Inside The Celtics

After Dominant Display vs. Wizards, Celtics Discuss Not Playing Down to Competition

The Celtics refused to let their opponent impact their effort in a 126-107 win in a game they never trailed.

Bobby Krivitsky

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Last season, the Boston Celtics tended to play down to .500 or worse competition. Along with the Milwaukee Bucks catching fire, it was at the root of why they lost control of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, settling for second.

Sometimes, even a lesson readily understood requires an experience like that to drive it home. Monday, the new look C's got their first chance to prove the caliber of its opponent doesn't dictate its effort.

They passed that test with flying colors, staging a 24-6 run in the first frame, entering the second with a 42-19 lead, and earning a 126-107 win on a night where their starters got the fourth quarter off.

Jaylen Brown, who finished with a game-high 36 points, and Jayson Tatum, who finished with 33, combined for 69 in 36 minutes. With Boston playing lockdown defense, its All-NBA wing tandem nearly matched the Washington Wizards, who got held to 75 points through the first three periods.

Regarding his team coming out sharp and keeping its foot on the gas, head coach Joe Mazzulla conveyed the following.

"Just because it's a sign of growth now doesn't mean it may not happen at some point, but we're definitely aware of that. And something we think we can control is the way we come out and start games. We just have too many good players, and we have a chance, and so I think we're really trying to make sure we come out with the right mindset every single game. (It) doesn't mean it's gonna go our way, but I really liked our approach to the game throughout the majority of it."

USATSI_21776693
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots the ball over Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24).

When Brown came to the podium, he also discussed what he said is a point of emphasis for the Celtics this season.

"I think we just came out and played. It didn't matter who was on the floor; it's about us. So, we just come out and we've got a lot of talent, we know we're gonna be more talented than a lot of teams, and we just try to take advantage of all of our opportunities. We had some open looks, we were aggressive, we got some points in the paint, got KP (Kristaps Porzingis) going a little bit, and we made a lot of shots."

He later expressed, "It's important that we get off to a good start to the season. So, mindset (and) mentality is something that we've all been preaching. Joe has made sure that he's been emphasizing that. As the leader on the team, I've been making sure we've been emphasizing that. We've got to run through the finish line. Nights like tonight, where it's easy to take your foot off the gas, but if you want to do what you say you want to do, we've got to come out and play the game the right way, have the right mentality, have the right mindset, and take care of business."

Further Reading

Refusing to Play Down to Their Competition, Celtics Cruise to Victory in Nation's Capital

Oshae Brissett Shines in Celtics Win vs. Heat: 'He Changed the Game'

Here's Where Jaylen Brown Impressed Joe Mazzulla the Most in Celtics' Win vs. Heat

Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense

Jaylen Brown Teams with Johnny Cupcakes to Give Back to Boston

Celtics Embracing Sacrifice in Championship Pursuit: 'Have to Buy into That'

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present

Candace Parker on Celtics Trading Marcus Smart, Maximizing Tatum-Brown Tandem, Pat Summitt, and the Sports Matter Initiative

Here's What to Know About Celtics' 2023-24 Schedule

Dwyane Wade Discusses Jayson Tatum's Next Step, Him and Jaylen Brown's Challenge, Heat Culture, Pat Riley, Damian Lillard, and Life After Basketball

Published
Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

Home/News