The Boston Celtics have a three-day break before returning to the floor, but that isn’t all the defending champions have to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.
Boston will take its seat at the Thanksgiving Day table with a 15-3 record — good enough for the second seed in the Eastern Conference — as the NBA’s leader in 3-pointers made (18.9) and attempted (50.6). So far, the art of “Mazzulla Ball” hasn’t misled the Celtics and it’s got Boston burying any and all notions of a post-championship hangover.
Here are four reasons the 18-time champs should feel thankful this holiday season:
KRISTAPS PORZINGIS’ (EARLIER-THAN-EXPECTED) RETURN
No worry was bigger than the 7-foot-tall concern that immediately sent Porzingis to offseason ankle surgery after Boston won the NBA Finals in June. Many expected Porzingis to return around December to January, and based on how the Celtics had performed –going 14-3 without the “Unicorn” himself — there was reason to rush the timetable.
Porzingis suited up to a roaring standing ovation for Monday’s 126-94 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, logging 16 points with six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal in 23 minutes. Now… the reigning champions are (fully) back.
TATUM’S MOTIVATION COMING TO FRUITION
Sure, Tatum signed a record-large $315 million extension this past offseason, but the spotlight wasn’t directed on patting the five-time All-Star in the back fresh off a title, it instead centered around controversy. Tatum’s Olympic benchings for Team USA — specifically, Steve Kerr — poked the bear within Tatum and the 26-year-old’s unleashed beast has done wonders for the Celtics.
Tatum has led Boston in points (28.4), rebounds (8.2), assists (5.8) and steals (1.1), all while shooting 45.1% from the field, and proving Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla right all along throughout the MVP-caliber start.
“He gets to deal with (the pressure),” Mazzulla said on Netflix’s “Staring Five” documentary. “It’s the ultimate compliment. You know, and that’s what we talked about. Like, this is what you asked for.”
PRITCHARD’S AWARD CANDIDACY
Since the Celtics didn’t have Porzingis ready to go on Opening Night, depth became an inherited red flag. Pritchard, however, alleviated those concerns by breaking out as one of the league’s most elite off-the-bench 3-point shooters, averaging a career-high 14.8 points with 3.5 threes drained per game.
Boston’s revealed that Pritchard’s defensive stride — pressing from full-court — has been used routinely during practices, and based on the 27-year-old’s current growth, Pritchard will be at the forefront of the Sixth Man of the Year race.
THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS AND JOEL EMBIID
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks were anything but a deer to fear last season, and this go-around… the numbers speak for themselves. Meanwhile, the new-look Philadelphia 76ers have new-look problems.
Doc Rivers might be reaching back out to ESPN about that commentary gig as Milwaukee’s 9-9 start has been anything but promising. The Sixers, too, have their fair share of drama as Embiid’s lack of availability, both for games and practices, makes Philadelphia (3-13, 14th in the East) an early candidate to tank — perhaps in hopes of snagging Duke’s Cooper Flagg in next year’s NBA draft.
