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This time around feels different for the Boston Celtics

By Michael James

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 6: Gordon Hayward #20 and Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics high-five during a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 6, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 6: Gordon Hayward #20 and Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics high-five during a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 6, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics have responded well to their most recent losing skid with two impressive wins on a west coast road trip, but their problem has been sustaining stretches of solid play.

Before you go into the comments to vehemently disagree with this article, hear me out first. I know how this sounds, trust me I know.

Are the Celtics finally back?

As of now, no. They are certainly not back….. Yet.

That’s been the season-long battle for the Boston Celtics ever since their 10-10 start. Could they get back to playing the high level of basketball we know they are capable of even though we’ve never truly seen it sustained for more than five or so games?

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There were moments that gave us hope. Big wins over the Raptors and Sixers gave us hope, but they simply fell back into mediocrity. An eight-game winning streak through December didn’t seem to do the trick. But after a 33-point win in Golden State and a narrow win on the very next night against a rejuvenated Kings franchise, there might be proof that this time is different.

The Celtics feel more connected as a group this time. They seem to be enjoying each other’s success more than before, and also seem like they don’t bicker as much either. While they’re intangible differences that don’t mean that much on their own, they do start to add up. Playing together helps a team overcome adversity, like a road game against one of the fastest teams in the league on a back-to-back after clubbing the best team in the league the night before.

It would have been completely understandable for the Celtics to have lost to the Kings, but they didn’t. That was the theme of last year’s magical run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Would you have blamed that team for losing to the Bucks or Sixers in the first two rounds of the playoffs? Probably not, but they won anyway.

Next. Should the Celtics try a new starting lineup?. dark

This could all be wiped away if the Celtics don’t come out strong against an all but dead Lakers team and then drop another one to the Clippers just like last time around, but this feels different. Boston may not be back yet, but after every time they almost made it, I feel confident this is finally the team we’ve been waiting for. And that’s a scary thought for the rest of the league.

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