Boston Celtics
If there’s one thing that makes the Celtics unique this season, it’s the ability to stay consistent regardless of who is in the lineup.
Ron Harper Jr. celebrates during the Celtics’ win over the Magic on April 12. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
-
Baylor Scheierman goes off to spark improbable Celtics win over Magic: 7 takeaways
-
Derrick White’s podcast is a view into his easy chemistry with a good friend
COMMENTARY
Two things were clear heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Magic.
First, Orlando needed the win much more than the Celtics did. Boston had already locked up the No. 2 seed. Orlando is still playing for the right to come back to Boston for a potential first-round playoff rematch.
It’s either the Magic or the Sixers that will be flying in for Game 1 on Sunday afternoon at TD Garden, and the loss to Boston cost the Magic a chance to host the play-in game at their place, making their road to the playoffs even harder than it once was.
The other, and more important point, is that these Celtics were always going to show up and compete anyway. It’s what they’ve done all season. It’s just how they roll.
“We’ve said it all year,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “One through 15, whoever steps on the floor, there’s an expectation to put us in position with the opportunity to win and stick to the process of winning.
“[Sunday was] no different than the other 81 games from the standpoint of – we had five guys that were able to play, we had seven or eight guys and the expectation was to put us in position to win, to execute, to play hard, to play together.”
Easier said than done. Sure, saying that you expect to beat last year’s first-round playoff opponent who added sharpshooter Desmond Bane to an already talented core without any of your starters sounds good.
To go out and do it without Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, and Payton Pritchard was another thing entirely.
From the opening tip, the game had a bit of a March Madness-style feel, and the Celtics for once were the underdogs. John Tonje had never scored in an NBA game before Sunday night. Ron Harper Jr.’s 37 minutes were more than he had in the past two seasons combined. Max Shulga had just four field-goal attempts heading into the game.
With Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Bane on the floor, the Magic were the ones who looked closer to a No. 1 seed. They were longer, more athletic, and looked like they had more offensive firepower.
But the Celtics never doubted that they could hang, even against a playoff team.
“I just feel like we know our group, know our capabilities, and some guys just needed a chance,” Harper Jr. said. “We all got a chance and capitalized great, but we definitely didn’t come into the game thinking that it was David vs. Goliath that we were the ultimate underdogs. We came in expecting to compete and expecting to win.”
Perhaps the most impressive part about this Celtics season has been how they’ve responded to challenges while not at full strength. Winning 56 games is a feat in any NBA season. Making it happen while missing Jayson Tatum for the first three-quarters of the year is even more remarkable.
They managed to win just five fewer games than they did last year despite losing Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet on top of Tatum’s extended absence.
They finished 18-3 in games following a loss. They posted the fourth-best record and fourth-best net rating in the league. They are right back where they were last year, hosting a playoff series as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
“It’s just a validation of what we’ve been talking about,” Mazzulla said. “One, our player development staff does a great job of putting guys in position and helping them stick to the process. It’s very easy if you’re constantly in an optional shoot or playing in a stay-ready game, you could see it as if your job is meaningless but they have to stay ready because once you step on the floor you’re held to the same standard.”
The Celtics needed every bit of hustle, defensive scrappiness, and of course some luck from beyond the 3-point arc Sunday night.
They got it. Baylor Scheierman poured in a career-high 30 points, hitting tough shots all night. Harper Jr., who entered the league as an undersized power forward, was taking the ball coast-to-coast on fast-breaks. Luka Garza grabbed a dozen rebounds and hit a tough, contested three in the clutch.
They got meaningful contributions from a group reserves during what could have easily been treated as a meaningless game.
Next weekend, the heat will get turned up a couple of notches as the playoffs begin. The Celtics have a season’s worth of preparation working at less-than-full-strength.
Now, they’re healthy, and it’s time to see just how far they can go.
“The standard is the standard regardless of who is in and out of the lineup,” Schierman said. “I think we did a great job of buying in 1-17 throughout the year. When guys are out people step up and make plays.”
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
