The identical factor retains making or breaking the Boston Celtics, yr in and yr out. It’s not three-point capturing. It’s not accidents. It’s…
…the annual winter west coast journey.
Possibly it’s as a result of the video games begin so late, and I discover myself staying up till one within the morning to look at the tip of video games. However the winter west coast journey — wherein Boston often performs each Los Angeles groups, Golden State and possibly one different California group — has quietly turn into some of the essential components of the final three Celtics seasons, and this yr’s is sneaky essential.
I can’t show it, however the 2022 model of this “let’s go play each group on the West Coast” factor broke the Celtics. The Celtics had been 21-5, using excessive and possibly about to steamroll their well beyond their NBA Finals hangover into Banner 18. However then… they performed the Golden State Warriors, and all the pieces fell aside.
They acquired destroyed by Golden State. Jayson Tatum performed horribly, nothing labored, and all the issues that had sunk the Celtics again in June had been again and hauntier than ever. They misplaced 4 of their subsequent 5, with their lone win coming in time beyond regulation in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers.
In fact, Boston rebounded. They got here one sport and one Miami-Warmth-witchcraft ritual away from making the Finals once more. Yeah, it didn’t actually collapse, however it was stunning, and it set a wierd tone for the season going into the All Star break. And ultimately, they couldn’t get it finished.
Then, once more, final season, the Celtics set off on their winter west coast journey and so they had been totally loaded and never taking any prisoners. They got here in on a tear, however they misplaced to the Warriors… in Golden State… once more. They didn’t get destroyed — they acquired stabbed within the coronary heart by Stephen Curry hitting a brutal game-winning shot in time beyond regulation. However issues didn’t collapse; Boston rebounded from the loss and went bananagrams on the league, profitable their subsequent two west coast video games by a mixed 62 factors. As an alternative of falling aside, they activated. Oh, after which they received Banner 18. No huge deal.
You may name these highway journeys blips, however I believe they’re proofs of idea about what this group can do in opposition to adversity, in opposition to groups they don’t have plenty of expertise in opposition to, and in locations they aren’t used to taking part in. I’ve, and do, suppose they’re extraordinarily essential.
And now we’re right here. The Celtics mauled the Warriors, squeaked out a bizarre and admittedly kinda-hilarious sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers, and acquired embarrassed by the Los Angeles Lakers on the again finish of a back-to-back. With just one sport left in opposition to Dallas, they stand on the precipice of constructing this highway journey one other nice turning level for this squad. Coming into this yr’s version, Boston was in a rut, going win-loss-win-loss-win-loss-win-loss of their final seven. Two wins in opposition to the Warriors and Clippers had been good, however the Lakers noticed the return to the regarding establishment. That’s too middling for a way gifted this group is.
Street journeys like this inform you who you actually are. This one hasn’t fairly informed me a lot, solely extra of the identical confusion and inconsistency. However they nonetheless have an opportunity to go three for 4, one thing that will do wonders for a group that’s bordering on comatose as we strategy the All-Star Break. However don’t sleep on these winter highway journeys. They matter. And this one does, too.
