Celtics keep getting better

THE Boston Celtics were not supposed to be this good, this early. But they already are scary good and getting better.

The team sits atop the Eastern Conference despite missing one of their best players in Gordon Hayward to injury. They have six players who are playing in the National Basketball Association for the first time. And they returned just four players from last year’s team as they continue to improve while the players become more accustomed to playing with each other.

Manila Standard was lucky enough to gain access to some of their players through a global media conference call early morning Wednesday.

One of the key players to Boston’s success is rookie Jayson Tatum who is playing really well.

“I think my rookie year has been going pretty well.  Obviously, we’re winning.  That’s what really matters, and I’m having fun doing it,” said Tatum. He confessed that he’s surprised to be shooting so well from the NBA three-point line and he’s glad to be playing well enough to be considered for the Rookie of the Year honors.

“The biggest adjustment is just we play so many more games than we do in college, so you’ve got to really take care of your body. Yeah, that’s always been one of my goals, to win that award.  But I think just focusing on team goals first, and if we keep winning, the rest will take care of itself,” he said.

Tatum added that defense has been a big factor for the team’s success despite the loss of Hayward.

“Obviously, when Gordon went down, it was tough.  Basically, everybody had to do more on the offensive end and defensive end.  We had to come together and still find ways to be effective and win games, and we really triggered in on defense,” said Tatum who added that they didn’t expect to do so well after Hayward went down with the injury.

“We have the best record in the East, and obviously Brad (Stevens) is one of the best coaches in the league. Hopefully we keep winning, and we’ll see what happens. Obviously, when Gordon got hurt, people got more playing time and got more opportunities, and guys just had to step up.  From that being the first game of the season, we had to catch on quick,” said Tatum.

One of the few veterans in the team is Al Horford and he believes they are capable of making it all the way to the NBA Finals.

“I feel like we’ve been playing really good basketball.  I feel like we have a really young group that our guys just keep getting better as the season goes along.  As a group, we’re going to keep getting better, and I do feel like we have what it takes to contend for a championship,” said Horford.

He added that the key is to concentrate on the game at hand and not think too far ahead.

 “I think the focus always has to be on the night tonight, but I do sit back and look at the big picture.  We’ve had a lot of adversity as a group, a lot of guys that have never played in the NBA that have come in and had an impact.  I look at all that and I do appreciate the progress and how well we’ve played,” said Horford.

“But then also at the same time, I always bring myself back down, and it’s important for us to focus on the game to game and the process and just continue to get better.  And I think that’s the key for our group.”

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens points to Kyrie Irving as one of the biggest reasons for the team’s success.

“I think he (Irving) can get better in every area on the court, and I think the best players in the league consistently have that focus.  If you look at the last few MVPs in the league, especially as you go through (Stephen) Curry and then (Russell) Westbrook, the jump they made from the year before to their MVP year was as big as anybody.  I think sometimes we look at most improved players as people that come off the bench and then start or go from not playing to a sixth man role, and we miss the fact that oftentimes the best players in the league are the most improved players from year to year, and there’s a reason why they’re where they are,” said Stevens.

“Kyrie works the right way.  He’s got a great attitude about it.  He wants to be great.  He doesn’t take for granted what he’s already achieved.  He works to be great the next day.  And that’s why I think he’ll keep getting better.”

The Celtics, already one of the best teams in the league right now, continue to get better.