Mavericks (25-25) at Celtics (36-15) Game #52 2/6/25

[Phantom255x]

Need to go better than 4-4 to reach the 40/20 threshold

[hodgy03038]

I turned it off in the 3rd quarter. I give this loss to Tatum Started the game out terrible with multiple turnovers and lack of effort. Embarrassing loss as AD (their new best player) laughed on the bench at how pathetic we were. Up until tonight I thought Klay was washed but now he is back thanks to our lack of defense and effort.

Once in  a while guys it would be nice to win a game at home for your fans.

[bello_man09]

I think peterson takes the last roster spot, one think i like about him. he can create his own shot.

[scaryjerry]

Nothing more predictable than the Celtics starting to look good, get probably their best win of the year and proceed to not even try against the mavericks, loser loss

[ozgod]

Hubris. This is why this team lost. Hubris. Hubris in thinking they are 234.66% better than they really are, that they can play lackadaisical at the start because they were playing a weakened, demoralized team missing Luka (permanently) and AD (temporarily) and shooting nearly 50% from 3 so no need to defend. They thought they didn't have to pay attention to 70 year old Klay Thompson or washed-up has-been also-ran Spencer Dinwiddie who combined nearly put up a half century of points against them. 21-0 in fast break points when the game was still a contest...embarrassing. Tatum -22, Brown -15, nothing says I don't care about this game like their defensive effort in the first three quarters. Let the Mavs shoot 60% from 2, yes that happens when you turn the ball over 14 times and don't run back to defend.

The bench guys tried to put lipstick on a pig at the last but this was a "I don't care, this is a meaningless game, we showed we can win games when we're switched on like vs Cleveland, if we play this team in a 7 game series we will beat them 4-2". And they would be right - they probably will beat this team 4-2 when they have their heads screwed on right. But it's still hubris.

[ozgod]

It's odd but it's like our entire defense just forgot how to play this season. Felt like last year guys were more locked in and knew where to be, even some of our bench guys like Kornet/Hauser.

They pick and choose when they want to be connected on defense. Tonight they just didn't seem to care, because it was a "meaningless game", they beat this team 5 times in a row, so what if they lose it. Nobody's going to lose sleep, because "if it's the playoffs we beat them 4-2 at least because we will be locked in and trying". The LeBum mentality...coast in the regular season and save yourself for the playoffs.

[SparzWizard]

Hubris. This is why this team lost. Hubris. Hubris in thinking they are 234.66% better than they really are, that they can play lackadaisical at the start because they were playing a weakened, demoralized team missing Luka (permanently) and AD (temporarily) and shooting nearly 50% from 3 so no need to defend. They thought they didn't have to pay attention to 70 year old Klay Thompson or washed-up has-been also-ran Spencer Dinwiddie who combined nearly put up a half century of points against them. 21-0 in fast break points when the game was still a contest...embarrassing. Tatum -22, Brown -15, nothing says I don't care about this game like their defensive effort in the first three quarters. Let the Mavs shoot 60% from 2, yes that happens when you turn the ball over 14 times and don't run back to defend.

The bench guys tried to put lipstick on a pig at the last but this was a "I don't care, this is a meaningless game, we showed we can win games when we're switched on like vs Cleveland, if we play this team in a 7 game series we will beat them 4-2". And they would be right - they probably will beat this team 4-2 when they have their heads screwed on right. But it's still hubris.

They still have to realize that last year's postseason run benefitted from a bunch of injuries for our competition. Now couple that with a vastly improved Eastern Conference after the offseason and trade deadline, it's a different story.

And this same mental attitude is the same as the 2023 playoff run...they gonna find themselves down an 0-3 hole again

[celticinorlando]

This attitude that they are just waiting for the playoffs and they just turn it on is crap.

They are flawed mentally. The effort most nights....terrible.

Really frustrating.

[Redz]

I had the good fortune of not watching the game in real time last night.  Somewhere in the 3rd quarter I just started fast forwarding to see if they could make a run.  I didn?t stop until the garbage time run.  Then I felt a little guilty.  Not a lot. 

If they don?t put forth the effort why should I?

[Phantom255x]

Hard to win against Luka Exum and Spencer Doncic

[keevsnick]

Lats night was a defensive lost. The offense was fine outside of some missed layups that they'd like to have back. the three point shooting was good.

But through the starters minutes they game up 114 points in 38.5 minutes. That's almost 3 points per minute, a 144 point pace. The mavericks shot 62% from 2, not AT THE RIM, but from 2 overall. Now some of that was good shot making, but a lot was just no resistance at the point of attack.

[celticinorlando]

You can tell with this team what kind of game its going to be within the first 5 minutes of the 1st quarter.

Last night in the first few minutes Tatum was terrible. Shots did not fall, they stood around on defense and turned it over.

[Phantom255x]

Tatum doesn't have to score 30+ every night but it seems for the past month he's mostly been a passenger outside of a few games like the 2nd half vs. Philly.

I understand KP and Jaylen typically "set the tone" in the 1st quarter, but that doesn't mean Tatum should just stand around and not attack either. He also has far too many of these games where he starts like 2-9 shooting and 1-6 from 3. Maybe if he took some easy 2s instead of settling on 3s, he could have like 4-5 more PPG and more of an impact during the whole game. Opposing defenses aren't pressured or forced into uncomfortable situations because they would much rather let Jaylen and the others try to beat them than JT if it came down to it.

JT just hasn't played MVP-like at all since the start of 2025. Hope that changes. This team will still go as far as the Jays and White take them, but especially Tatum.

[SparzWizard]

Need to go better than 4-4 to reach the 40/20 threshold

Unfortunately I don't think this team has what it takes to win 4 of their next 5 with their sloppiness all year long...

@ Knicks
@ Heat
vs Spurs
@ 76ers
vs Knicks

Thinking we'll drop both Knicks games, home date with the Spurs, and at 76ers.

[jpotter33]

Need to go better than 4-4 to reach the 40/20 threshold

Unfortunately I don't think this team has what it takes to win 4 of their next 5 with their sloppiness all year long...

@ Knicks
@ Heat
vs Spurs
@ 76ers
vs Knicks

Thinking we'll drop both Knicks games, home date with the Spurs, and at 76ers.

Of course you do. You?re the Celtics? version of a Debbie Downer 😂

Who knows with this team. They could just as easily win all of them except the Heat game haha