In every team sport the best way to enter the playoffs is to be on a winning streak, or a stretch of games that will get you confident about winning a championship.
The 2010 Celtics have been very inconsistent. In stretches throughout the season they have looked amazing and awful.
They beat the best teams, then lose to awful teams like the Washington Wizards and New Jersey Nets.
Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has been asked if he knows what type of team he has. With so many injuries to starters and bench players alike, Rivers has not had the optimal time to set a firm rotation.
With the Celtics finally completely healthy, their team chemistry is improving. The players think when the playoffs come they will just “turn on” the energy and determination.
Usually if there is another gear to play in at this point of the season, a team has already hit it. It is unlikely your play can change drastically just because the playoffs are here and every game is a must win.
But this is a veteran team, and the regular season means absolutely nothing to many of the Celtics players.
Veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett continue to tell us everything is fine and there is nothing to worry about.
I believe the Celtics now, but if they falter and show the same lack of hustle in the playoffs they are showing now, they will lose the trust of Celtics fans everywhere.
By, Nicholas Goss