Celtics Look like LEGIT Championship Contenders vs Thunder | You Got Boston

·25 min·2 clips

Noah Dalzell breaks down the Celtics' statement win over the NBA's best team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

["The episode opens with host Noah Dalzell introducing the Celtics' win over the Oklahoma City Thunder as potentially their best of the season.", "He sets the context: the Thunder were the NBA's best team, fully healthy, and had dominated opponents by an average of 11 points.", "Dalzell notes the Celtics were also mostly healthy, unlike their previous matchup where Jayson Tatum and Derrick White were out.", "He describes the game atmosphere as a real playoff feel, with the Celtics falling behind early against a physical Thunder team.", "The host mentions last year's 0-2 record against OKC and this season's prior close road loss, framing this as a tough matchup.", "Dalzell transitions to praising the Celtics' performance despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 33 points on efficient shooting.", "He then addresses recent discourse around Jayson Tatum, sparked by Tracy McGrady's comments after the loss to Minnesota.", "Dalzell refutes the idea that Tatum's return is a negative, citing his rebounding, defense, and gravity even when his shot isn't falling.", "He details Tatum's stat line: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and a block, emphasizing his all-around game.", "Dalzell plays a clip of Tatum discussing his instinctive block, linking it to Tatum's focus on playing without overthinking.", "The host shifts to Jaylen Brown, arguing Tatum's return actually opens driving lanes for Brown rather than hindering him.", "He highlights Brown's 31 points and, notably, his 12-of-14 free-throw shooting, calling it a crazy development over the past month.", "Dalzell discusses Brown's increased foul-drawing and improved free-throw percentage, crediting his adaptation and confidence.", "He then praises Baylor Scheierman's impact off the bench, noting his 11 points, 5 rebounds, and defensive plays not in the box score.", "Dalzell plays a clip of Scheierman saying he's not surprised by his success due to his confidence and work ethic.", "He compares Scheierman's self-belief to Payton Pritchard's, suggesting this mentality is key for role players.", "Dalzell also briefly mentions Pritchard's 14 points and four three-pointers as crucial in a tight-margin game.", "Zooming out, he argues this win shows the Celtics are a championship contender, capable of beating elite teams.", "He notes the Celtics scored 39 points in the third quarter against the NBA's best defense as a significant achievement.", "Dalzell concludes by cautioning against overreacting to losses, as the Celtics' star duo just took down the league's best team."]

As heard by us

A Celtics statement win gets a playoff-atmosphere read against Oklahoma City's fully healthy Thunder.

Boston's 119-109 win over Oklahoma City gives You Got Boston a clean frame for a Celtics statement game. Noah Dalzell sets the result against a Thunder side he calls the NBA's best all season, fully healthy and winners of 15 of its last 16, then folds in Boston's recent history…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a Celtics measuring-stick win? Start with Boston's 119-109 answer against Oklahoma City, a Thunder team the show calls the NBA's best all season.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Celtics All Access & Breaking News