Hoops Habit
Fansided

5 big storylines to watch for in the second half of the 2018-19 NBA season

By Daniel Lubofsky

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks to dunk on Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of the game at TD Garden on December 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks to dunk on Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of the game at TD Garden on December 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

2. Can the Celtics right the ship?

Relatively speaking, the Celtics aren’t having a bad season by any stretch of the word. Currently sitting at 37-21, Boston is just a game back of the third seed in the Eastern Conference with one of the most stacked teams top-to-bottom in the league.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the problem for the Cs. They simply have too much talent and not enough opportunities to go around. The season is almost in March, and yet head coach Brad Stevens hasn’t found a way to best optimize their immense level of talent as many had expected prior to the start of the season.

In losses, this team feels like it’s heading towards a boiling point, and even in wins, there doesn’t seem to be that level of joy that accompanies most teams, as was so eloquently pointed out by Marcus Morris after they had blown a 28-point lead at home to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Boston has an issue nobody is going to have sympathy for. Most everyone had the Cs pegged for at least 60 wins. Now, there are serious questions about just how far in the playoffs they can go. If they’re truly dedicated to competing for a championship, then it’s on the players to come together and make the sacrifices necessary to do so.

Money and egos may be at stake, but if the Celtics can’t find a way to band together, similar to how they played in the 2018 NBA Playoffs, then all of their reputations are going to take a hit following a likely second round exit come postseason time.