I've seen too much from this team this season to believe we've completely turned the corner, esp. considering the past 2 games really didn't look much different from our pre-GS win... only difference is we won the last couple games.
I still believe there's issues and question weather or not we can continue to overcome these issues.
if we get the 3rd spot then great! but I wouldn't go counting on it.
What issues in particular? ISO-ball? Poor transition D? Those are the ones I see as still lingering. However...
I do think the Celtics have improved with their half-court D and that Brad has had a tighter leash with timeouts!
For me, it's D and overall effort.
I thought the team looked flat against both SAC and LAL, like they were just going through the motions. So when a depleted Lakers put up 107, and the team barely squeaks by the Kings who put up 109, it reinforces what I'm seeing with the effort. If the C's played the same way they did for the Warriors, neither of those teams would have broken 80. Lakers were hanging around too, down only 5 mid way through the 3rd.
Remember that team from last year that was reguarly holding opponents to under 100?
Last year the team held 41 opponents under 100. This year so far it's only been 19. That list (from both seasons) includes GS x2, PHI x4, OKC x3, MIL x2, TOR x3, HOU x1, Team LeBron x1. So why did SAC and LAL put up as many points as they did?
Maybe comparing this year to last isn't the greatest comparison, as scoring is up league wide (111 in '19 vs 106.3 in '18). After all, C's were 3rd best in opponents ppg last year, and 4th best this year, so right around the same spot. But LAL and SAC are both below average teams (SAC close to avg though), and they both put up more than the C's average opponents ppg (106.6). Can't let those teams hang around. And if the team had turned the corner, you'd think maybe they'd allow fewer points when compared to what the C's were allowing before they turned the corner?
I hope they've turned the corner, but I didn't necessarily see it against LAL and SAC.