The Real Season For The Boston Celtics Begins When The Playoffs Start

By Steve Atkinson

The Boston Celtics have clinched home court throughout the NBA playoffs and are the first team with 60 wins. That means absolutely nothing if this loaded, stacked basketball team can’t win a championship this season. If this team loses in the first round you could just call them the 2022 Boston Bruins or like Colin Cowherd has compared them to the Buffalo Bills. Both teams did great in the regular season then choked when it mattered the most. Now, the Buffalo Bills seem to rebuilding and that could be the Celtics in a few years if they don’t win a championship soon.

Championship Or Bust for the Celtics

The Celtics always have an issue with Miami in the playoffs. Doesn’t matter what the regular season record is head-to-head Miami always finds the weak spot the Celtics have in the playoffs. Jayson Tatum needs to be the player he’s supposed to be in the playoffs. Do not choke or miss the last shot in crunch time. He needs to be the leader mentally and for the last few years in the playoffs, he’s really been silent. Last year he got injured then Brown didn’t play well and he choked. The moment can’t get to these guys they should know what it takes to win the whole thing they’ve been there so many times in the last few years.

Here is what Tatum said after the game the other night.

“You learn to appreciate the process,” Tatum said. “All the while we want to hang a (championship) banner. We can’t skip steps. Winning 60-plus games and clinching the best record in the league, it’s a big deal.

“But you’re going to have to win some games on the road regardless in the playoffs to do what you want to do.”

No, you can’t skip the steps but if the Celtics lose in the playoffs nobody will be talking about winning 60 plus games. They’ll be talking about how the Celtics once again lost in the first round. The perfect Patriots season in 2007 was a bust after losing the Super Bowl. People talk about the Super Bowl loss to the Giants not the regular season going 16-0.

So, now that the Celtics have the best record will Jayson Tatum want to sit so he gets ready for the playoffs? Probably not. He cares a lot about his stats and winning the MVP. But, there is no reason to have him out there with two weeks left in the regular season when you need him healthy in the postseason.

It remains to be seen if the Celtics have it to win a championship. Will it come true this season? Will Tatum deliver and take over when it matters the most? Or will Jaylen Brown step up in crunch time in the postseason and deliver? The Celtics bench is much better without Marcus Smart and you now have Jrue Holiday who’s won a championship before on the team. Derrick White is better than Smart and all around a much better team than last year. There’s no excuse to not win a championship this season