The Boston Celtics have time to fix their biggest problem
Once the Boston Celtics start having fun, we’ll be able to see one of the most talented rosters in the league at full force.
It’s no secret this year’s Boston Celtics team is extremely talented; on paper, they have one of the most dangerous starting lineups in the league coupled with enough depth to pummel opposing second units. To go with such a roster, they have a consensus top three coach in Brad Stevens. So what’s the problem?
Back in the 2015-2016 season the Celtics had no perennial all-stars, were fresh off a losing season, and got swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers. A roster turnover that included the departure of their best player Rajon Rondo and the biggest addition being a 5-foot-9-inch point guard who the Suns let go for Marcus Thornton and a late first round pick, the Celtics had no business being relevant.
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But instead of diving deeper into the prototypical rebuild, they won 48 games and took the Hawks to 6 games in the playoffs. The city of Boston has fallen in love with past teams because they attacked by imposing their will as a team through toughness and superior strategy.
This brings us back to the original question: If a team like the 2015-2016 Celtics can outdo everyone’s expectations, why has a team this loaded been such a disappointment? The bottom line is that they’re simply not having fun. Marcus Morris Sr. after the collapse against the Clippers said “I watch all these other teams in the league, guys up on the bench, up on the court; they’re doing stuff that looks like they’re enjoying their teammate’s success, they’re enjoying everything and they’re playing together. And when I look at us, I just see a bunch of individuals.”
Whenever anyone on this team takes a shot it seems like they’re more worried about being judged by everyone else rather than being excited at the possibility of celebrating a good play.
On top of it all, Kyrie is trying to fill the role of being the sole leader, a position that quite frankly never existed with this squad. The problem is partially coming from the national media; Kyrie is trying to be the unquestioned leader the media has crowned him, but that’s different than how other players on the team see things. The Celtics have a handful of other leaders: Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Marcus Morris Sr., but Kyrie Irving is unintentionally stepping on their toes which leads to this toxic environment.
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Despite season-long struggles there is reason for optimism: The Celtics are unique, they’re the most talented team in the eastern conference so as long as they can figure things out before the playoffs, their individual seeding doesn’t matter as much. Things might seem bleak right now but there’s no reason to give up anytime soon.