The aftermath of a title, Doc Rivers knows what it is. At the start of the 2008/09 season, a few months after their 17th NBA title, his Celtics were such a well-oiled machine that they had signed a series of 19 straight victories in the first weeks of competition.
Fifteen years after this team, which will not be able to achieve the double due to injuries to Kevin Garnett, the current coach of the Bucks is observing signs that are unmistakable in today's Celtics. He sees among the reigning champions a ” well-drilled basketball team » Who's playing ” now without any obstacles “.
He and the Bucks experienced it last night at TD Garden, where they conceded a terrible 18-2 before losing. “ By winning this title, they went to another level. We feel it when they play », Continues Doc Rivers, who is not contradicted by the opposing players.
A spike in confidence
“ That's for sure. Winning gave us confidence. I feel like we always approach things the same way. […] We realize that we have already been capable of doing the things we fought for. And now, no matter what situation we find ourselves in, we are always collectively optimistic », confirms Al Horford.
A position that seems logical because the Celtics, who kept their team intact during the offseason, are having a perfect start to the season (4 wins – 0 losses) despite being deprived of Kristaps Porzingis.
“ We were pretty confident before, but when you accomplish something like that, with basically the same group, just that bond, that connection that we have… I think the other teams are a little bit looking for that. We just did it. We have this connection, this bond which means that when things go well or badly, we have great trust in each other. », adds Derrick White.
Al Horford saw the same thing with the Nuggets
His teammate believes he observed the same phenomenon with other teams in the league once the title was won. Latest example, before the Celtics, the Nuggets, winners in 2023.
“ Last year, they kept going and kept their cool. When the time came for them to accelerate and get a 'stop', score or whatever, they had that ability », Judge Al Horford.
Even if this level of confidence did not allow the Nikola Jokic gang to achieve the double. No team has achieved this since 2018 with the Warriors.
“ We see this in other champions. When everything is good or bad, they remain constant. They have seen it all, they have this conviction and this consistency. Nothing surprises them. I think we are the same. We literally saw every type of match. 20 points ahead, behind, convert to 3-points, or not. We have many different ways to win “, continues Derrick White.
Best attack of the team so far, its formation takes the good ingredients of last year by relying in particular on a long distance address above everyone else (43%, n°1 in address and volume shots).
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Jayson Tatum | 3 | 32.4 | 54.7 | 48.6 | 66.7 | 1.0 | 5.3 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 33.0 |
| Jaylen Brown | 3 | 32.8 | 37.1 | 45.8 | 89.5 | 2.0 | 6.3 | 8.3 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 24.7 |
| Derrick White | 3 | 31.8 | 52.6 | 43.5 | 90.9 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 20.0 |
| Payton Pritchard | 3 | 24.1 | 37.9 | 42.3 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 12.3 |
| Jrue Holiday | 3 | 29.6 | 55.6 | 60.0 | 85.7 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 10.7 |
| Sam Hauser | 1 | 24.2 | 40.0 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 10.0 |
| Al Horford | 3 | 26.1 | 52.6 | 57.1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 9.3 |
| Neemias Queta | 2 | 9.0 | 71.4 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 6.0 |
| Xavier Tillman, Sr. | 3 | 17.1 | 41.7 | 37.5 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 4.3 |
| Baylor Scheierman | 1 | 8.1 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Luke Kornett | 3 | 18.3 | 57.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 2.7 |
| Jaden Springer | 1 | 5.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Drew Peterson | 1 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jordan Walsh | 2 | 8.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Jd Davison | 1 | 8.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
