With a 20-20 record in the East, and 8th pace standing, it’s fair to say the Boston Celtics have been among the most disappointing teams in the NBA this season.
Inconsistency and a lack of intensity have no doubt been some of the biggest culprits to their struggles, but do they have any hope of turning things around?
In a chat with the media, Celtics guard Marcus Smart was very candid about the reality of their situation, but made sure to let the world know that he still has faith in his squad.
(via Greg Dudek of Milford Daily News)
“Nobody said this was going to be easy when you’re trying to do something great. It’s not easy. You’re going to have obstacles. You’re going to have adversity. You’re going to have a lot of brick walls that you have to go over, under and around.
Our window is definitely closing,” Smart said. “But if anybody can do it, this group of guys, myself included, we can. We just got to figure it out. I think we will. I don’t know when.”
We understand that we’re not playing to the standard, up to the pedestal that we have been put on and that we have accepted. We have to look ourselves in the mirror. We go home at night, we feel that pressure on ourselves and the pressure from everybody else. It’s tough. You got to deal with it. It comes with the territory. You got to find a way.”
Smart is just one piece of the puzzle for Boston. With Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kemba Walker, and head coach Brad Stevens, the Celtics are going to need an inspiring and united front from everyone if they want to reach their true potential.
With plenty of games left to go, the Celtics still have time to prove they belong with the Eastern Conference elites.
