The Beat(downs) Go On For the Boston Celtics

Boston extends its season-high winning streak to six straight, showing a show-no-mercy mindset in not letting up against a struggling Brooklyn team that has now dropped nine straight.

BROOKLYN, NY – We’ve seen the Boston Celtics too many times to track, let teams back in games not because they began playing better, but because the Celtics simply eased up and got too comfortable.

As the Celtics continue to reshape the narrative as to who they are this season, we are seeing more of a show-no-mercy mindset kick in.

And that more than the actual play, has been crucial to their ascension.

Boston had no problem beating the already-beaten up Brooklyn Nets, 126-91.

Extending their season-best winning streak to six in a row is impressive. Avoiding a potential letdown against a team that’s desperate for a win (Brooklyn has now lost nine straight), is noteworthy as well.

But more than anything, Boston’s mental approach across the board is what really stands out. When Marcus Smart is in the game being a defensive pest and menace, at some point he goes to the bench, with Josh Richardson or Dennis Schröder entering the game to be just as annoying for offensive players.

Robert Williams III and his defensive presence around the basket keeps teams from scoring at the rim. Al Horford and Grant Williams provide additional interior support.

It’s a collective effort on the Celtics’ part, crushing teams with the kind of toughness, both mentally and physically, that has made them the hottest team in the league.

Here are the Stars, Studs and Duds from the Celtics’ blowout win over Brooklyn.

STARS

Jaylen Brown: He was the first Celtic to get going offensively. But what made Brown’s early dominance so impressive was it seemed to come within the flow of the offense. He finished with a near double-double, of 22 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists.

Robert Williams III: The impact that he’s making on games at both ends of the floor continues to grow with seemingly every game he plays. His presence around the rim was a deterrent for Brooklyn’s shooters. And offensively, his ability to both finish at the rim and find teammates were both traits Boston leaned on early which helped them bolt out to a commanding lead they never relinquished. Williams had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Jayson Tatum: With so many of his teammates going off early, Tatum did what the best tend to do which is play well enough to get his usual numbers, and call it a day. He finished with 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field to go with five rebounds and four assists.

STUDS

Marcus Smart: At some point soon, there has to be a serious conversation about Marcus Smart entering the conversation for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award. No longer is the conversation about Smart as one of the better perimeter defenders. He’s locking guys up and doing what the really great defenders do; make those around him defend better. He had 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting which included six made 3-pointers.

DUDS

Steve Nash: He didn’t take a single shot and didn’t miss a single rotation. But as the Brooklyn Nets head coach, he didn’t do much to help in any of those areas or his team’s overall play. Of course, being without their top three players (Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving) will make for a rough go for any head coach. But the Nets, losers of nine in a row following Tuesday’s loss to Boston, are starting to look like a team that’s given in to their struggles. During their losing skid, the first six losses were by no more than 11 points. The last three, including Tuesday’s loss to the Celtics, have been by an average of 26.0 points per game.