Boston Celtics need to stay focused on their play, and not the Cavaliers’ slump
After another surprising loss for the Cleveland Cavaliers, this one featuring a 26 point comeback by the Atlanta Hawks, the Boston Celtics once again find themselves tied with the Cavaliers for the top seed in the East. The Cavaliers have the tiebreaker, still making it difficult for the Celtics to get home court, but no one expected it to be this close again after the Cavaliers dismantled the Celtics in their last meeting.
It looked like that victory was going to take the Cavaliers out of this slump they have been in for over a month, but their utter collapse against the Hawks puts them right back where they started. No, this slump does not make the Celtics anything like a favorite to make the finals, but there is no doubting that the Cavaliers have work to do before the playoffs.
Everyone is seeing what the Cavaliers are doing right now, and the feeling is that if the Cavaliers do not have that switch to flip when they get to the playoffs, they could be vulnerable in the Conference Finals.
Even if there is a possibility that the Cavaliers will never get back to their prime form, the Celtics cannot be thinking about that. The Celtics cannot be taking anything from granted, and their mentality needs to be that they are going to see peak Cavaliers in any game they play.
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This Celtics team will need their backs against the wall, they need the doubt to be at all all time high, and they need to feel as though they need to get every little edge they can possibly scrape together. .
If the Celtics start to buy into the idea that the Cavaliers may struggle in the playoffs, then that could lead to some tentativeness. Even if if causes a slight change in what they believe they will have to do to win, then the Celtics will be selling themselves short.
The Celtics have made it clear this season that they cannot afford to be anything other than their absolute best in the playoffs. Far too often they have taken things for granted and sold themselves short this season. They have seen their every game mentality shift a bit after winning so many games this season, and that could ultimately be their downfall in the playoffs.
If the Celtics still anticipate that the Cavaliers are going to be every bit as good as they should, then they will be preparing in a way that ensures they leave nothing on the court, and do everything in their power to get a victory.
The Celtics need to make sure they are focused on themselves, and not basing their expectations of themselves on anything that any other team in doing. The Celtics need to be focused on making sure they are at their best in every game in the playoffs, regardless of what may be needed to reach the Conference Finals or beyond.
The Celtics have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the league, but when they are at full strength they have shown they can be a top 10 offense and defense. The Celtics need to make sure they are doing everything to rid themselves of this inconsistent play, and be as good as they can possibly be, regardless of how well the Cavaliers are playing if they meet in the playoffs.
It is easy to get distracted by the Cavaliers as this slump is all over the media. Right now, the Celtics need to be focused on winning their last two games, so that they can regain as much momentum and rhythm as possible going into the playoffs. If the Celtics happen to get the top seed with those wins, then they have found their best case scenario. If, however, the Cavaliers turn it around, then the Celtics need to work on the same things to close out the season.
Next: What Needs to Happen for Boston to Earn One Seed
Even at their very best, the Celtics know how difficult it will be to surprise everyone and make the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers may be making the path a bit easier with this slump, but if the Celtics buy into that and it becomes an excuse to sell themselves short in any way, then they cannot be good enough to take down the King.