Buckle up! The Celtics are back to their topsy-turvy, roller coaster ways

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So...about those Celtics!

They have every reason to be feeling pretty good right now despite what has been an undeniably slow start to the season.

The Celtics kicked the season off with a good-but-not-good enough loss in a double-overtime thriller at New York.

Boston returned home a couple nights later and delivered a dud of performance, one in which head coach Ime Udoka acknowledged how they “got punked” by the Raptors in what turned out to be a lackluster, lethargic defeat.

So to bounce back with a win at Houston, even if the Rockets are poised to be one of the worst teams in the league this year, is a good win regardless.

And in keeping with the “On to the next one” mindset of the league and its players, Boston was on the road for another game, in another city (Charlotte), just 24 hours later.

The first three games on many levels, foretell what Celtics fans will love and loathe about this team.

They can be as gritty as can be and come up short, like they did in New York.

Other nights, they may inexplicably lay down from the opening tip, and get throttled by a team they know damn well they shouldn’t be getting smashed by.

And then you’ll have nights like the Rockets win, where they’ll hold their own on the boards, compete at all positions and lean on their strengths rather than allow their weaknesses to be exposed.

This is what fans will love and loathe about this team.

And while the emotional roller coaster may at times make fans nauseous about this team, remember this.

We know what it looks like to not have basketball games to go to, or for that matter, what it looks like for games in-season to not be played.

That’s why the mental torture chamber that this Celtics team will absolutely put its fanbase through, is welcomed.

Because as bad as it may feel for Celtics Nation to see their team lose to (pick the crappy team of your choice; you’ve got options), the real loss cuts much deeper when you think about the impact that the COVID-19 virus has had on the sport.

So I am all for seeing all-stars miss 23 out of 30 shots from the field.

Bring on the bench guys who shoot air balls!

Yes, even the bitchin’ and whinin’ from players when a call doesn’t go their way… I want that, too!

The good that this league brings about, far outweighs the negative.

The NBA is a business; a business that involves some of the finest athletes on the planet. It also harbors people who are trying to make end’s meet working concession stands; or doing security as part of their side-hustle; or journalists who cover the events for various news organizations.

There is a part of me that has sympathy for Celtics fans who will be on a season-long, topsy-turvy experience.

They will get mad and scream for Brad Stevens to trade Jayson Tatum. There will be some collective pulling of the hair when Marcus Smart’s shot tally reaches double figures.

And as much as they want to avoid it, the injury report before every game is must-see info; kind of like that burning car on the side of the road that has nothing to do with you and yet, you can’t help but stare.

But seeing all that means the game is back and alive and well. And truth is, I suspect there will be far more highs than lows with the Green team this year!

And when those moments present themselves, we need to appreciate them for what they are and in that moment, remember that moment as a reason to feel good that the Celtics and the NBA are back to their roller-coaster, topsy-turvy ways!