Are the C’s on again off again, and does it correlate with their home and away games?
Last year, the Celtics held their monstrous win streak for a while and us Celtics fans were very spoiled. This year, their winning habits have been far from organized- and nowhere near a large consecutive streak.
I looked at their record this month, starting with their Jan 2nd match up against the Timberwolves, and I initially thought it seemed like their W’s and L’s had been sprinkled in like salt and pepper. However, with the one exception of their epic match up with the Warriors (which I italicized as an exception), the Celtics seemed to have fall into this predictive pattern with a win streak then a lose streak. (P.S.-I’m surprised they won last night- they could have started a new lose streak)
Win 1/2 Timberwolves
Win 1/4 Mavericks
Win 1/7 Nets
Win 1/9 Pacers
Loss 1/10 Heat
Loss 1/12 Magic
Loss 1/14 Nets
Win 1/16 Raptors
Win 1/18 Grizzlies
Win 1/19 Hawks
Win 1/21 Heat
Win 1/23 Cavaliers
Loss 1/26 Warriors
Win 1/28 Nets
So…why? There are outside factors to consider here. The first thing I took an investigative peek at was their arena. Notice how there seems to be another pattern (exceptions italicized):
Home, Win 1/2 Timberwolves
Home,Win 1/4 Mavericks
Home, Win 1/7 Nets
Home, Win 1/9 Pacers
Away, Loss 1/10 Heat
Away, Loss 1/12 Magic
Away, Loss 1/14 Nets
Home, Win 1/16 Raptors
Home, Win 1/18 Grizzlies
Away, Win 1/19 Hawks
Home, Win 1/21 Heat
Home, Win 1/23 Cavaliers
Home, Loss 1/26 Warriors
Home, Win 1/28 Nets
Eh, okay. So what? Of course they play better at home. But this is my notebook. And the next thing I peeked at was the streaks of the other NBA teams.
Most of the teams are on win or loss streaks of 1,2, or 3 games, like the Celtics tend to follow. However, three major streaks stand out: the Knicks 10-game-lose streak and the Suns 8 game loss streaks, as well as the Warriors 11-game win streak.
Final Note: The Bloody Celtics
Marcus Morris, Gordon Hayward, and Marcus Smart (surprise surprise) all sustained bloody injuries leading to bandages and stitches in the locker room.
Smart and Hayward received medical attention in the locker room. Morris sustained his cut in the 4th.
Image by Newsday.
