For the first time in quite a while, the Boston Celtics have put together an extended winning streak. They have won five games in a row and have posted a 7-1 record in the month of April.
As a result, the team has moved back up the Eastern Conference standings and are, as of this writing, tied for fourth place in the conference with the Atlanta Hawks.
The C's winning streak has been a welcome sight for fans after they struggled to remain consistent for the better part of the season.
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That said, there are some questions about their winning streak. First of all, is it sustainable? And second, what exactly has keyed their winning streak? Those were the main topics of discussion for Chris Forsberg and Amina Smith on the Celtics Talk Podcast.
Celtics Talk Podcast - What’s the key to the Celtics’ winning streak? Plus a 1-on-1 with Bill Walton | Listen & subscribe | Watch on YouTube
Smith, for one, is optimistic that the Celtics are playing so well. She believes that this is a sign of the team coming together at the right time, especially behind their two young superstars.
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"These are great road wins. This team is coming together at the right time. Jayson Tatum, oh my gosh, he has been going off on the court. I love to see it. Jaylen Brown as well; 40 points on 85 percent shooting last night. They're literally doing everything we've asked them to do."
Smith also mentioned that Marcus Smart's effort on the defensive side has made a difference for the team and that he's settling into his role as a veteran playmaker nicely.
That spoke to Forsberg's main point. Now that the team isn't as banged up, they're able to find a combination that is working for them.
Forbserg agreed with Smith that Tatum and Brown deserve credit for stepping up their game in recent weeks, but he also pointed to the performance of Kemba Walker as a big difference-maker for the team right now.
"When Kemba was first coming back from the knee [injury], we sat here and said, 'Does he fit perfectly with this group? Does he may the Jays better?' And I think there were times when they were so hell-bent on getting Kemba going that it conspired against everybody else a little bit," Forsberg said.
"Now, Kemba's usage rate is coming down, his assist total is way up the last few games. I think he's finding the right spots both to be Kemba but accentuate the Jays and let them be great."
Also in the new episode: How motivated was Jayson Tatum after Kendrick Perkins' criticism of him? Which team should the C's least want to see in the first round of the playoffs? Is there reason to worry about the Celtics almost blowing a 27-point lead to the Lakers? And Brian Scalabrine goes 1-on-1 with Bill Walton.
Check out the latest episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast on your favorite podcast app or watch it on YouTube below.