Locked On Celtics – Gritty Celtics Grind Out an Ugly Win | Anfernee Simons Shows Promise

Host: John Karalis (Boston Sports Journal)
Date: January 6, 2026
Episode Theme:
An in-depth look at the Boston Celtics’ hard-fought, “ugly” win over the depleted Chicago Bulls. Host John Karalis unpacks why this type of victory matters for the Celtics’ emerging identity, spotlights key performances by Anfernee Simons and Peyton Pritchard, and considers the bigger implications of Boston jumping to the #2 seed in the East.

Main Episode Theme

This episode centers on how the Boston Celtics managed to escape with a win in a “cold,” low-energy game versus the Bulls, emphasizing the positives hidden in an unremarkable box score. John Karalis explores the team’s resilience, bench contributions—including a volcanic second half from Anfernee Simons and a buzzer-beating Pritchard moment—and what it all means for the Celtics’ current trajectory in the East.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Game Context: Celtics vs. Bulls — Not Pretty, but Meaningful

• [02:07] Karalis stresses the schedule’s relentlessness—the game came after a grueling five-game road trip over ten days, and visible fatigue set in.
  • “You go on a long business trip in five different cities over ten days. You don't come back and go to work Monday rip-roarin' to go, right?”
• Bulls were missing key players; the game had little energy and poor execution on both sides.
  • “The Bulls absolutely sucked…they were missing a few guys. Kobe White came back off injury, he was not himself at all.”
  • The shared coldness: “Building was freezing cold. Second of all, the shooting was freezing cold.”

Why It Still Matters

• Despite ugly aesthetics, the Celtics won by hustling, forcing turnovers (13), and dominating offensive rebounds (20).
  • “Through all of the cold shooting, the Celtics still did defend. They still forced a lot of turnovers, and they were able to capitalize.” [05:00]
• Celtics of years past might have mailed it in; this group—still forging its identity and eager to prove doubters wrong—showed needed grit.
  • “Last year’s team, championship level, they don’t care necessarily about games like this... But for the team out there now, that's constantly trying to build an identity and build on the good things… that team still needs to come in here with effort.” [07:00]
• Key stat: Celtics won second-chance points 26-12.

2. Praise for Joe Mazzulla’s Leadership and Team Identity

• [08:32] Karalis repeatedly credits coach Joe Mazzulla and team leadership for not letting the low energy and missed shots turn into a letdown.
  • “Credit to Joe Missoula, credit to Jalen Brown, credit to the leadership…they have enough guys fighting for their positions that they aren't going to give in.”

3. Bench Boost: Peyton Pritchard’s Buzzer Beater and Simons’ “Volcanic” Half

Peyton Pritchard's Reawakening

• [12:20] Second quarter buzzer-beater from Pritchard (“left hash mark by the Bulls bench”) is a confidence catalyst.
  • “He hits the shot that he's been looking for... he turns around… just starts smirking and nodding. I knew at that point, that's the level of confidence…” [12:41]
• Pritchard scores 11 in the third, carries team through their scoring drought.
  • “At one point... just let Pritchard shoot. He's the only guy that was hitting.” [13:05]

Anfernee Simons’ Explosive Second Half

• [14:02] Simons takes over after Pritchard, “absolute volcanic heater”—8/11 from three, 27 points, all in the second half.
  • “When we talk about inferno, that was absolute volcanic heater from Simons.”
  • Comparison to Jalen Brown’s 30-point half: “Simons was on that kind of heater… that’s a 54-point pace.” [14:30]
• Karalis lauds Simons for his growth:
  • Embracing Celtics’ offensive rebounding philosophy—Simons grabbed 2 O-boards (14% of his season total in just this game).
    • “For Simons to pick that up, very encouraging. Also, for Simons to get hot off the bench, continues to be encouraging.” [16:48]
  • Defensive improvement and learning to crash at “the nail” (free-throw line area).
    • “Don’t just run back, get to that spot… when the rebound’s not there, just keep on running and you end up getting back on D.” [17:37]
• Simons’ role debate moving forward—could stay in Boston past the trade deadline at a mid-level deal.
  • “Keeping Simons in a sixth man role at a mid-level deal…makes sense. You get a big scoring punch.” [19:41]

4. Celtics in the Standings: Jump to #2 Seed & What It Means

• [24:40] The Celtics leap past the Knicks, sitting 23-12, three-and-a-half games out of first.
  • Karalis downplays the standings’ significance in January but highlights the occurrence as symbolic.
  • “Just being here, just having this conversation, is a huge win for them... Rational thought: To sit there and say they’d be 23 and 12 and the second seed at this point—not a lot of people really thought that.” [25:22]
• Playoff implications: team could secure home-court in Round 1, beating preseason expectations.
• Lists upcoming schedule, cautiously optimistic about a top seed run (“Winnable games, all of them except for Detroit—that’s going to be a tough one!”).

5. Team Chemistry & Process Over Results

• [28:00] Karalis reflects on the Celtics’ growth:
  • Young, fringe players (Walsh, Scheierman, González) keep contributing, regardless of individual setbacks.
  • Team doesn’t get discouraged by adversity—game to game, or within games.
  • “No matter where this season ends up going, we’re going to look at this as a really huge success.”
• He notes their process is strong—even when stars struggle (e.g. Jalen Brown’s 6-24 shooting).
  • “He took 24 shots and he was pressing a little bit. But I never thought, okay, Jalen feels the need to take over at the expense of everything else. No, he just played his normal game, shots didn’t fall.” [31:33]
• Celtics are already ahead of expectations, with the foundation for longer-term success in place.
  • “To me, this season is already a success... everything that happens from now on is just fun, gravy. Enjoy it. Big playoff run, no playoff run, who cares?” [33:12]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the nature of the win:
  “Technically, it's a win. The Celtics had more points than the Chicago Bulls and that's about the best thing I could say about this game.” [03:07]

• On Celtics’ identity building:
  “For the team that's out there now, that's constantly trying to build an identity and trying to prove a lot of early season predictions wrong—they need this kind of effort.” [07:12]

• On Simons’ breakthrough: “Simons in the second half…absolute volcanic heater…he scored 27 points all in the second half. That's a 54-point pace!” [14:15]

• On the standings and expectations:
  “To sit there and say they’d be 23 and 12 and the second seed at this point—not a lot of people really thought that.” [25:22]
  “This is already a major success…they’ve answered a lot of doubt.” [33:20]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:07 — Road-trip fatigue & setup for ugly game
• 05:00 — Why grit and effort mattered more than shooting
• 07:00 — Building an identity, leadership, and lessons from a “bad” win
• 12:20 — Peyton Pritchard’s buzzer beater awakens the bench
• 14:02 — Anfernee Simons’ “volcanic” second half
• 16:48 — Simons learning defensive and rebounding nuances
• 19:41 — What to do with Simons at the trade deadline
• 24:40 — Celtics jump to #2 seed in the East—do the standings matter?
• 28:00 — Team chemistry, growth, and playoff outlook
• 31:33 — Jalen Brown’s off night, trust in the process
• 33:12 — Season is already a success—future implications

Final Thoughts

John Karalis ties the episode together by reminding listeners that while the box score was “ugly,” the Celtics’ resilience, commitment to the process, and growing chemistry are what truly matter for the franchise right now. This win, however unspectacular, is a testament to a young team exceeding expectations and building habits that could carry them well into next season and beyond.

For More Insights:

• Subscribe to Locked On Celtics wherever you get your podcasts.
• Consider joining the Everydayers Club for ad-free episodes and community features.

Locked On Podcast Network – Your Team, Every Day