Celtics are now 0-5 on the road vs teams with winning records

[CelticsElite]

https://mobile.twitter.com/AdamHimmelsbach/status/1204963988444008453?s=19


2017-2018 team all over again?

[ozgod]

Wrist slitting time! 

That said it's a bit of a concern, though the Denver game was when Kemba was injured and the Clips game we really should have won.

[ederson]

I don't know if losing 5 games to sub par teams would have been better. One way or another 5-6 loses is a reasonable number. But there is pattern here we should pay attention to.

What could be taken as a positive is that all were very close games

[Somebody]

Really not too concerned. 5 games is a really small sample size and we should've won 2-3 of those games if we got our act together in them. What we need is our core 5 to stay healthy throughout the regular season and playoffs.

[timpiker]

We're a good team, not a great one.

[footey]

We win last night's game with Smart, and if Hayward could have finished.

At same time, I agree that we are not at the same level of Bucks or Lakers, based on all the evidence so far. That can change, though.

[slamtheking]

only road game that we weren't really in was Brooklyn.

slow starts are a concern but so is not having all your best players available.   Last night's game would have gone differently if we had Smart and if Hayward hadn't been smashed in the face.   Clips and Denver road games were down to the wire with less than the full roster available too. 

I'd be more concerned if we lose road games with our core 5 playing and all playing well.   

[Fafnir]

I'm not concerned. 7-6 road record overall, which is solid. Only the Bucks/Lakers/Mavs have road records that are clearly better.

Then you look at the specific 5 games against .500 teams.

3 point OT loss to Clippers
4 point loss to Nuggets
5 point loss to Pacers
5 point loss to Nets
14 point loss to 76ers

3 of the 5 have been one possession games within the last few minutes and the C's haven't been healthy with their best players for most of those games. (missing one of their best 5 in all of them)

[tstorey_97]

It is interesting.

They have to get everything right to win on the road against a top team. I think they are getting better in small steps, but, I am not sure.

They play everybody very tough and that toughness is consistent.

They come on at the end of close games with good effect.  They don't "fade."

They play well as a unit.

Their bench is better than a month ago, but still isn't much.

They go inside on offense to very good effect. The team rarely gets caught "chucking" from the arc.

Stevens keeps a top four player on the court with the bench which is helpful, but, beyond some flashes, there isn't any offense from group of
Grant
Robert
Edwards
Semi

Wanamaker has been aok on offense, but, ultimately that's been a big issue against good teams. The drop off has been significant and Stevens hasn't really figured it out yet.

My point is, against top teams the Celtics need Lou Freaking Williams. If they had his equivalent?

Their record against these top teams on the road would be better.

If Edwards can figure out how to heat up in a minute? They have a shot.

If Semi, who is an excellent slasher would just slash? It would help. If Grant would stop going for the three point attempt record and use his talent to drive inside it would be better.

Last night was a good example. The bench reverted to chucking and Tatum was getting doubled. They coughed up a ten point lead which is tough on the starters

Wanamaker goes to the rim whenever he can which is good.

I am going to give 60% of the blame here on the bench.

Which ultimately, means Stevens and finally Ainge.

[Roy H.]

In how many of those games did we have a healthy top-six?

I’m not worried. I’d put our starters plus Smart up against any team in the East.

[Fafnir]

Also there is a ton of value in taking care of business against bad teams on the road. Its hard to win on the road in the NBA, taking care of business against the bottom is a big deal.

I would like the home winning streak to continue tonight very badly though.

[Androslav]

In how many of those games did we have a healthy top-six?

I’m not worried. I’d put our starters plus Smart up against any team in the East.

Top 5 even. I agree.
All losses were tight and we were undermanned.

[td450]

Our defense is generally excellent, but last night we played without Smart and Robert Williams. When Theis and Brown got in foul trouble due to some questionable calls, that put us into a serious defensive bind, and to Indiana's credit, they made the shots. It also didn't help that we had to finish the game without Hayward.

A lot went wrong last night.

[#1P4P]

Except for the Sixers loss, this team hasn't had their core 5 players for those losses. This team isn't experienced enough to overcome those losses especially when the injuries are to the experiencd players.

That said, the C's are a notch below Championship caliber. It's a notch that won't be climbed with a trade nor adding a defending/rebounding presence. It will be through continued patience and maturity in Brown and Tatum that this team reaches that caliber. Once that happens, they'll close out winning teams on the road and be Championship caliber for the foreseeable future. Until then, enjoy the growth.

[Fafnir]

Except for the Sixers loss, this team hasn't had their core 5 players for those losses. This team isn't experienced enough to overcome those losses especially when the injuries are to the experiencd players.

That said, the C's are a notch below Championship caliber. It's a notch that won't be climbed with a trade nor adding a defending/rebounding presence. It will be through continued patience and maturity in Brown and Tatum that this team reaches that caliber. Once that happens, they'll close out winning teams on the road and be Championship caliber for the foreseeable future. Until then, enjoy the growth.

So here's the thing.

I agree with you that with how good the Bucks/Lakers have been the C's look a notch below a title contender. But so far they have a point differential and profile similar to Toronto last year. Teams in that tier can win the title, but a lot of things have to go right. (Toronto barely won the semis and was almost down 3-0 to the Bucks and ran into a crippled Finals opponent)

Hard to blame people for wanting to take a shot when it just worked out for the last champ!