Celtics-Warriors Notebook: Steve Kerr and Steph Curry say Celtics fans shouldn’t worry, new sub-pattern benefits Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown

SAN FRANCISCO — Are the Celtics back?

It’s only one win, and it was against the shorthanded and struggling Golden State Warriors, but it was as resounding and much-needed as they come.

With the 125-85 thrashing of the Warriors on MLK Day, the Celtics improved to 30-13 on the season, and open up another four-game Western Conference road trip with a victory.

The Warriors, meanwhile, were without Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Brandin Podziemski, and looked pretty lifeless from the start. Chase Center was one of the quieter NBA arenas the Celtics have visited in recent weeks, and the Warriors — who shot 34.8% from the field on the night — didn’t give the crowd much to cheer for.

Still, this was a strong two-way performance by Boston and a great start to the trip; Joe Mazzulla praised the Celtics’ physicality after the win.

Here are four on-the-ground observations from the Celtics 40-point win over the Warriors.

Six Celtics score in double-figures en route to 33 assists

Tatum finished the night with 22 points (9-20 FG), 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. Kristaps Porzingis continued his strong offensive play with 18 points on 6-13 shooting alongside 7 rebounds, and Jaylen Brown posted an efficient 17 points on 8-14 shooting.

In total, six Celtics scored in double-figures, including Jrue Holiday (10 points on 4-5 shooting), Sam Hauser (11 points on 4-7 shooting), and Payton Pritchard (14 points on 5-10 shooting, 9 assists). That well-balanced attack allowed the Celtics to rack up 33 assists — nearly 8 more than their season average of 25.3.

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the Celtics benefit from a new substitution pattern

For most of this season, Jayson Tatum has played the entire first quarter, and Jaylen Brown has subbed out at the six-minute mark. Occasionally, when Brown has really had it going offensively, he’s played the entire first quarter (as he did all of last season).

But, for the past two games, Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics coaching staff have mixed it up, having Jayson Tatum sub out at the six-minute mark like he did for much of last season, and then having him check back in for Jaylen Brown for the final three minutes. In effect, that has meant that rather than having one of the Celtics’ All-Stars play 12 first-quarter minutes and the other play 6 minutes, each has played 9 minutes.

Brown has appreciated the rotation change — and he’s voiced on a number of occasions that not playing the entire first quarter…