The Boston Celtics are stepping right into a playoff battle with bruises, however their confidence remains to be intact.
A month after Jrue Holiday’s pinky bent awkwardly right into a painful situation referred to as mallet finger, the veteran guard is again – and simply in time.
He missed 4 video games nursing the odd tendon damage, his finger locked in a forged that stored it straight. Now, he’s ditched the laborious shell for a mushy brace and is prepared for conflict.
“It feels kind of weird,” Holiday admitted. “But it seems like it’s all right.”
That sentiment mirrors Boston’s playoff mindset: stirred, not shaken.
The Celtics enter the postseason seeking to change into the NBA’s first repeat champions for the reason that 2018 Warriors. But don’t name it a title protection.
“We’re not defending the championship we won last year. Nobody can take it from us,” mentioned star ahead Jayson Tatum. “But last year is last season. That’s out the window.”
Still, historical past is quietly whispering in Boston’s ear.
The Celtics simply wrapped up back-to-back 60-win seasons. Tatum’s numbers – factors, rebounds, assists – mirror his All-Star run final yr.
And although TD Garden wasn’t fairly a fortress (28-13), Boston was historic on the highway, going 33-8 – only one shy of the 2015-16 Warriors’ league report.
Jaylen Brown stays the largest wildcard. The reigning convention and Finals MVP is nursing a bone bruise in his proper knee, however he’s been a full participant at observe and is predicted to be prepared for Game 1 towards Orlando on Sunday.
Boston’s odds? Better than they give the impression of being.
They completed high 5 in defensive ranking and ranked second in offensive effectivity, simply behind Cleveland. Payton Pritchard has stepped into the highlight, averaging 14.3 factors off the bench and draining 255 three-pointers – second-most in franchise historical past behind solely Derrick White’s 265 this season.
Even with momentum, the Celtics know the mountain is steep. Of the final 5 NBA champs, 4 had been bounced within the second spherical the next yr. The 2020 Lakers didn’t even make it that far.
Holiday lived that nightmare in Milwaukee. After profitable a hoop in 2021, the Bucks bowed out within the semis – to those very Celtics.
“We thought we had a chance at going back-to-back,” he recalled. “Sometimes things happen. Health is a big part. And a little bit of luck.”
This time, he is hoping expertise suggestions the dimensions.
“For us, it’s about doing it again. Who can do it multiple times? Going back to war with your guys – that’s something fun,” Holiday mentioned. “We’ve seen people step up all year. We’ll keep doing that.”
Boston’s band is again. Battered, however daring – and eyeing banner No. 19.
Source: www.dailysabah.com