Coach Brad Stevens doesn’t think the Celtics’ 30-point loss to the Knicks on a Sunday is a true reflection of the players.
“I don’t believe that’s who this team is,” Stevens told reporters. “We had a clunker. You try to have as few of those as you can. … We just looked like we were in mud today.”
Prior to Sunday, the Celtics had won five in a row to take over first place in the Eastern Conference. They lost star wing Jayson Tatum (health and safety protocol) but gained star point guard Kemba Walker.
“They’ve played extremely well short-handed, and dealing with a lot of tough stuff with guys being out,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Sometimes when you get guys back, there’s another adjustment you have to go through. … Getting Kemba back, there was an adjustment for them.”
More out of Boston
- Walker had to leave the game after taking an unintentional shot to the ribs from Knicks center Nerlens Noel. But he had played his full 20 minutes and said he merely had the wind knocked out of him. “It felt really good to be out there,” Walker said. “It feels weird not having pain, if that makes sense.”
- Tatum hasn’t played since Jan. 8. He’s missed two games and three others were postponed because one or both teams didn’t have enough healthy players. It sounds like he could be back soon, but the Celtics can’t elaborate.
- Justin Quinn of CelticsWire wonders if Boston should make a run at Cavaliers guard Kevin Porter Jr., who reportedly has fallen out of favor in Cleveland. If nothing else, Quinn writes, the Celtics should do their due diligence.
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