ORLANDO — Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard — two simply 4 lively, wholesome Celtics who have been rotation gamers on the 2023-24 championship workforce — have each spoken candidly concerning the present state of Boston’s roster.
It’s not as gifted, they’ve acknowledged, because the loaded squad that gained all of it two seasons in the past after which went 61-21 final 12 months. That’s been mirrored within the Celtics’ 4-6 document up to now; whereas a step above the underside tier of the Jap Convention, they’d miss each the playoffs and the play-in event if the season ended Saturday.
These returning mainstays have been inspired, although, by the progress they’ve seen from their revamped group over the primary 10 video games.
“I believe we’re transferring,” Brown stated after Friday evening’s 123-110 road loss to the Magic. “I believe we’re rising. I believe we’re getting higher. I’m liking what I’m seeing from sure guys, and that’s an important factor, persevering with to get higher. I do know we’re not a corporation or a fanbase that makes excuses, particularly in video games that we really feel like we are able to win, nevertheless it’s part of the educational curve and course of. So it’s nonetheless early within the season, and we’ve obtained to proceed to struggle. I’m going to proceed to struggle, proceed to assist my teammates get higher, proceed to see the place the sport and provides the sport what it must be. However that’s part of it.”
The Celtics have been aggressive in all however one recreation — a 27-point Houston Rockets beatdown on the second evening of a back-to-back — and have been main within the fourth quarter in three of their six losses, together with a one-point loss to Philadelphia on opening evening and a two-point loss to Utah that featured a blown foul call within the remaining minute.
In opposition to Orlando, Boston erased a 16-point first-quarter deficit and led with simply over seven minutes remaining earlier than fading late. The Celtics entered Saturday ranked 14th within the NBA in web ranking and fifteenth in level differential.
“Suppose we’re making progress,” Pritchard stated. “You recognize, it’s humorous. You may take a look at the season, and it may very well be utterly completely different if we win two video games that we’re presupposed to opening evening and in opposition to Utah. Then we’re sitting, what, 6-4? Lots of people could be it loads completely different. Nevertheless it’s the primary 10 video games. Now, we’ve obtained one other set of one other 10 video games. Can we get constructive every 10 video games and preserve getting higher and higher? In order that’s form of the outlook we’re . It’s only a progress mindset.”
Brown and Pritchard mixed for 59 factors in Friday’s loss to the Magic, although Brown’s two-point fourth quarter prompted him to grumble about the officiating. They’re the Celtics’ two main scorers this season, averaging 28.1 and 16.5 factors per recreation, respectively.
The Celtics will go to Orlando once more Sunday evening (6 p.m.) earlier than closing out their three-game street journey Tuesday in Philadelphia.
