NBA.com mid-season report on Celtics: Toughness still lacking

Nba.Com just came out with their mid-season report, and despite their recent 3-game winning streak, the Celtics still have a few issues to deal with (per Nba.Com's Steve Aschburner):

...the Celtics have won more than two in a row only once so far, saddled with fourth-quarter failings and what Udoka labeled a lack of toughness. Tatum and Brown have maintained their numbers but haven’t lifted the team. Udoka is starting to get scrutinized. Dennis Schroder looks like a trade-deadline goner. A bright spot: Robert Williams III is a hustling fixture in the middle.

I have written about the Celtics lack of toughness prior to this season. Here's an excerpt:

NBA teams can never drift to a Championship. Talent, skills and finesse alone don't produce Titles. Call the issue what you will, but this version of the Boston Celtics lacks it (toughness). Udoka sees it. Horford sees it. Maybe a few direct words from Larry Bird, Kevin Garnett, Dave Cowens and Paul Pierce may turn the ship in the right direction.

This version of The Green certainly has the talent, skills and they are a finesse team, but they still lack that fight-in-the-trenches level of mental-and-physical toughness required of any NBA team with visions of a Title in their heads.

Aschburner also brought up that The Jay Team has not "lifted the team", but that issue may be in the process of rectification. Coach Udoka "starting to get scrutinized" has some validity. Schroder a "trade-deadline goner"? Probably.

But Robert Williams as "a hustling fixture in the middle" is a true plus for The Green. Nice to see that "bright spot" among several dark issues that still hover over the current version of one of the greatest sports franchises ever.

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