Celtics' generational milestone a good reminder that fans are in 'the good ole days'

As Joe Mazzulla and his former top assistant Charles Lee met for a handshake by the Spectrum Center scorer’s table, the final seconds in the Boston Celtics’ dominant 114-99 win over the Charlotte Hornets ticked off the clock.

Once the final buzzer sounded, it became official: the Celtics reached 50 wins in the fifth-straight season -- a season that was supposed to be a “gap year.” 

“I think it’s a testament to the alignment [throughout] the organization and to the players,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said of the consistency of winning in Boston (via NBC Sports Boston). “We’ve shifted players over the past five years, a bunch of different ways, but winning still remains the most important thing.”

This current stretch is the first of its kind in nearly 40 years. The last time the Cs won 50+ in the first nine seasons of Larry Bird’s time with the team.

“It’s a minor milestone,” Mazzulla downplayed. “I wouldn’t say that it’s a true definition of success, but I think it’s a definition of consistency.”

Though the 50-win milestone is “minor” in the sense that the Celtics won’t raise a banner to TD Garden’s rafters to celebrate it, it’s still remarkable to match a precedent set in one of the franchise’s most successful eras -- even more so, again, in a year where those expectations weren’t present.

This is a reminder to fans that they're currently living in "the good ole days." Enjoy them while you can.

Jaylen Brown, who missed his second straight game with Achilles tendinitis immediately celebrated the achievement by taking a shot at his squad’s doubters.

“50 wins in a gap year [shamrock emoji],” the star forward posted.

Brown’s borderline MVP-level of play on a nightly basis is a massive reason why his team eclipsed the half-century mark again. Not to mention that they did it after seeing four of their top eight rotation players from last season head to new homes and having played the first 62 games of their campaign without five-time All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum as he worked his way back from a torn Achilles.

The Celtics, from the top down, have delivered on a nightly basis

It’s far from a one-man show in Boston, though.

“That starts with the players who put on the jersey and have an understanding that winning is the most important thing and how seriously they take it,” Mazzulla pointed out.

Just about everyone who’s put on the uniform through these first 74 Celtics games has delivered. If you want an example, look no further than win No. 50. With Brown and Derrick White out, the Cs got strong contributions from supporting cast members like Neemias Queta (17 points, eight rebounds, and a block), Baylor Scheierman (14 points and three rebounds), Jordan Walsh (seven rebounds in 33 strong minutes), and Ron Harper Jr. (seven points, three rebounds, and a steal in his first rotation minutes in weeks).

“It’s a culture thing,” Payton Pritchard told reporters at Spectrum Center following his 28-point explosion (via NBC Sports Boston). “Every guy shows up every game ready to compete and help [us win games]. So, it’s definitely the culture we built here.”

It’s true.

All of the aforementioned players give efforts like Sunday’s all the time. They’re the foundation that Boston’s season-long success has been built upon. Without Queta being ready to step into the starting role, Scheierman’s willingness to improve as a defender and fight for rebounds, Walsh and Harper Jr.’s consistent readiness for the moments when their numbers are called, the Celtics wouldn’t be in the position they are today.

The attention that the front office paid to detail when considering the character of the players they filled the roster with this season, has once again be proven to be second to none.

Boston’s win in Charlotte secured them a spot in the playoffs for the 11th-straight campaign, dating back to the 2014-15 season. Not only will they be in the playoffs, but they’ll be heading into the opening round with home court advantage. The Celtics are mathematically guaranteed to finish in the East’s top four.

As they say in the U.K., mind the gap.