It’s time for the Celtics to be whatever they are

BOSTON — What exactly are we supposed to make of the Celtics?

The preseason favorite to win the Eastern Conference, the C’s spent a part of the season spinning in location. They lost games they strangely failed to compete in others and had no business losing. Universally hailed as the strongest group in the league last season, this edition of the C’s dissolved in a dizzying haze of passive aggressive finger-pointing, slumped shoulders, and cryptic quotes.

And yet. (Get used to this phrase as it’ll be employed frequently.)

The Celtics are playing their best basketball as the postseason dawns on the Garden parquet this afternoon for their first-round series against the Pacers. They took care of business at home and won games. The C’s are hosting a first-round series is testament to their strong play down the stretch, including a pair of wins over Indiana.

It didn’t hurt the Pacers went during that same period, a troubling finish. But this series is all about the Celtics. This is for all, and find out once and when we will see rsquo; re made of & what they. Or not.

One could have believed this series an even contest. Now that the Celtics have given us yet another taste of their potential, losing would be a catastrophe. A fitting catastrophe for an season with such high expectations, possibly, but a catastrophe nevertheless.

“A lot of bullshit, a lot of those up-and-downs that simply could have been handled better from a professional standpoint,” Kyrie Irving told reporters on Wednesday. “I’m talking about me personally, I’m not talking about our staff. ”

Kyrie’s been supplying a whole lot of mea culpas for what can be described this year, but because this is Kyrie, it took a turn.

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

“I had a lot of questions,” Irving continued. “A lot of things that weren’t being answered straight up about what it takes to be a great professional in this league and I think that the framework of that is just obsolete, in terms of what you have to be every single day and it’s not that hard. ”

Ok, what?

No one exemplifies this oddball Celtics’ year more than Kyrie. Among the league’s premier eccentrics, Irving had arguably the best season of his career while at the same time throwing shade at his teammates whenever it suited his fancy.

Provocative with the press, Kyrie got angry at the press which appeared curious. Even more curious, the C’s weren’t much good when he wasn’t on the court, except when he was in street clothes, where they were totally fine without him. Much like they were while he recuperated from knee surgery, last season when they reached the conference finals.

Don’t worry if none of this makes any sense. Logic and sense went out the window last fall when the C’s fought out of the gate. Young players that thrived without Irving and Gordon Hayward found themselves struggling to adapt to life as role players. Hayward went to the bench in a season-long quest to find himself and character players like Marcus Morris and Marcus Smart were suddenly cast as saviors.

Injuries weren’t as extreme as last year, but a lot of minor ailments became major headaches. Particularly when they involved Aron Baynes, their 20-minute-a-night huge man/enforcer whose periodic absences revealed an alarming lack of endurance and cohesion.

Kyrie went merrily along, weaving and slithering through defenses while creating controversies when none were necessary. Like most teams, the Celtics marched to the beat of their leader, only Irving appeared to be playing a pace which was his alone to understand.

Matters came to a head in January following a weird series of soliloquies in which Kyrie blamed the young players for not living up to his standards, and then threw his pending free agency into doubt by suggesting he didn’t owe anyone anything. If this was his way of analyzing his teammates to see if they could manage internal play, it backfired spectacularly. The team that was handle everything melted down amid a chorus of boos from the Garden faithful with even more inexcusable performances.

And yet.

The Celtics destiny lies not with Kyrie, but with Al Horford. The venerable large man took center stage last spring and delivered an all time playoff performance that nearly took the undermanned Celtics all the way to the Finals. If Horford is right, and he’s looked very right indeed these last few months, then the Celtics will be dangerous.

Horford is the go-to solution for demanding defensive matchups which range from Giannis Antetokounmpo to Joel Embiid, and a serious problem for opponents who need to track him out beyond the 3-point line. Throw in his excellent playmaking skills from the high post and his trusty old man game down low and Big Al will cause fits for opposing teams.

You may even make a case that Hayward is the other key to unlocking the C’s potential. After a frustrating comeback year reached its nadir following the All-Star break, Hayward suddenly rediscovered his bouncy game. He averaged an efficient 14-5-3 over his final 14 games, providing the Celtics with a much-needed playmaking alternative.

It was no coincidence that Boston looked as great as it has all season with the rejuvenated Hayward anchoring its second units. The C’s blew out Golden State with Hayward going off for 30 points. And he had been vital in make-or-break road competitions with the Heat and Pacers, which locked up home court in the first round.

Give this group a healthy Horford, a locked-in Kyrie, and this edition of Hayward and there’s no telling how far they can go.

And yet.

As this is the Celtics of 2019, it wouldn’t be right to begin the postseason that seamlessly. In a meaningless game against Orlando last Sunday, Marcus Smart suffered a partial avulsion of his left oblique abdominal muscle from his iliac crest. What that means is he’ll be out for 4-6 weeks, the balance of the first two rounds at least, if not the entire Eastern Conference playoffs.

It’s a significant blow because Backcourt Draymond actually came into his own this year. His defensive acumen made him one of the league’s gnarliest defenders, and his 3-point shooting eventually caught up with his confident stroke. Smart’s absence will be keenly felt during the playoffs, not just in the matchups, but with the reduction of the unbounded energy he brings to the task.

And yet.

Smart’s absence opens the door for Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier to enjoy larger roles. Both players thrived under the playoff pressure last season, and both chafed at their reduced opportunities.

Brown ultimately found his way by midseason, but the bets couldn’t be larger for Rozier who’s put to his limited free agency this summer. Rozier is already brimming with optimism about his chance to put his regular season behind him and make amends in the postseason.

There’s a path to redemption and it’s obvious to everyone around the group. It begins by winning this series with the Pacers by any means necessary. It doesn’t matter whether it’so awful, given the opponent it won’t be fairly anyway. It may take more than necessary, and there’ll probably be at least one perplexing loss thrown into the mix because there&rsquo.

It might require six or even seven games, but regardless of how it’s done, the C’s will need to win this series. From there they would go to Milwaukee, split a pair with the Bucks, and come home to a hero’s welcome. Catch fire at exactly the right time and all will be forgiven. We’ve seen it with this franchise to be exact, and the parallels are eerie enough to imagine them bound for a parallel path.

What exactly are we supposed to make of the Celtics? We’re going to learn.

Say What?!?

“I like to be free. I’ve got a terrific life… what am I doing? I’ve got a life that is gorgeous. I’m gonna return to that life that is gorgeous. I’m. Somebody will have to tell my boss, because I know she’s (Jeannie Buss) likely to be ill. But I knew I couldn’t confront her and inform her. ”

— Magic Johnson after stopping the Lakers via press conference.

Reaction: Totally regular organization.

“I’m quite comfortable here and comfortable working with (Robert Pera) and not worried about my situation at all. ”

— Memphis GM Chris Wallace hours before he was fired by Robert Pera.

Reaction: Totally normal to send your GM outside your coach and then fire him and to talk to the press about next season.

“I didn’t choose (the shirt), actually. It had been hanging for me when I was putting my clothes on. ”

— Anthony Davis after wearing a shirt that read: ‘That’s all people ’ to his final game in New Orleans as a Pelican.

Reaction: Totally normal league.

The List
Consumable NBA ideas

Brief thoughts and predictions on the other series. Note that predictions were made before the games tipped off on Saturday.

Milwaukee-Detroit

The Bucks got a break when they drew the banged-up Pistons in the first round. Taking into consideration the franchise hasn’t won a playoff series since the days of Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, Big Dog Robinson, and the other Ervin Johnson, that’s no small thing. Kudos to Detroit, and the underrated Ish Smith, for grinding that playoff berth out, but this shouldn’t even be shut. Bucks in four.

Toronto-Orlando

The Raptors did not get a break with the Magic, who were playing great defense for months and have the greatest x-factor in high-scoring reserve Terrence Ross. The Raps should cruise, regardless, but when has anything ever been easy for them during the postseason? Raps for old-times sake, in six.

Philadelphia-Brooklyn

Thinking about the questionable health of Joel Embiid, Philly is after losing Game 1 decisively. All credit to Brooklyn who executed a perfect gameplan and appeared just like the smarter collectively group, on Saturday. The Sixers, meanwhile, displayed every bad trait they’ve. This is the time when Jimmy Butler really needs to glow. Sixers in six, but a six.

Golden State-Clippers

There’s few things the Warriors enjoy more than beating the Clippers, who also happen to be the Western Conference franchise to beat against Golden State in the playoffs. This was back in the days of Lob City, which feels like an eternity ago. I still have no idea of what to make of the Warriors, but this seems like an proper warmup test. Warriors in five.

Denver-San Antonio

The Nuggets need to win this round. Had they caught OKC or Utah, you’d be visiting a lot of picks. Enter the Spurs, that are smart and wily enough to take advantage of Denver’s inexperience, but lack the talent to truly take advantage of the circumstance. Consider this series a graduate-level course in playoff basketball to the Nuggets. It will be difficult, but doable. Nuggets in seven.

Portland-Oklahoma City

The Blazers didn’t want third place because that meant a date with the Thunder who won all four meetings this year. Seedings aside, it’s interesting to consider if a Thunder success would be an upset at all, considering they have a top-3 MVP candidate in Paul George and a recent winner in Russell Westbrook. Never bet against Dame Lillard is my unofficial motto, but it doesn’t seem great for the Blazers. Thunder in six.

Houston-Utah

The Jazz have been one of the better teams in the league over the month, going 13-3 behind an impenetrable defense and a Donovan Mitchell. The problem is that Houston has been even better during that stretch and the Rockets are a matchup nightmare for the Jazz. The 4-5 seeding actually works in Houston’s advantage. Better to get the Warriors sooner than later. First things first. Rockets in five, but I don’t feel right about it.

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