(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics needed this win.
They didn’t need it for seeding purposes, but they definitely had to shut down the outside noise.
Following a nine-game winning streak, Joe Mazzulla’s team raised plenty of doubts again, blowing a 29-point lead and losing back-to-back games to the Atlanta Hawks.
Then, they had a tough time getting past the New Orleans Pelicans, but they were able to rally late and get the job done.
Notably, that included having Jaylen Brown holding his own against Zion Williamson on defense.
Needless to say, stopping a physical specimen like Zion is easier said than done, but Brown was up to the task, and he made sure to let him know about it as well.
Following the game, he admitted that he made sure to talk a little trash to let Williamson know that he wasn’t going to be bullied (via Celtics on NBC Sports Boston).
“In that moment, I was letting him know, letting everyone else in the gym know, I’m not going nowhere. I’m strong enough to hold my ground.”
Jaylen Brown talks about getting matched up with Zion defensively and why he loves those challenges so much pic.twitter.com/XO6sYsp6XC
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 31, 2024
The Celtics are currently favoring health over everything, as they should, as the playoffs are just around the corner.
Then again, you don’t want to be the kind of team that just sits back and plays without intensity shortly before the playoffs, as it’s hard to pick up that kind of competitive rhythm later on.
The Celtics have shown major struggles when it comes to closing out close games, going 4-11 in one-possession games.
That’s why they need to fix those woes while they still can, and being battle-tested against playoff teams in the regular season is the best way to do it.
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