The Golden State Warriors sit atop today’s NBA. Not in terms of team record, however. That honor belongs to the Boston Celtics in the early goings of the 2017-18 season. Since starting 0-2, they’ve won 13 straight games despite their hobbled team; Kyrie Irving and Al Horford have both missed time. The Celtics will face their true test on Thursday when they face off against the Warriors. Ahead of that matchup Warriors, head coach Steve Kerr had some kind words for the Celtics. From ESPN’s Chris Haynes:
“It sure looks like Boston is the team of the future in the East, with the assets that they still have and their young talent and their coaching, and Kyrie [Irving] is amazing,” Kerr said after practice Tuesday. “That looks like a team that is going to be at the top of the East for a long time to come. Whether their time is now or the future, that’s to be determined, but they sure look like they want it to be right now.”
…
“They’re really sound, and they’re motivated,” he said. “It’s a team that’s been on the rise the last couple of years. They lost in the conference finals. They want to win a championship, and it looks like it. Even without Gordon Hayward and that awful injury, Boston is just crushing people. So, it’s going to be really fun to go against them on Thursday. We know how tough it’s going to be.”
Kerr also spoke highly of Irving:
“I just think it’s his team,” Kerr said of Irving. “In Cleveland, he was such a dominant force, but it was always going to be LeBron’s team. It just looks like Kyrie knows it’s his group, and he’s thriving with that group of players around him. It just seems like the next stage in his development. He knew what he was doing when he decided to leave. I admire Kyrie. Obviously, he’s been a thorn in our side for years, and now he just happens to wear green.”
The Celtics have the best record and defensive rating in the NBA, and the Warriors are no. 2 in both of those categories. Thursday’s game should be an exciting one.
