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Off-the-court storylines dominated the lead-up to Saturday evening’s sport towards the Rockets: How would the workforce reply to a blowout so unhealthy towards their Japanese Convention rivals that TNT changed the channel?
What about Ime Udoka being again within the constructing – would the sophisticated reunion, and all the media hype round it, in the end function a distraction? And what about sustaining the franchise-best dwelling successful streak – was the strain beginning to mount?
A couple of quarters of strong – however not excellent – basketball started to erase these storylines and assist elevate the Celtics’ document to a historic 19-0 at dwelling and an NBA-best, 30-9 general.
The Celtics defeated the Rockets 145-113 behind dominant performances from their two All NBA wings and a 3rd quarter that noticed the Celtics explode for 43 factors and a 26-point lead heading into the ultimate interval.
By the top of the evening, Ime Udoka’s pregame presser, which was full of a plethora of questions on his ambiguous suspension and its well-chronicled aftermath, was a lingering reminiscence.
Followers met the previous coach’s return with a healthy mix of boos and applause, and for probably the most half, gamers and coaches alike minimized the gravity of all of it.
Joe Mazzulla was pleased with the physicality and protection within the third quarter, but in addition acknowledged that there was room to enhance. The Rockets gained the shot margin, for instance, a metric Mazzulla usually references – Houston tried 99 area objectives to Boston’s 95.
“That’s a very good win, however we obtained to dwell within the area of ‘we could be higher,’” Joe Mazzulla mentioned. Not that something’s mistaken, it doesn’t should be an enormous deal, but when we are able to dwell within the area of ‘we’re a very good workforce, however it’s not adequate,’ that’s a wholesome place to be and that’s how we are able to develop.”
“That’s a very good win, however we obtained to dwell within the area of — we are able to higher. Not that something’s mistaken, it doesn’t should be an enormous deal, but when we are able to dwell within the area of ‘we’re a very good workforce, however it’s not adequate’ that’s a wholesome place to be and that’s how we are able to develop.”
(Through… pic.twitter.com/laSBr48wVo
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) January 14, 2024
When it was all mentioned and carried out, the story of the sport was the recent play of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, in addition to the regular, off-the-bench contributions of Payton Pritchard.
Brown completed with 32 factors in simply three quarters, on a extremely environment friendly 11 of 15 photographs. Within the third quarter alone, he went off for 21 factors, together with 4-5 from three.
“Simply being aggressive on each side of the ball – getting stops, pushing the tempo, had some photographs that I felt good about, and I simply saved being aggressive,” Brown mentioned. “Hit some threes, we simply saved pushing the tempo, and Houston felt like they had been sort of on their heels.”
Brown acknowledged that similar to final month, he felt he was taking part in the most effective basketball of his profession. He’s capturing 53.5% from the sector over the course of his final 20 video games, and averaging 24.7 factors.
On the identical time, he’s made leaps as a distributor and defender which have generally been mirrored on the stat sheet, and generally not (tonight, the protection confirmed up within the field rating: 2 blocks, 2 steals).
“This can be a lovely sport that all of us get to observe and play,” Brown mentioned. “I’m having enjoyable studying and attempting to achieve my full potential, on prime of being a workforce man, on prime of constructing certain our guys are in the correct spots and being the lead, it’s been enjoyable attempting to determine the right way to be the most effective model of Jaylen Brown and because the time has gone on, because the years have gone on, I really feel like I’ve gotten higher each yr, and I don’t assume that’s going to cease anytime quickly.”
Jayson Tatum wasn’t too shabby both, placing up 27 factors on the evening. Tatum famous the workforce did actually need the win, however not particularly as a result of the Celtics had been dealing with Udoka’s Rockets.
“We obtained our a## kicked the opposite evening. So, I wished to bounce again from that,” Tatum mentioned. “Did I wish to win tonight? Yeah, I wish to win each sport we play. So, it wasn’t like we’re taking part in Ime and people guys, I actually wish to win. It was extra like, I wish to bounce again from final sport.”
Tatum did most of his injury within the second quarter, when he put up 15 factors on simply six shot makes an attempt, earlier than getting ejected with two technical fouls early within the fourth.
Payton Pritchard was phenomenal off the bench, ending with 19 factors on 7-10 photographs, 4 rebounds (2 offensive), and three assists – together with an off-the-backboard alley-oop to Oshae Brissett within the closing minutes.
With the win, the Celtics bounce again from a 33-point street loss vs the Bucks to ship yet one more victory for the house TD Backyard crowd. Jaylen Brown acknowledged the off-court distractions take a toll, however that this stretch within the season is essential in the long term.
“These are the moments that get you mentally ready for deep playoff runs,” Brown mentioned.
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