Why Title-Town Should Not Lose Hope in the Green Team

The 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics have lost three out of their last four games, including a last-minute loss on Christmas to the Philadelphia 76ers. While this is concerning for a team with such high aspirations, I am here to tell Celtics fans why there is no reason to be nervous about the team's long-term success. Despite the flukey stretch the team is enduring, they have competed in every game and the sole win during the time came on the back of Jayson Tatum’s 43-point triple-double. Even with all the talent on the roster, including potentially the Sixth Man of the Year, the team will have some time to recoup from the holiday season with an easier month in January.

After this rough patch, Boston enters one of their easier stretches of games this season in January. With just three games against the Lakers, the Nuggets, and the Mavericks, the Celtics will have a chance to regain some of their confidence before having to lock it in for the playoffs. This confidence-building stretch will be important for the team because February and March hold a much more difficult schedule for the reigning champs, before the grueling playoffs. But with one of the best rosters in basketball history, the Celtics should be dominant until April.

Everyone has heard about Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s success leading the team but some exciting pieces to the puzzle may fall under the radar. During December’s rough patch, the team ranks fourth in defensive field goal percentage meaning that while teams may be squeaking by right now, statistically the math will turn in their favor soon. This is coach Joe Mazzulla’s strategy, recognizing that there is a mathematical-proper way to play the game. The team holds opposing teams to the lowest three-point shots made in the league while Boston has hit 40 more three-pointers than the next closest team.