Celtics stroll the stroll, apologize for NBA Cup flop with 25-point win over Nets

Simply 24 hours after being outworked by the Atlanta Hawks of their NBA Cup opener, the Boston Celtics walked the stroll in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets. They talked the discuss Tuesday night time, saying that they wanted to be higher and play tougher and did simply that in Brooklyn on the again finish of a back-to-back once they issued followers a 25-point apology of their whomping of the Nets.

“We didn’t really feel nice getting on that airplane final night time… We needed to bounce again,” Jayson Tatum instructed NBC Sports activities Boston’s Abby Chin, after hanging 36 factors on the hosts at Barclays.

Tatum embodied all that was proper concerning the bounce-back W. He notched a close to triple-double (36p/10a/9r) and had his fingerprints everywhere in the recreation.

Very like all the video games that Boston performed within the final week, they as soon as once more began sluggish, however JT had their again. He poured in 13 first-quarter factors to assist the Cs preserve tempo with the Nets early.

His well-rounded effort rubbed off on his Celtics teammates, who regarded much more centered.

“It begins with them (Tatum and Jaylen Brown) taking accountability, however taking accountability so far as what must be carried out on the ground…They know the way vital their two-way basketball is for our success,” head coach Joe Mazzulla defined.

After turning the ball over 20 occasions and permitting the Hawks as many offensive rebounds as doable, they tightened issues up and saved Wednesday’s mixed quantity to only 10 in Brooklyn.

Mazzulla had pointed to the shot margins at Tuesday’s post-game presser, saying which you could’t win video games if you’re taking 25 much less makes an attempt than your opponent. His guys clearly listened and cleaned up their recreation, particularly Brown and Tatum.

“Yesterday, after the sport, I mentioned me and JT should be higher. We had 11 turnovers,” mentioned Brown. “Tonight, we solely had one.”

Brown didn’t have essentially the most environment friendly scoring night time en path to his 24 factors, however he made his presence identified by hitting the glass onerous. His 12 boards (10 defensive) have been an enormous a part of why the Nets weren’t capable of create second probabilities for themselves.

Boston’s two stars’ willingness to take accountability and lead by instance says loads about their character, in addition to the staff’s.

Payton Pritchard, who poured in an environment friendly 23 factors at Barclays, would agree.

“We obtained humbled yesterday. We didn’t respect our opponent,” he instructed reporters (h/t CLNS Media) “We got here again at this time and it confirmed the character of our staff.”

There have been loads of seasons the place we’ve all seen the Celtics lose in a disappointing trend, as they did within the Cup opener, say they must be higher, after which come out and shoot themselves within the foot once more.

Since Mazzulla has been in cost, extra particularly since he’s had a full offseason to arrange for his accountability as head coach, the Cs have been constant at studying from their classes.

He simply desires his guys to decide to the method of getting higher.

“Nothing’s mounted. But in addition, simply since you don’t play effectively doesn’t imply it’s damaged. It’s only a course of day in and day trip. You’ve obtained to decide to it, you’ve obtained to do it.”