he can’t be extra assured about his workforce’s capabilities to reply from adversities.
“We have to repair it. We have now to repair the small print. And we’ll. And we’ll try this. However what retains me one, and sort of what I’m explaining to you is I belief the character and the mindset and the preparation of our workforce. And over the course of a protracted stretch, whether or not that’s ‘til All-Star break, ‘til season, ‘til the playoffs,’ til subsequent yr. I don’t know, however there’s simply the utmost belief in how they carry themselves.
“There’s not a gaggle of people who I might fairly undergo one thing tough along with. So once more, signal me up. It doesn’t imply I’m completely satisfied. However that is the thought course of about how we’re going to go about it.”
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