5 reasons why this C’s team is for real

Something is different about your Boston Celtics.

And I’m not talking just about their place in the standings.

I’m talking about the frustration.

There is almost none.

For going on six years the young Celtics, even the Kyrie Irving Celtics, got off to nice starts to their seasons before we’d all be thinking the same thing:

What the hell is wrong with this team? Why did they not show up? Why did Jayson Tatum do that? Why can’t Jaylen Brown dribble the basketball much, much better? Why does Marcus Smart shoot so many 3-pointers? Why isn’t coach Joe Mazzulla calling a timeout?

And that’s just a few.

Hey, we’re spoiled around here. Winning two out of three games most of the time isn’t enough.

While there have been lapses in judgement (see the paragraph that starts with ‘What the hell is wrong with this team?’), they have been few and far between.

And I got back to the first sentence of this column: Something is different about this team.

I’m going to try to simplify it and break it down into five key reasons:

1. Jayson Tatum matured greatly

The amount of great plays he makes, usually keyed by his strong upper body, haven’t changed. He’s still stronger and wiry as ever. But his “brain farts” have dropped exponentially. He is making the “right” play at a record pace. It’s a joy to watch, maybe realizing less is more, particularly with the talent around him.

2. Role playing

I hate to throw this on Marcus Smart, one of our all-time favorite “effort” guys his entire run in Boston, but there is no wavering on what each player’s ultimate role is on this team. Tatum is Batman. Jaylen Brown is Robin. Derrick White (more on him in No. 5) is the two-way guy. Kristaps Porzingis is the freak who can play close and far away from the basket. And Jrue Holiday is the point guard. No questions asked. The key guys on the bench – Peyton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Al Horford and Luke Kornet – are there to add value when a few of the starters are out. That’s it.

When Smart was here, as well as Malcolm Brogdon, the coach had to make decisions on who to sit at end of game with White in the rotation. Smart had to play because, well, he was around the longest, or whatever.

3. The additions

Porzingis and Holiday have fit into this thing like a glove. Porzingis has been a force on both sides, particularly as a shot blocker. And Holiday, who hasn’t really broken out yet as a scorer – he doesn’t really have to – brings a semblance of control when he brings the ball up the court.

These two had bigger roles in their previous teams, but have accepted being third, fourth or fifth fiddle. It’s refreshing.

4. Mazzulla’s maturity

Among the best moves made by Brad Stevens this past offseason was getting Mazzulla, “the kid,” some veteran coaching voices Phil Pressey and Sam Cassell. Mazzulla has taken to those voices and seems to be in much more control than he was a year ago, as a head coaching neophyte. There’s been a lot less “defensiveness” and lot more humility. Mazzulla is a huge believer, like Stevens, in outshooting teams. But he’s also added some defensive fire to this group.

5. White is right

Derrick White seems like he was born to be a Celtic. And I’m talking a Red Auerbach Celtic. He can contribute in every way – offense, defense, passing, shooting, running, driving, etc. – and has basically turned into an all-star before our eyes. Like everyone else, he will score 10 points one night and 30 points the next night, like he did last week against Orlando and Golden State, and both games be among the top overall contributors. He’s got that clutch gene – remember his last second put-back in getting C’s to Game 7 against the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals last May – working, too. The guy only cares about winning.