The Boston Celtics haven’t been in top form as of late, but life goes on. And those aren’t just the words of Hardwood Houdini. It’s the way Joe Mazzulla is choosing to view Boston’s current slump. “We just don't have the time to worry about it,” Mazzulla said after the Celtics’ loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night. “We'll learn from it.”
Rather than dwelling on their struggles, Mazzulla wants the Celtics to take them in, push forward, and grow. There is no time for demoralization. And as the Celtics attempt to improve upon their recent form, there is plenty to discuss regarding the state of the team.
Here is the latest in the world of Celtics news.
Oshae Brissett signs with Long Island Nets
As reported by Bobby Manning of CLNS Media, 2024 NBA Champion Oshae Brissett has signed a contract with the Long Island Nets, the G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets.
Brissett did not return to Boston after winning a championship with the team last spring. He declined his player option, presumably in search of more opportunities, but didn’t end up latching on with another organization.
His deal with the Nets marks his return to professional basketball for the first time in roughly seven months. And he did it just in time for the Nets to play the Maine Celtics in Portland on Sunday, January 19.
Jayson Tatum discusses Celtics slump
Losing isn’t a new thing for Jayson Tatum. Sure, the Celtics have made the playoffs every year of his career, but these types of slumps have been present throughout the course of his career.
Most notably, Tatum’s Celtics, under Ime Udoka, held a .500 record in January before their somewhat miraculous run to the 2022 NBA Finals.
After Boston’s loss to the Hawks on Sunday, Tatum spoke about how the Celtics’ current woes compare to those he’s faced in the past.
“I've had stretches or whatever,” Tatum said. “Tough spurts throughout my NBA career. They all present their different challenges. I guess you're just at a different point in your career and your life. I'm at a different place now than I was when Ime was first here and we were 27-27 or whatever.
“We were trying to figure out how to win and things like that. But it just goes to show, it's hard to win the NBA each night. It's tough, and you gotta bring it every single night.”
Baylor Scheierman’s travels
It’s been a wild week for Celtics rookie Baylor Scheierman. First, he dominated the offensive end with the Maine Celtics on Thursday night in an overtime win over the College Park Skyhawks.
But the very next morning, he made the long drive back to Boston and was active for their game against the Orlando Magic.
“The drive isn't bad,” Scheierman said at Celtics shootaround Friday morning. “My hometown from where I went to college was like an hour and 40 minutes, so kind of the same deal. So, I'm pretty used to that type of drive. So, it's not a it's not a bad thing for me at all.”
Scheierman is always ready for the road.
“I'm out of a suitcase right now,” Scheierman said. “All my stuff is in the suitcase. When it's time to go, I close up the suitcase and go. I do laundry once or twice a week, and it's just a living on the road type deal. And it's not bad. I don't do a lot anyway, so as long as I got my games with me, my Bible, I'm pretty good.”
Portland to Boston wasn’t the end of Scheierman’s journey this week, though. After Friday’s win over the Magic, Scheierman drove down to Connecticut to watch his Creighton Bluejays beat the UConn Huskies, and then he was back in Boston for Saturday’s game.