I literally titled yesterday’s blog with it.
So how to they repay me?
That’s cool……if it were December.
Unfortunately, last time I checked, we’re in the back half of March.
Teams around them are winning.
Given the context around this game, collapses like this simply cannot happen.
What about 19 and 28?
The Celts are 51-21 in that scenario, and in a very different position than they are now.
When you blow these types of leads this late in the season, there are actual ramifications.
It’s not like blowing leads with 50 games left on the NBA calendar.
And really, it’s more on the players than on anyone else.
By now you should know how this works.
We do not skip the pain of losses like this.
We blog through it, turn the page, and move on.
But we’re not going to.
Instead, we’re going to talk about why the Celtics lost this game.
The Bad
- There is this idea that the Celts can only win if they make all their 3PM.
Technically, that’s not really true.
They just have to be league average which is around 35%.
Considering their season average is over 37%, that’s not some crazy ask.
No they did not.
How rare is that?
Why did that happen?
Because we saw a team that had little interest in defending.
Said another way, 75% of the goddamn game.
They turned the ball over 6 fucking times in the entire game for 11 points.
Fastbreak points were basically a wash as well (9 vs 12).
The issues last night were rooted in their halfcourt defense.
It was everything we know it can’t be, starting in two areas.
When the Celts are locked in defensively, we see them play with immense ball pressure.
They are imposing their will and forcing the offense to react.
What we saw last night was the formula for every time their defense has a shit showing.
Guys were able to get to wherever they wanted because the ball pressure was non existent.
When they finally did, what happened?
They went on a run in the 4th quarter!
They got the lead!
But as long as this team is beatable off the dribble from perimeter, they’re going to struggle.
So what does that look like?
I dunno, does THT seem all that bothered here?
Especially that last one which just so happened to be the biggest play of the game.
Brogdon doesn’t really fight over that screen, but Grant is technically there for the switch.
How do we think he did?
On what planet is that anywhere close to good enough?
What do we think was the biggest issue in this loss?
The Utah Jazz finished with 17 OREB for 20 2nd chance points.
In the 4th quarter alone, they had 4 OREB for 7 pts.
They won by 1.
Here’s why this is such a huge deal.
Considering they were without Rob for 30+ games, it’s not all him.
Once again, here we are, under 6 minutes with a 7 point lead.
That’s a game if you just do the bare minimum, you should win.
Instead, we saw another backbreaking OREB lead to points and completely change the momentum.
What you just watched there is losing basketball.
At that point, Luke is in between boxing out and looking back for the ball.
I’m sorry, but this is inexcusable execution by everyone involved.
- When you reach this part of the season, the details are so important.
you should probably be locked in for a full 48.
Every possession, every dribble.
That is why a play like this simply cannot happen
What.
Remember the situation here.
Not only that, but this is arguably your best player right now making this mistake?
There wasn’t ball pressure or trapping.
This was walking the basketball up.
Of course the Jazz hit a 3 and the lead is suddenly cut in half.
All the momentum gone in a blink all because of a poor lack of execution.
Again, this is a players problem, not a coaching problem.
FTs, they aren’t just important in the NCAA tournament!
He finished with 6 assists and 2 TOs and didn’t really force things.
The plan obviously worked considering he took just 12 FGA.
That’s the fewest of any starter.
It was everything else.
All you have to do is compare it to his MIN/POR performances, they’re completely different players.
The best player needs to be the best player in all facets of the game.
That’s how this stuff works when you have that role and you get to this time of year.
you could’t keep no showing in so many areas and still expect to win.
We already knew the team was going to be without Smart/Al/Rob.
I don’t exactly think they were prepared to also be playing without Tatum.
Here’s my issue with that.
For one, Grant needs to stop improvising.
We know by now that does not work.
You know who also knows it?
You know, the guy who used to work for this team.
I’m pretty sure they can run a DHO together, those aren’t exactly complicated sets.
In that regard, Joe needs to improve.
- But let’s now talk about the 4th quarter in general.
Maybe the biggest gripe fans had after this loss was that Derrick White played 0 4th quarter minutes.
GIVE ME IME" like you’re seeing right now.
Actually go through the 4th and talk about what happened.
The quarter started with that 4 minute lineup group.
That lineup took the score from 91-88 to 102-95 at the 8 minute mark when UTA took a timeout.
Malcolm Brogdon’s offense was carrying the team at that point, with 6 of their 11 points.
You weren’t taking him out for White at any point during that 4 minute run.
Coming out of that timeout, we saw the 3 minute lineup combination.
Joe responded by adding Kornet.
Coming out of the 5 minute timeout, we saw that top grouping.
Kornet didn’t execute, but the theory of needing his size isn’t wrong.
After rewatching, there is one moment where I think you could have done this.
It came at the 2:15 mark with the Celtics up 6 and Lauri at the line.
By this point, Brogdon had played all 10 minutes of the 4th.
You’re up 4 with the ball and around 2 minutes left.
Instead they left Brogdon in, he had more defensive issues late, and that was that.
Now maybe the toughest game of the trip is on the horizon.
