Is the team turning a corner?

[Roy H.]

From Dec. 31 to February 2, we're 12-6, a .667 winning percentage.  That's about a 55-win pace if we played at that rate over the entire season.

Is that something we should be hopeful about?  Or is it fool's gold due to a pretty soft schedule?

I'm optimistic, but I'd feel even better if we hadn't lost to the Knicks, Spurs and Blazers during that stretch. 

[Sophomore]

It's better than they were doing, for sure, and there are signs of growth. Regaining their composure and running the offense at the end of the 4th quarter was great. Charlotte was raining threes - on a heater - and the Cs did not devolve into Tatum and Brown going 1 on 1 and hoisting threes. Nice sign of progress.

Are they all the way there? Probably not. There will probably be steps forward and back. But I think that's the way development normally goes. On the whole I consider it positive and I'm interested to see if they can keep it going.

[Kiorrik]

More like we entered the bend. Or took a fork in the road.

We're getting there.

Little things are going better and growing more consistent.

Growing habits takes time. And getting rid of bad habits, possibly takes even longer.

[johnnygreen]

This recent run, feels more like fools gold. It seems like when they play good teams, like Chicago or Miami, those teams are missing their best players. However, I will give the Celtics credit for finally beating the bad teams on a more consistent basis.

I am afraid that this recent time frame that was brought up, will influence Brad into not making a significant move. I have a feeling he will just make another minor move simply to avoid the luxury tax.

[jbpats]

Tough to say.

My eye test is telling me they're playing better. My reality check is telling me they are beating up on bottom feeders and injury ridden teams.

The December schedule was a grind, we knew that going into it and definitely lost many winnable games in pathetic fashion. The schedule from here on out is much lighter. We are finally healthy which definitely helps, I just need to see how we play against actual competition before drawing a conclusion. If Hayward played last night, or if Tatum got ejected like he probably should have down the stretch, we would have probably lost.

I still think we are a 7 seed at best this season but, still an improvement overall right?

[DefenseWinsChamps]

They are noticeably less frantic and desperate when things start to go wrong. They seem more confident and in control when I've been able to watch them these last couple of weeks. Tatum's demeanor especially seems more confident.

[Donoghus]

I'm not sure yet.   I do see them gaining some confidence, though.  Which is certainly promising.

[seancally]

I think the soft schedule is a big part. But I also think that the team needs a soft schedule stretch so they can develop more trust and better habits while getting wins to boost confidence, as opposed to trying to pull “moral victories” out of losses against really strong competition. If this team could do a week or two in the G-league I think it would be a big help because they need to build confidence and trust in one another.

[tonydelk]

I think there are varying factors

1) the team is finally at full strength
2) the players are getting used to the schemes
3) the D has been tops in the NBA
4) the schedule has lightened up
5) this is a big one and it worries me.  Ime has tightened his rotation to a playoff rotation and the top 8 are playing heavy minutes. 

[boscel33]

From Dec. 31 to February 2, we're 12-6, a .667 winning percentage.  That's about a 55-win pace if we played at that rate over the entire season.

Is that something we should be hopeful about?  Or is it fool's gold due to a pretty soft schedule?

I'm optimistic, but I'd feel even better if we hadn't lost to the Knicks, Spurs and Blazers during that stretch.

Absolutely!  Why?  Health!

Tatum is getting stronger from Covid, Brown's knee is bothering less, Smart and his Covid, etc.

This is what the team has needed, good health.

[Celtics2021]

Last night's win was promising. The Hornets played well and kept coming back.  Two weeks ago the C's lost such a game to Charlotte, and then again to Portland two days later.  This time, every time Charlotte went on a run from being 10 down, the Celtics had an answer.  I can't think of any other games this year where the C's won in regulation with such a scenario.  That was a new level of resolve and good late-game execution, and hopefully it leads to more.

[wdleehi]

It looks like their record during that span is matching the net ratings.   



I would still feel better rearranging the deck chair around the engine.   A few more chairs on the shooting deck would be good.  One less chair on the non-shooting PG deck.   

[td450]

I think it is, but that doesn't mean the current roster can contend, only that it can and should be a second tier team. A 50 win type of team. A team that shouldn't make the conference finals.

[Moranis]

As I said a month or so ago, the schedule is so much easier down the stretch and that Boston's record was going to improve significantly as a result. 

Far too often people don't pay attention to the schedule.  We are 10-4 in the last 14.  Schedule gets a bit tougher over the next few weeks, but the team should still be well above .500 the rest of the season. 

[keevsnick]

As I said a month or so ago, the schedule is so much easier down the stretch and that Boston's record was going to improve significantly as a result. 

Far too often people don't pay attention to the schedule.  We are 10-4 in the last 14.  Schedule gets a bit tougher over the next few weeks, but the team should still be well above .500 the rest of the season.

To this point, the c's haven't beaten a team above the play in who was also healthy since the PHO win on Dec 31st. They've played the very injured Bulls and won, the very injured MIA heat team and won, the healthy sixers and lost.

Hell the only game they've won against a 9th seed or better is last night's CHA game.

Now, to be fair, they weren't healthy for a stretch in the middle of the month as well when they lost to CHA and POR. But still, they have one win against an even average team in the last one.