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Boston Celtics get most difficult victory of season against Hornets

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Aron Baynes #46 of the Boston Celtics grabs the rebound against the Charlotte Hornets on November 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Aron Baynes #46 of the Boston Celtics grabs the rebound against the Charlotte Hornets on November 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics did the impossible after Kyrie Irving also went down against the Hornets

The Boston Celtics have truly been the most amazing team this season, in every sense of the word. If you look at their roster, they’ve had the kind of disastrous start is is unprecedented. Each of their big three is hurt right now, one for the season and the other two with the impossible to predict concussions. Marcus Smart has also missed time, and Marcus Morris is only getting his role now.

At no point has this roster been close to full or settled, and that is right after the most ridiculous roster overhaul we have ever seen in the offseason. And yet, they are the number one team in the league with an incredible 11 straight wins, with the most recent needing another 18 point comeback. The Celtics have dealt with more obstacles in the first weeks than most teams have to deal with in an entire season, and they just keep on winning.

The Celtics have been overcoming these obstacles in each game this season, and that 11th straight victory against the Charlotte Hornets is clearly on another level. With Gordon Hayward and Al Horford already sidelined, you go into that game hoping that Kyrie Irving will be able to muster up a performance to make up for a lot of that. When that option goes down after just one minute played, there should be absolutely no hope.

The Celtics had three rookies with as big of a role as anyone on the team, and once again Shane Larkin and Terry Rozier had to come off the bench and hold their own against the best talent on the other team. The Celtics had every single reason to pack this one in, and regroup with a more concrete timetable for the return of Horford and Irving.

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Not only did the injuries pile on in an insurmountable way, but it happened in the middle of the game, meaning Stevens had to make every single adjustment on the fly. He took some time, and that lead to the 18 point deficit. Then Stevens made every adjustment he needed, and once again every player on the court helped overcome the problems.

It is not as if the Celtics got a miracle shooting day from unexpected players. They had unexpected performances, but nothing at all came easy. They shot 35 percent as a team, and 29 percent from three point range. They barely got an edge in turnovers and missed out on their usual rebounding advantage. Stevens needed to go to as many options as possible, with seven players getting an opportunity off the bench. And, somehow, things come together and they once again closed out the mucked up ugly game.

When  you look at the utter disaster this team was on offense, with all of their legit options out, you get a nice idea of how utterly dominant this defense is. Once again the Celtics held an opponent to under 90 points, extending their dominance over the rest of the league in that phase of the game.

The Celtics could not have been more chaotic and all over the place on offense, but each and every player that hit the court looked to have their impact on defense. The Celtics may have no chance at an offensive identity with these injuries, but absolutely nothing that happens is slowing down what Brad Stevens has this team doing on defense.

The Celtics continue to find more impressive ways to win during this win streak, and there is no doubt this is the most impressive. The Hornets are far from the best competition they have played, but the Celtic had close to $100 million watching this game injured, with five different rookies looking to be the difference in making up for them.

The Celtics are blowing away any limits you might set on the sustainability of what they are doing. Of course, it makes absolutely no sense to believe the Celtics can continue to win this way, but as each obstacle piles on top of the last, it becomes harder to believe that Stevens will not find a way to get a win out of his roster.

Next: Aron Baynes Turning Into a steal

The Celtics do not want to test this limit again, and they desperately need Horford and Irving to get back from these concussions. That being said, the Celtics will always be patient, and there is going to be no risk whatsoever when it comes to concussions. Even if they are not serious, it would not be surprising to see the Celtics stuck without their top three players as they look to get that 12th straight win.

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