And just like that, the 11 game winning streak is over.
That’s what happens when you blow a 22 point 4th quarter lead.
If you don’t want it to happen, don’t puke on yourself like that.
However, this is usually how winning streaks end, with some sort of horrific and disgusting loss.
How do I know that?
Or how about the 5 game winning streak being snapped by choking late against the Warriors in OT?
Yet somehow, the sky actually wasn’t falling.
The same is true after this loss.
That shit is inexcusable.
They had won 34 straight with a 20 point lead!
Just take a deep breath!
Sometimes teams get hot, sometimes teams blow leads, it’s the NBA.
It’s reallynot thatbig of a deal.
But I get it.
When the Celtics lose, it’s a big deal.
One of the only teams in the NBA who pays the “can’t lose a game” tax.
I consider that a badge of honor.
Unacceptable basketball is still unacceptable basketball no matter how good you are or how infrequently it happens.
That’s not really how it works.
It’s all part of the puzzle.
Last night told us more of what I think we should already know.
When the Celts lose their focus, they give up leads.
When they go too slow late in games, it almost never works.
To me, it’s not about never having these moments.
People often confuse a lack of progress in these areas with not being perfect.
There are going to be times you come through and times you don’t.
It’s about when they do happen, how do you respond?
We’ll see if that’s the reminder they needed after running through the league for the past month.
Just like the previous gross losses to end long winning streaks, last night will be quickly forgotten.
You take it on the chin and move onto the next.
But before we do, let’s talk about it.
He’s one of the few players from last night that I have zero complaints about.
He’s also proving to be much stronger than I thought as well.
- Last night was weird because I’d say 75% of the night was great.
To me, that was always one of their biggest weaknesses.
They’ve stopped fucking around in the 3rd quarter.
It reminds me of the Warriors 3rd quarter of death from their dynasty run.
- That’s really it though.
We can move on to the meat of the blog now.
Love when that happens.
It’s also why I’m not getting overly worked up about last night.
What this loss was though was a reminder of just how important the basketball math is.
In the 4th quarter last night, the Celtics DOMINATED the Cavs in the paint.
They finished 8-16 to the Cavs 3-4.
This is why it’s so important to keep yourself attached when it comes to 3P shooting.
You may not like it, but this is NBA basketball in 2024.
Your 3P volume has to match.
Last night it didn’t and the Celts were beaten at their own game.
One example of that is the importance of the guard play.
Last night, the guard play was nowhere close to good enough.
Him being an offensive threat is a gigantic part of the Celtics offense.
Instead we got the opposite with a few bizarre turnovers mixed in.
Same thing with Jrue.
It’s OK if he shoots!
We also had 4 TOs from him, which is an unusually high number.
That’s why he was brought in right?
Because this was supposedly something Marcus Smart couldn’t do.
The Ugly
- Alright, a few things here.
We of course have to start this section with the play of Jayson Tatum.
Or more specifically, his second half play.
In the first half, he was incredible.
Look, it doesn’t matter what else happens.
If Tatum throws up a 1-12/-20 half, the Celtics are going to lose.
Even with the added talent, that still remains true.
You want Garland on the floor for defensive purposes instead of Okoro.
But for any of that to work, you have to go faster here.
This is what, Year 7 for Tatum?
It’s OK to hold him to the standard of knowing that at this point.
This is not the first end of game possession Tatum has had in his career.
When you wait like that, all you are doing is eliminating your options.
That’s why you have to go quick.
Just watch that play.
He goes too slow.
Until he decides to stop doing that shit, nothing else really matters in these moments.
This is a mismatch.
You have Jarrett Allen in space.
That is something that cannot happen.
I also have no real problem with him not getting bailed out by a foul on that play.
You shouldn’t be rewarded for a bad process, and the Basketball Gods made that clear.
I thought it may have in real time, but the whistle blew at 0.7.
These are the pop in of late game mental mistakes that will end your season.
Coming from a player who should know better, that’s not great.
The thing is, he’s not alone here.
THIS is where the Celts concern is for me.
You just went down and took the lead.
All you had to do was lock in for one defensive possession, and you win.
Instead, you get a mental mistake at the worst possible time.
That, is very bad.
That’s not how it works.
What’s important is what you do as a result of an absolute choke job like this.
This is a regular season chance to see how that looks.
Take care of your business tomorrow, and we move.
