Why is this team doing so poorly at home during the playoffs?

[Celtic_Pride777]

The Celtics are .500 at home in the postseason, whereas the Heat, Lakers, and Nuggets haven't lost a single home game yet (that might change tonight if the Nuggets lose). Regardless, the Cs are the only title contender left who can't seem to take advantage of home court. Can someone please explain this to me? 

[ozgod]

My wild, unquantified guess, but I think they get more comfortable at home and they don't play as hard. I feel like their mindset is different on the road. At home they might be coddled a little too much. They see their families, their kids, they have more distractions around them, etc.

[Roy H.]

My wild, unquantified guess, but I think they get more comfortable at home and they don't play as hard. I feel like their mindset is different on the road. At home they might be coddled a little too much. They see their families, their kids, they have more distractions around them, etc.

That's my take, as well.

[LilRip]

I think it’s a sense of entitlement. If I had to guess, I think one of the worst things that can happen to this team is building a big lead before halftime. Too many times in the regular season, our players play like they’ve already won the game.

[celticinorlando]

Because this team has to be forced to do something. They have to be in a bad situation to get the best out of them.

[Celtic_Pride777]

My wild, unquantified guess, but I think they get more comfortable at home and they don't play as hard. I feel like their mindset is different on the road. At home they might be coddled a little too much. They see their families, their kids, they have more distractions around them, etc.

I get it. Distractions and comfort might play a role but they're in the conference finals. After losing home games against the Hawk and Sixers, you figured they would've shaken off their bad habits and learned to take home games more seriously. Yet by Jaylen's own admission, they were treating Game 1 like it was a regular-season game. And just the day before, Al reportedly complained that the players weren't taking practice seriously enough.

When you hear stuff like this before and after a loss, it's hard rooting for this team. I'm not angry as much as I am confused. It's bizarre.

[Redz]

I think it’s a sense of entitlement. If I had to guess, I think one of the worst things that can happen to this team is building a big lead before halftime. Too many times in the regular season, our players play like they’ve already won the game.

It absolutely does seem like entitlement.  And with that entitlement comes resentment that the opponent dare not wither under their superiority. 

It’s just bizarre, because they’ve had so many lessons to the contrary (that they can’t just let their foot off the gas and expect to dominate a playoff opponent - or any opponent for that matter). 

The problem is they tend to win a lot of playoff series despite this.  So in addition to the entitlement they are also enabling the behavior with their success at recovering from their lapses.

Dr. Redz has room on the couch if you’d like more psych analysis.

[Roy H.]

I think it’s a sense of entitlement. If I had to guess, I think one of the worst things that can happen to this team is building a big lead before halftime. Too many times in the regular season, our players play like they’ve already won the game.

It absolutely does seem like entitlement.  And with that entitlement comes resentment that the opponent dare not wither under their superiority. 

It’s just bizarre, because they’ve had so many lessons to the contrary (that they can’t just let their foot off the gas and expect to dominate a playoff opponent - or any opponent for that matter). 

The problem is they tend to win a lot of playoff series despite this.  So in addition to the entitlement they are also enabling the behavior with their success at recovering from their lapses.

Dr. Redz has room on the couch if you’d like more psych analysis.

Yeah, I think you're right on both parts.  They play lazy, because they often get away with it.  Even if they lose, there's generally another game where they can recover in.  I saw that Jaylen is 5-1 in Game 7s and Tatum is 4-1.  They haven't been punished as much as they could by their lackadaisical play.

[Kernewek]

Clearly it's because Boston, unlike Los Angeles, Denver, or Miami, is racist.

[Celtic_Pride777]

I think it’s a sense of entitlement. If I had to guess, I think one of the worst things that can happen to this team is building a big lead before halftime. Too many times in the regular season, our players play like they’ve already won the game.

It absolutely does seem like entitlement.  And with that entitlement comes resentment that the opponent dare not wither under their superiority. 

It’s just bizarre, because they’ve had so many lessons to the contrary (that they can’t just let their foot off the gas and expect to dominate a playoff opponent - or any opponent for that matter). 

The problem is they tend to win a lot of playoff series despite this.  So in addition to the entitlement they are also enabling the behavior with their success at recovering from their lapses.

Dr. Redz has room on the couch if you’d like more psych analysis.

Co-sign. This is the best explanation I've heard so far.

[Celtic_Pride777]

I think it’s a sense of entitlement. If I had to guess, I think one of the worst things that can happen to this team is building a big lead before halftime. Too many times in the regular season, our players play like they’ve already won the game.

It absolutely does seem like entitlement.  And with that entitlement comes resentment that the opponent dare not wither under their superiority. 

It’s just bizarre, because they’ve had so many lessons to the contrary (that they can’t just let their foot off the gas and expect to dominate a playoff opponent - or any opponent for that matter). 

The problem is they tend to win a lot of playoff series despite this.  So in addition to the entitlement they are also enabling the behavior with their success at recovering from their lapses.

Dr. Redz has room on the couch if you’d like more psych analysis.

Yeah, I think you're right on both parts.  They play lazy, because they often get away with it.  Even if they lose, there's generally another game where they can recover in.  I saw that Jaylen is 5-1 in Game 7s and Tatum is 4-1.  They haven't been punished as much as they could by their lackadaisical play.

Yeah, they're gonna have to learn the hard way that this approach won't work. This might come to bite them in the ass.

[Roy H.]

I just read this stat:  no NBA team has ever lost more than four home playoff games and went on to win the title that season.

We've got four losses now.

[Moranis]

Boston is 11-11 in its last 22 home games.  It isn't just the playoffs.

[liam]

They all need to check into hotels for home games. They seem to comfortable at home.

[Who]

Don't handle pressure / expectations well.

Freer on the road. Underdogs.