Maybe it's just confirmation bias (and I haven't seen as many games as I'd like this season, a toddler would do that to you), but I feel that unlike the last couple of years, this team has a bit of an idea about what they want to do offensively (take quick, open shots; if that fails, run a ton of picks and look for cutters) and defensively (play their bigs high and disrupt passing lanes with active pressure). Am I just imagining things?
I agree with you. I think it's their greatest strength. They know how they want to play and most nights they do a good job of executing their plan. This is a testament to what Stevens has been able to accomplish. The rotation has solidified a bit in the last couple of weeks and it has paid off with improved play on the court.
It still feels at times like the Celts are outgunned against opponents with players that have a lot of scoring ability and physical talent. Unlike last year, instead of it seeming like they're taking a knife to a gun fight, it's like Stevens has managed to fashion a bow and arrow out of the parts available to him.
A bow and arrow will still get you killed if you're facing somebody with modern weaponry, but it can actually give you an advantage against, say, muskets, and a real chance against somebody wielding a revolver or an old hunting rifle. The Celts are mastering the bow and arrow.
