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My 64th NBA Celtics Post-Season! Mental discipline is key for The Green.

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 I started following pro basketball in 1960. My next-door friend was from Lawrence, Massachusetts - and like most young guys from that city - he was a hoop fanatic. As a senior in high school, I quickly became one. These playoffs will be number-64 for me.


The present version of my home team has been brilliantly constructed. They have been close to omnipotent in the regular season and should have corrected any weaknesses that have revealed themselves in the past several post-seasons.

Physically, they really lack nothing. The starters - the bench - the role players are all there. Scoring? Check! Defense? Ditto! Luck? They have that. Unlike a few opposing teams, they are healthy. 

My point here is that:

"You can not tweak your little finger without your brain initiating the action". -- Tom Lane

It seems the only thing that can get in the way of Banner 18 for the Boston Celtics would be mental lapses. Taking plays off - repeating bad habits - overreliance on 3- pointers - slowing the pace in the clutch - relying too much on isolation plays. etc. 

The window for success is long for The Green, but they are poised beautifully this post-season to take it all. But they are not robots. They could fail, and I can live with that - as long as their mental discipline remains staunchly in place. 


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  1. Don RussoApril 22, 2024 at 3:39 AM

    My first real memory of the Celtics is 1963. Cousy had just retired, Sam and KC were the backcourt and Havlicek was emerging as the 6th man. The key to the Celtics success was teamwork, but it was also knowing there was one key guy who could, by force of will, ensure they win. Russ, initially, then Halichek, then Bird. Each team was cohesive, with defensive stoppers(Russ, Satch, KC) and lights out shooters(Sam, Hondo, Bird, etc) and great rebounders ( Russ, Silas, Cowens, Parish). In the most recent incarnation, KG was the stopper and rebounder and Pierce and Ray were the shooters). Plus there were always role players who could rise to the occasion (Nellie, Max, Walton, etc).

    The current team has all of those elements too. They just need continued focus and courage and it’s theirs. They have the talent, do they have the will? We’ll find out shortly.

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    1. Tom LaneApril 22, 2024 at 2:15 PM

      This current team is really good. Are they post-season good. As you state, we'll find out.

      Delete

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