Although it’s hard to refer to a two-game losing streak in an 82-game season as a “slump,” that’s precisely how this week seems considering the dominance of the 2023–24 Celtics.
Monday and Thursday’s games against the Atlanta Hawks were losses for Boston. The former was a heartbreaking overtime loss, while the later was a two-point loss in a game the Celtics led by as many as thirty points.
The manner in which those defeats were handled incited the first really vocal dissatisfaction for the Boston squad among its supporters this season. Joe Mazzulla, the head coach of the Celtics, wants to maintain harmony in the locker room during this somewhat difficult time.
Prior to Saturday’s game, Mazzulla stated, “It’s impossible to ignore the noise, but it’s more about where our team and our locker room keeps its focus.” “You can surround yourself with a lot of negativity, but I believe one of this team’s greatest assets is that the guys have remained close no matter what the circumstances or outcomes have been.”
There’s really no need to freak out in the Boston locker room. The Celtics continue to have the best record in the NBA, and it’s not even close. Their net rating of 11.7 is the highest of any team and far higher than Oklahoma City Thunder’s (7.3), who are in second place. In addition, they are first in the NBA in terms of offensive rating (122.5) and second in terms of defensive rating (110.8).
The general consistent success Boston has seen this season is unaffected by difficult results.
“You just have to stay true; it’s not even like you have to stay positive,” Mazzulla remarked. That is the most crucial factor. It’s impossible to fake optimism. This group has done a fantastic job remaining composed and connected.
Of course, a victory is the panacea for both a difficult period and the pessimism that surrounds it. Against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, the Celtics will be looking for one. Mazzulla won’t be concerned, though, even if they fail to grasp it and go on their first three-game losing skid of the year.
“I’m not interested in winning merely for our own self-satisfaction. That’s not how you grow, in my opinion,” Mazzulla remarked. That’s not what we’re requesting. The true test of growth is if we can stay true to who we are in the face of uncertainty about the outcome and keep improving.
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