Boston Celtics Get a Reality Check Prior to Playoffs

No matter where the Boston Celtics end up in the first round, these last two games have made it abundantly clear how difficult the first round series will be. The Celtics are yet to show the consistency that can give them great confidence against any of their potential opponents and these last two loses have emphasized the reality of the Celtics’ situation, they need to be at their very best simply to get out of the first round.

Last season, simply making the playoffs was seen as overachieving for the Celtics. This season, the Celtics have established a new standard and given the competition for that three seed a first round exit is all of a sudden a disappointment. The Celtics may still be overachieving given the preseason expectations but they have redefined the standards this season and a first round exit will be a a disappointment, and as of late the Celtics have let two of their potential opponents take them down.

The Celtics know that they are capable of competing with anyone in the league but it has been made clear that the competition will not come easy. The Celtics cant simply go through the motions and expect to come out victorious. Given their talent level, the Celtics are the ones that need to step up their game in order to reach their potential.

If that potential is reached then the Celtics should be able to get out of the first round. However, the unfortunate reality, as Danny Ainge recently pointed out, is that the Celtics are too easily taken out of their best game. The Celtics struggle to maintain their highest level of play and it has been made clear that if they do not ge to that highest level then any first round opponent will take advantage of them.

Last season the Celtics went into the playoffs on their best hot streak of the year. This season they had the comfort of a secured playoff spot but will not be entering with the same kind of momentum. Even if the Celtics win their final game they will have struggled to close out the season. The Celtics are not at a point where they can be comfortable with how they are playing and that may be the difference maker.

The Celtics have benefitted from momentum this year but adversity has been the best instigator in their high level of play. Any time the Celtics have struggled with a 3+ game losing streak, they have responded by elevating their level of play. If the Celtics can use this reality check to elevate their level of play in the playoffs then it will be for the better. The Celtics are realizing what it will take for them to be at their best against this level of competition and they need to respond the same way they have all season long in the playoffs.

The Celtics are heading into the playoffs as healthy as they have been all season long but health has not been the biggest key to their success. The Celtics have overcome significant injuries this season and that is because of how they have responded to adversity. Consistency issues are a nightmare in the playoffs because the Celtics simply cannot afford to have any game like their last two. The Celtics cannot afford to be taken out of their game and out of their flow because that is where they get their biggest advantage.

The Celtics have been their best this year when responding to struggles and they now get the biggest test of the season. The Celtics have had far worse stretches this season but that takes nothing away from the fact that the Celtics’ performance in their last two games is not good enough to get out of the first round.

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The Celtics have proven that they can overcome their bad stretches but it gets a lot more difficult in the playoffs. The Celtics aren’t going to get any easier circumstances and that puts them in a position where they have to make sure they are at their very best. The level of competition is too high for the Celtics to hope to win if they are changing or lowering how they play.