With a record 155-104 thrashing of the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, the Boston Celtics continued to dominate. Although it is less than the 173 points recorded against the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959, it is still the second-highest point total in franchise history.
It’s difficult to recall many games that felt like they were finished sooner than this one in the more than ten years that I’ve followed this league as closely as possible. The Cs never touched the brake pedal over the game’s opening stretch.
Yes, the offensive engine and All-Star of the PacersWith an ankle injury, Tyrese Haliburton was not available. His absences cut Indiana’s winning percentage in half, making him one of the league’s most important players without a question. It’s professional basketball, though. The Phoenix Suns C-team surprised the Boston Celtics by defeating them by double digits at TD Garden during the previous season.
The games must still be played.
Though it may sound corny, this game is much more than just a box score. Many players and narratives stood out, but despite Boston’s overwhelming triumph, there were still certain areas that needed improvement. It’s time to examine the winners and, to be honest, relatively few losers from an uncommon, remarkable event.
Jayson Tatum is a supernova on a team that has three other bright spots. He has improved statistically every season, yet there has been a shift in his performance. His play has a maturity to it that was beginning to show last year and is now starting to go to a new level.
You don’t trust me? Observe his attempts at free throws. Tatum got to the line ten times, which allowed him to score thirty points on just fifteen shot attempts. He’ll probably always be content to make a couple difficult step-back threes, which he does frequently, but his focus on getting to the cup has been welcome.
Tatum’s perimeter game blossoms when he can go to the rim whenever he wants, solidifying his status as the NBA’s top three-level scorer. You have an MVP front-runner on your hands when you combine this with his dominant defense and being on a team that is always in the running.
Four games into the season, banners aren’t up, but good habits are. Joe Mazzulla’s run-and-gun attack has been maximized by the Celtics offensive, which has been unrelenting. In addition to getting the shots they want, Boston is able to make the most of their offensive opportunities because they are crashing the glass and forcing turnovers on the opposite end.
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