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Boston Celtics: Is Disaster Looming?

By Joshua Bateman

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 06: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics reacts after blocking a shot against the Atlanta Hawks with Kyrie Irving #11 at Philips Arena on November 6, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 06: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics reacts after blocking a shot against the Atlanta Hawks with Kyrie Irving #11 at Philips Arena on November 6, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics are on an incredible run, but they are playing dangerously every game

The Boston Celtics continue one of the most remarkable runs to start out a season we have ever seen in the NBA. They have overcome every single injury possible, with double digit comebacks on what feels like a nightly basis. They have struggled in almost every game, with close wins against the very best and the very worst the league has to offer.

The Celtics are playing in one of the most unsustainable ways, because teams are not supposed to win this many games while playing this poorly. The offense is yet to come close to what was expected to start the season, but the defense has kept them alive in every single game.

It feels like the Celtics are finding more and more difficult ways to keep this streak going, and if they keep pushing that limit it could all fall apart. The Celtics have teetered on the edge of blowing this streak every time they play, and if a few more things go wrong in any of these games, they could have lost all of them.

The Celtics are looking like the toughest team to beat in the NBA right now, but they have been giving weaker teams openings to win every single game they are playing, and it is dangerous to expect Kyrie Irving, and co. to come up in the clutch in each and every game. The Celtics need to start putting together complete games, or these wins could quickly turn into loses.

It feels like the Celtics are playing with a special kind of magic right now, and there is no point in questioning what they are able to overcome considering the countless obstacles that have piled on during this streak.

The Celtics have made sure to keep this run as fun as possible, with close and intense games across the board. The problem with winning so many close games is a lot harder to sustain these remarkable comebacks and clutch play, rather than putting together the kinds of performance that will put teams away.

The Celtics continue to let teams hang around, and so far it has not been a problem at all. Unfortunately, this is a long season, and the more times the Celtics let these teams hang around, the more loses they could be susceptible to.

The good news is that this run is teaching the Celtics how many different ways they can win. It feels like they find something new every night, and that makes it so much harder for opponents to know how to beat them. Unfortunately, this cannot realistically be maintained over an 82 game schedule, and the Celtics need to find that other gear that will allow them to crush teams the way they should.

Next: Celtics Becoming Kings of the Comeback

You cannot overstate how remarkable this run for the Celtics has been, and it has them on a clear path to home court advantage in the playoffs. That being said, the Celtics still have not found the real balanced potential of this core, and until they reach that potential, there could be a lot more close games in their future.

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