On Thursday, the Boston Celtics began 2025 with a powerful 118-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis each missed the sport as a consequence of damage. Nevertheless, a cohesive efficiency from Joe Mazzulla’s workforce helped energy it to a confidence-boosting win.
Shortly after the sport, Jayson Tatum instructed TNT’s Allie LaForce that Boston goals to rediscover its id throughout January.
“We have had a tough stretch the final eight or 9 video games,” Tatum stated. “This January, we’re attempting to show it round and get again to our id. What higher option to are available in on the street, at a tricky atmosphere towards a very good workforce, down two of your greatest gamers? The best way that we responded and simply found out a option to win, you will take that any day.”
The Celtics are at the moment second within the Japanese Convention. Mazzulla’s workforce has been with out its core rotation for more than 90% of the season. But, regardless of constant hurdles, Boston has discovered methods to safe wins at an elite price.
Tatum’s declaration that the Celtics purpose to rediscover the id that propelled them to the 2024 championship appears like a battle cry. It is a warning to each different workforce within the league that the Celtics are nonetheless enhancing. In the event that they’re making this a lot noise with out a absolutely wholesome roster, they’ll be borderline unstoppable when wholesome.
At the moment, solely the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers look able to standing toe-to-toe with the Celtics. If its protection returns to a league-leading degree, Boston will as soon as once more be head and shoulders above everybody else.
It is easy to gloss over the Celtics’ damage points this season. In spite of everything, they’re nonetheless the most effective groups within the league. But when Tatum is telling the reality, some entrance places of work might wish to search for upgrades within the coming weeks. If not, the Celtics could possibly be good worth for a repeat of their championship success. They’re too gifted to disregard, and now, they’re locking again in.
