Can you imagine? This season's Celtics, hailed as the "most stable championship favorites," were unexpectedly crushed at home by the Kings, who were missing their core player! Did they underestimate their opponent? Or did the Kings suddenly transform into a super team overnight? This match, dubbed the "biggest upset of the season," not only shocked everyone but also sparked a deep reflection on the entire league's landscape: have we overestimated the Celtics?
Honestly, the moment the result of this game came out, many people were probably stunned. The Celtics, with star players like Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, and Holiday, should have locked in the suspense of the game. But this team, which usually emphasizes "multiple scoring points," suddenly experienced a collective "power outage." Throughout the game, only three players scored in double digits, and their offensive performance was so lackluster that it made the home fans suffer like running a marathon. To put it bluntly, the Celtics' loss was not due to being overwhelmed by the opposition but because they ruined a good hand themselves.
On the other hand, the Kings have left an impression of "not quite enough to be considered top-tier, yet better than many" throughout the season. However, in this game, they had a party-level explosion. The Kings' "four giants" - DeRozan, Sabonis, Monk, and Murray - combined for 86 points, 38 rebounds, and 21 assists. Not only did they directly defeat the Celtics head-on, but they also delivered the most perfect game of the season for the Kings. Especially Sabonis, with 28 rebounds in a single game, this not only refreshed the statistics but also played like an "unshakable wall"!
The surprises and unexpected twists in this upset make us redefine the strength of the Celtics and the Kings. It also makes people wonder: is it the "commoner team" of the Kings that has become powerful? Or does the "noble army" of the Celtics inherently have instability?
It's worth noting that the Kings did not have Fox, their main core, in this game as he was absent due to injury. Surprisingly, without Fox, the team's offense became more fluid and cohesive. Some might say this is because there are no "core ball rights" holding them back, but in reality, what's truly impressive is that the players stepped up when the team needed them.
For example, Sabonis not only dominated the rebounds but also played a pivotal role in connecting the team on both offense and defense; Monk and Murray had excellent shooting in critical moments; and DeRozan, with years of league experience, brought stable output and decision-making ability with a big heart, making the Kings seem at ease throughout the game. This game was a typical team victory, showcasing the momentum of a tough battle and giving hope that "you can win just by relying on the team."
However, this game also inadvertently planted another hidden danger for the Kings: will Fox's future be passive due to such a situation? After all, without the core, the Kings played with unusual efficiency, which may lead the team management to rethink the relationship between Fox and the team. The bargaining chips in the renewal negotiation largely depend on Fox's performance after his return.
This upset victory is not just about winning or losing a game; it's like a wake-up call for the old-school strong teams in the league. Nowadays, the league's landscape is quietly changing, and the momentum of young teams rising cannot be underestimated. Taking the West as an example, the Thunder, Rockets, and Grizzlies are three teams that could upset the table at any time.
The Thunder's "rejuvenation" is simply admirable, with their ace point guard Alexander leading the charge, and the whole team gelling like a smooth jigsaw puzzle. Moreover, the Rockets and Grizzlies have also shown remarkable fighting power this season. The Rockets maintained their winning streak even during Smith's injury period, with the "backcourt duo" Green and Little Porter maturing rapidly. And the Grizzlies, despite Morant's intermittent playing time, still managed to maintain their competitiveness.
These young new forces are gradually changing the traditional landscape of the league. The old model of "giants plus superstar" is being replaced by the new model of "team basketball plus young core plan," with a sense of innovation permeating from the West to the East. The rise of the Kings is a product of this broader context.
Returning to the Celtics, this game once again exposed their shortcomings. In tough battles, if the Celtics' "multiple scoring points" strategy fails, and the core players lack the ability to resolve tough situations, the whole team will collapse. This was evident not only against the Kings but also against other strong teams, especially those with superstar players like Jokic of the Nuggets or Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, where the Celtics easily fall into a disadvantage.
To put it bluntly, the Celtics are indeed perfect, but they lack a bit of "toughness." This team is more like a "not outstanding but not bad" model student, relying on talent and cooperation to reach today's peak. But on the basketball court, what's needed in critical moments is never "conformity" but someone stepping up to make a decisive move. Tatum and Brown are excellent, but they still lack that kind of "big heart" that immediately comes to mind.
In this victory, the Kings demonstrated their potential and resilience. Their future also depends to some extent on whether they can continue to find such team chemistry and achieve balance in the renewal conflict with core player Fox.
From a broader perspective, this game is a step for young teams to gain respect and trust and also an opportunity for the Celtics to reexamine themselves. A game won't change its essence because of an upset, but this game is a signal: no matter how strong a team is, they must not underestimate their opponents. On the future NBA court, the rise of young forces is becoming the main theme, and the Celtics, whether they continue to advance or start to waver from here, can only be answered by time.
The longer you watch the game, the more you realize that basketball is so exciting because it never adheres to conventions; anything is possible.