Boston Celtics Not Distracted by Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is in the midst of his farewell tour and one of his most meaningful trips will certainly be this wednesday against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics Lakers rivalry transcends any generation and with Kobe they faced off in back to back championships, each taking one. There is no denying the attention that Bryant is bringing along with him in each game he plays. In the worst season of his career, Bryant leads the league in all star voting by a mile and the Celtics will certainly have to deal with a circus when he visits TD Garden for the final time on wednesday.

The good news is that even if the fans will be clamouring to see Bryant’s last game in Boston, it will be business as usual for the Celtics players and Isaiah Thomas truly said it best. In ESPN Chris Forsberg’s piece on the issue, the Celtics players had all kinds of praise to shower on Bryant but Thomas has the right mentality saying “he wouldn’t care if it was your last game in Boston”.

Above all else, Bryant was a competitor and one of the best the league has ever seen. The Celtics are playing their best basketball of the year and it would be disrespectful to Bryant’s legacy if they lost focus simply because it was his last game in Boston. Sure, it will be a nice moment to see how TD Garden receives Bryant for the last time, but Brad Stevens is making sure that the Celtics have just one thing in mind, winning.

The Celtics are a young enough team that the majority of them grew up watching, and in some cases, cheering for Bryant. The Celtics’ youth has yet to get in their way this season and with an incredible leader like Stevens at the helm, wednesday night will not be the first time. Bryant can be considered a distraction this year but it really has not done much to slow down their opponents so far, even if there is going to be a little extra considering the matchup.

The Celtics just got Marcus Smart back and are back in the eastern conference playoff picture. They have been a streaky team this year but if they stay focused and play with their normal intensity, they should walk all over the Lakers. The Celtics will respect and recognize Kobe for what he has done, but then they will take advantage of what he is doing now.

Nov 18, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) defends against Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) in the second half at TD Garden. Dallas defeated the Celtics 106-102. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers are the kind of team that the Celtics have been crushing this year and the only way they lose this game is if they lose their focus. The Celtics will treat this just like another game because, for the players, that is all it is.

On the list of Bryant memories in TD Garden, there are countless more important moments than this one. It may mean a little more for Kobe because of his history against the team, but it is just the next game on the schedule for the Celtics.

The Celtics have been one of the physically toughest teams in the NBA and with Stevens guiding them they will not let mental weakness distract them against the Lakers.

If anything, this will improve the Celtics’ focus because of how much more aware they are of the distractions. The media will make it impossible to ignore the fact that this will be one of the more important games remaining in Bryant’s career and that will put more emphasis on not losing focus. It will put more emphasis on not assuming that this game is a given because after the loss to the Nets, nothing can be taken for granted.

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The Celtics appear to have the right approach to this game and that means the only extra sentimental value will come from the recognition of the fans. The Celtics have proven that they are a much stronger team than the Lakers and the only thing that matters on wednesday night is winning their fifth straight.

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