The Boston Celtics are trying to play their way through a tough stretch of losses stalling their momentum as the final month of the season approaches. The team currently sits 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the top record in the league, with the Philadelphia 76ers on their heels.
The 5-5 record over the past ten games has featured losses to the struggling Houston Rockets and a late-game collapse to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Marcus Smart recently criticized his defensive performance during the timespan, further adding to the speculation of uncertainty in the locker room.
ESPN analyst and former NBA player Tim Legler appeared on the network’s morning show “Get Up” to share his thoughts on the Celtics. He explained why Boston is still his pick as the third-best team in the league, slightly over the surging 76ers.
“Gonna be a toss-up between these two teams. But ultimately, I’m going to go with Boston. Still, I know they have not played well over the last month. But I’m going for their season-long body of work. And I think Jayson Tatum is going to find his mojo.” Said Legler.
“Once again. I just love their depth. And I think this is a team right now that’s finding themselves a little bit out of rhythm. They’ve got to find it before you get into the postseason because if you have to play Philadelphia or something like that in a second round, they could go home early, so I’m still gonna go with Boston with a slight nod.”
The Celtics’ remaining schedule could determine more than their postseason standing but more about their team’s mindset. The rough patch since the All-Star break has created some concern, but Legler’s assessment showed that many experts believe they will turn things around for another NBA Finals run.
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
