The Boston Celtics are at present standing in a peculiar state of affairs.
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 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 an important a part of the common season.
Their Saturday night time 119-115 time beyond regulation loss towards the Atlanta Hawks provided 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 profitable it with 20.1 seconds left in regulation whereas main 103-100, however a Jrue Vacation turnover and a Jayson Tatum free-throw cut 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 worry,” Mazzulla stated. “I’m truly extra excited at this juncture of the season than I used to be in the beginning.”
He continued: “As a result of, as I stated, that is a part of it. It’s the enjoyable half. And once more, we speak about what we’ve been capable of accomplish as a staff 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 probably the most enjoyable half that you must 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 worry in any respect. If something, there’s pleasure. And that is the journey. So, signal me up for this.”
The loss towards Atlanta gave Boston its fourth loss over the previous seven video games. As such, they’re now 8-8 within the final 16.
Their sluggish motion all through this stretch have made their progress stagnant in establishing their floor atop the Jap Convention standings. With a 29-13 report, their hole towards 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 staff’s capabilities to reply from adversities.
“We have to repair it. We now have to repair the small print. And we are going to. And we’ll do 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 staff. 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 bunch of people who I might relatively undergo one thing tough along with. So once more, signal me up. It doesn’t imply I’m glad. However that is the thought course of about how we’re going to go about it.”
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