Hardwood Houdini
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Boston Celtics Finally Getting Confortable

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 28: The Boston Celtics celebrate during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 28, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 28: The Boston Celtics celebrate during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 28, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics are getting comfortable, but we need to wait until they are really tested

The Boston Celtics have won four straight games since returning from the All Star break, and have looked better than any other point in the season. The competition has not been great, but the Celtics have dominated all four games, with a lot of things going better than they had all season long.

The biggest thing has been the bench. Brad Stevens gets to keep his starters more fresh than ever before, while the second unit is getting an advantage from multiple players, every time they see the court.

This is easily the best offense they have played all season, and Marcus Smart‘s return has rejuvenated the defense. The Celtics have not played with this kind of balance all year long, and this is exactly how they need to be playing if they are going to do damage in the playoffs.

Nobody is forcing anything, Stevens is able to establish lineups that he knows are comfortable together, and everyone is executing at the highest level. Kyrie Irving is making more out of his minutes than anyone else, and Terry Rozier and Daniel Theis are looking like starters when they are on the court.

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The Celtics still have a long ways to go before proving that they can sustain this kind of play, because they have ben too inconsistent to trust just four games. What matters is that the Celtics look more comfortable than any other point this season, and everyone is doing exactly what they need to make sure the team is playing well.

No individual has to carry the team at any point. Irving has been out of his mind, but he is embracing his teammates, and just killing any opportunity that he gets. Everyone else is making sure they are in the right places, and never have to force anything. The offense is functioning at a level that we have not seen this year, and everyone is starting to hit their shots.

The biggest problem is that this shooting is going to be difficult to sustain. We have seen the Celtics miss too many open shots this season to think that will magically turn around. It is a lot of fun to play like this when all the shots are falling, but they cannot regress if the shots stop falling.

The Celtics are always comfortable when they play like this, but they have let shooting struggles derail them too much this season. The Celtics see how good they can be when they are comfortable on both ends like this, and it is exactly how they need to play, even when the sots are not falling.

The Celtics get their first real test against the Houston Rockets, and that game will go a long way in how validated this recent play is. The Celtics have shown us signs of potential on both ends all season long, but they have not put it all together for a long stretch.

Next: IRving Playing Best Basketball of the Season

These last four games are a great example of what happens when all these pieces do come together properly. The is the longest stretch of the season where the Celtics have played like this, but it will feel all to underwhelming if they throw this progress away against the Rockets.

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