Time To Panic?

[keevsnick]

Also for all the defense angst the C's still have the #8 ranked defense in the NBA this year with a 110.1 rating.

But looking at it by quarter:

1: 102.2 #3
2: 115.3 #22
3: 108.5 #7
4: 115.1 #21

Now some of this could be garbage time defense, but i think its pretty clear the C's aren't closing games strong on defense. I wonder if some of this is older guys like Horford or Holiday fading a bit late in the game, but they just need to be better.

[Birdman]

Horford is bout done unfortunately

[Neurotic Guy]

Horford is bout done unfortunately

No.

[celticinorlando]

Think the 1 seed is pretty much put of the question now. Cavs can't lose and the Celtics don't seem to want it.

[GreenEnvy]

Think the 1 seed is pretty much put of the question now. Cavs can't lose and the Celtics don't seem to want it.

Amazing how someone can consider the 1-seed locked up before the turn of the calendar year. Not even halfway through the season. Cavs aren?t a historic squad. They are having a great stretch, they will hit their lull at some point.

[celticinorlando]

Think the 1 seed is pretty much put of the question now. Cavs can't lose and the Celtics don't seem to want it.

Amazing how someone can consider the 1-seed locked up before the turn of the calendar year. Not even halfway through the season. Cavs aren?t a historic squad. They are having a great stretch, they will hit their lull at some point.

I disagree. I think the 1 seed is a real priority for the Cavs and they will probably overachieve all season to get it. Celtics are 5 games out of first with a brutal Jan. coming up. Cavs might have a lull but I do not see them having a long losing stretch where the Celtics can climb back into it. Maybe a loss or 2 here and there but Boston needs them to lose several in a row and the Cs have to get on a win streak, which has been hard for this version of this team.

I think the Cavs need the 1 seed more than the Celtics do. Boston seems content to just making the playoffs.

[Big333223]

Even with this recent string of losses the Celtics are on a 59-23 pace, which would be the second-best record of the Tatum/Brown era. That's despite some injuries with Holiday, Horford, Hauser and Kornet all missing 6-7 games each and KP missing 21.

So time to Panic? No.

In the Nuggets title run in 2023 they had a 2-4 stretch, 0-3 stretch and 0-4 stretch.
In the Warriors title run in 2022 they had a 3-7 stretch, a 2-9 stretch and a 1-7 stretch.
In the Bucks title run in 2021 they had an 0-5 stretch and a 3-6 stretch.
In the Raptors title run in 2020 they had a 1-4 stretch, a 4-6 stretch and a 2-4 stretch

The Celtics by comparison are 2-4 in their last six. Even championship level teams will typically go through a couple of rough stretches a year.  Celtics are in one right now, but they'll be fine.

This is how I feel.

I have some concerns about scoring off the bench on nights when Pritchard isn't hitting but it's certainly not time to panic.

[Who]

The scoring off the bench looks more of a priority right now than it actually is due to injuries. Without Porzingis and Jrue, the team is missing a lot of offensive punch. Once the starting 5 is healthy, the bench doesn't need to contribute much scoring. They just need to be able to hit open shots.

The starting 5 is loaded with offensive firepower. Two 25-30ppg scorers in Tatum & Jaylen. Another 15-20ppg big man in Porzingis and two 15ppg threats in the backcourt in Jrue and D White. There isn't much required of the bench in terms of scoring / shot creation.

The bench scoring is fine. The issue is injuries to the starters.

[Roy H.]

The scoring off the bench looks more of a priority right now than it actually is due to injuries. Without Porzingis and Jrue, the team is missing a lot of offensive punch. Once the starting 5 is healthy, the bench doesn't need to contribute much scoring. They just need to be able to hit open shots.

The starting 5 is loaded with offensive firepower. Two 25-30ppg scorers in Tatum & Jaylen. Another 15-20ppg big man in Porzingis and two 15ppg threats in the backcourt in Jrue and D White. There isn't much required of the bench in terms of scoring / shot creation.

The bench scoring is fine. The issue is injuries to the starters.

Long term, I agree.  But, part of the purpose of bench depth is to get us through the regular season.  I'd be happy having another scorer, especially since we've got an empty roster spot.

[celticinorlando]

The scoring off the bench looks more of a priority right now than it actually is due to injuries. Without Porzingis and Jrue, the team is missing a lot of offensive punch. Once the starting 5 is healthy, the bench doesn't need to contribute much scoring. They just need to be able to hit open shots.

The starting 5 is loaded with offensive firepower. Two 25-30ppg scorers in Tatum & Jaylen. Another 15-20ppg big man in Porzingis and two 15ppg threats in the backcourt in Jrue and D White. There isn't much required of the bench in terms of scoring / shot creation.

The bench scoring is fine. The issue is injuries to the starters.

This issue is Boston resting guys so much in the regular season that the bench right now doesn't have enough. If you are going to sit  the starters more and more then you need more bench scoring to overcome them sitting out.

[Phantom255x]

C's haven't won a game in 2025. Very concerning

[ozgod]

In his latest presser, Joe took issue with the narrative that the Celtics are "lazy" or "lack effort", particularly on the defensive end. Asked a question by CLNS beat reporter Noa Dalzell, he contends it's more a failure of execution than lack of effort or laziness, which is the common criticism that media and fans level at teams that are struggling defensively - call into mind their work ethic.

You can hear the video for yourself via the link.


https://x.com/JackSimoneNBA/status/1874166260772331545

I guess he and his army of nerds aren't seeing what we are seeing when we watch them play in the comfort of our loungerooms 

[Vermont Green]

I think Mazzulla is largely correct here.  I am going to go back 14 games, in those 14 games we are 8-6.  We are 5-5 in the last 10 (that Mazzulla referenced).  Here are some defensive stats and/or indicators (last 14 games):

Stat             Value      Rank
DRtg:           106.4       3rd
Pts off TO      16.1        24th
Opp 2nd Pts  11.4         4th
Opp FB Pts    15.1        11th
Opp PITP       45.0        4th

Overall 3rd in DRtg is pretty good.  We aren't giving up 2nd chance points and we aren't giving up Fast Break Points.  We also are not creating points off opponents turnovers and a little high on giving up fast break points.   Overall, the defensive story is not that bad even though at times it seems to look bad.

For 3P%, we are 18th at 35.4% in the last 14 games and our opponents are shooting 35.6% in those 14 games.  In the last 10 games, BOS is 35.5%, good for 14th in the league.  Not sure where Mazzulla is getting that BOS is 28th in the league in 3P% in the last 10 games.

[Neurotic Guy]

I think Mazzulla is largely correct here.  I am going to go back 14 games, in those 14 games we are 8-6.  We are 5-5 in the last 10 (that Mazzulla referenced).  Here are some defensive stats and/or indicators (last 14 games):

Stat             Value      Rank
DRtg:           106.4       3rd
Pts off TO      16.1        24th
Opp 2nd Pts  11.4         4th
Opp FB Pts    15.1        11th
Opp PITP       45.0        4th

Overall 3rd in DRtg is pretty good.  We aren't giving up 2nd chance points and we aren't giving up Fast Break Points.  We also are not creating points off opponents turnovers and a little high on giving up fast break points.   Overall, the defensive story is not that bad even though at times it seems to look bad.

For 3P%, we are 18th at 35.4% in the last 14 games and our opponents are shooting 35.6% in those 14 games.  In the last 10 games, BOS is 35.5%, good for 14th in the league.  Not sure where Mazzulla is getting that BOS is 28th in the league in 3P% in the last 10 games.

When teams are getting to the basket repeatedly and getting open looks from three repeatedly, it?s hard to not consider those stretches defensive lapses.  When they coincide with taking and missing threes on offensive trips with little ball movement, it leads to teams closing leads, taking leads, and gaining confidence.  So the overall numbers for a 24-9 team have to reflect something positive, but the eye-test for what is causing some unexpected losses seems to be lapses on both O and D. And it?s disconcerting when a team as talented as this one is relying so heavily on the three.   Every game we see in-the-lane kick outs for somewhat available (not necessarily open) threes, when finishing the drive or pulling up for a midrange (JT, JB, DW and Jrue) seems like the better option.

[Vermont Green]

I think Mazzulla is largely correct here.  I am going to go back 14 games, in those 14 games we are 8-6.  We are 5-5 in the last 10 (that Mazzulla referenced).  Here are some defensive stats and/or indicators (last 14 games):

Stat             Value      Rank
DRtg:           106.4       3rd
Pts off TO      16.1        24th
Opp 2nd Pts  11.4         4th
Opp FB Pts    15.1        11th
Opp PITP       45.0        4th

Overall 3rd in DRtg is pretty good.  We aren't giving up 2nd chance points and we aren't giving up Fast Break Points.  We also are not creating points off opponents turnovers and a little high on giving up fast break points.   Overall, the defensive story is not that bad even though at times it seems to look bad.

For 3P%, we are 18th at 35.4% in the last 14 games and our opponents are shooting 35.6% in those 14 games.  In the last 10 games, BOS is 35.5%, good for 14th in the league.  Not sure where Mazzulla is getting that BOS is 28th in the league in 3P% in the last 10 games.

When teams are getting to the basket repeatedly and getting open looks from three repeatedly, it's hard to not consider those stretches defensive lapses.  When they coincide with taking and missing threes on offensive trips with little ball movement, it leads to teams closing leads, taking leads, and gaining confidence.  So the overall numbers for a 24-9 team have to reflect something positive, but the eye-test for what is causing some unexpected losses seems to be lapses on both O and D. And it's disconcerting when a team as talented as this one is relying so heavily on the three.   Every game we see in-the-lane kick outs for somewhat available (not necessarily open) threes, when finishing the drive or pulling up for a midrange (JT, JB, DW and Jrue) seems like the better option.

Don't disagree, just trying to show that the defensive results aren't as bad statistically as they look sometimes.  I think the defense could be better, there have been lapses in execution and effort.  Defense has not been at a championship level, really all season.  But I think Mazzulla is right, defense is not necessarily the reason for this recent slump.

On the 3s, I agree and have been saying so for a while.  3PA are down a little in the last 10 games, down to 49 in the last 10 games from 51 for the first 23 games.  But I think the sweet spot is more in the 40-45 range.  Just a few less a game, 1 or 2  quarter.  Hopefully, that would increase the scoring efficiency from 3 and overall.