Celtics (0-0) at Pistons (0-0) Game #1 10/20/26

[SparzWizard]

watched on delay.  today's hot takes:
- PG probably had his best game of the season.  I'm sure he'll have other really good games but I would not be surprised at the end of the season when we look back at how he's played and see this was his best game.
- Tatum had one of his worst games shooting and in general impact.  sure, lots of assists but at no point did it feel like he was going to lead the team to victory doing the tough/little things to win.  we'll see some other stinkers this season like we always do but for the first game of the year to play this badly says something.
- White shot better than last season but felt like a real non-factor.
- PP was not looking like a projected second option in this game. 
- The center rotation was underwhelming
- The young guns didn't step up to provide any spark or output.
- Joe coaching yet another game with his head up his butt.  blew another 20+ point lead.  couldn't bother to call a timeout to slow Det down as they stormed back in the third quarter.  absolute dumbass.

it's only 1 game but I'm wondering if this team will right the ship by next game or will we see a similar lackluster effort in the next one. No more JB to blame for team losses.  curious who the haters are going to select as the new whipping boy to blame.

Seen it since 2023, there is still one whipping boy to blame and it's Joe Mazz.

We got rid of 2/3rd of the issue (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown)...now we need to get rid of the final issue (Joe), and this one is supposed to be the biggest issue of the 3.

Amen. What did Joe do to stop the disastorous 23 - 0 run by Detroit ?

He called a timeout after they went on the first 7 of that 23pt run. It didn?t seem to make a difference.

well then that must mean there's no way a second timeout could ever hope to fix the issue or slow down the other team.  oh no, what will we ever do?   one timeout couldn't fix the issue?  all is lost!!!

I know what will work, get a coach smart enough to call another timeout and get the team functioning again.

I don't have a horse in this race, but I can't imagine the entire run is dependent on one, or even two, time outs.

I do think a lot of us, holistically, find that our defence tends to let guys get in the zone more often than usual, which is why some of these big collapses always seem to happen to the C's, and why the fact that our defence is usually pretty good doesn't always feel like it passes the eye test. But that's bigger than two timeouts vs one timeout.

It's not just timeouts, but also have to get your players involved, have them increase their intensity. And switch up the schemes. Take less 3's and drive in more.

Same ol same ol that we saw for the past few years.

[Goldstar88]

watched on delay.  today's hot takes:
- PG probably had his best game of the season.  I'm sure he'll have other really good games but I would not be surprised at the end of the season when we look back at how he's played and see this was his best game.
- Tatum had one of his worst games shooting and in general impact.  sure, lots of assists but at no point did it feel like he was going to lead the team to victory doing the tough/little things to win.  we'll see some other stinkers this season like we always do but for the first game of the year to play this badly says something.
- White shot better than last season but felt like a real non-factor.
- PP was not looking like a projected second option in this game. 
- The center rotation was underwhelming
- The young guns didn't step up to provide any spark or output.
- Joe coaching yet another game with his head up his butt.  blew another 20+ point lead.  couldn't bother to call a timeout to slow Det down as they stormed back in the third quarter.  absolute dumbass.

it's only 1 game but I'm wondering if this team will right the ship by next game or will we see a similar lackluster effort in the next one. No more JB to blame for team losses.  curious who the haters are going to select as the new whipping boy to blame.

Seen it since 2023, there is still one whipping boy to blame and it's Joe Mazz.

We got rid of 2/3rd of the issue (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown)...now we need to get rid of the final issue (Joe), and this one is supposed to be the biggest issue of the 3.

Amen. What did Joe do to stop the disastorous 23 - 0 run by Detroit ?

He called a timeout after they went on the first 7 of that 23pt run. It didn?t seem to make a difference.

well then that must mean there's no way a second timeout could ever hope to fix the issue or slow down the other team.  oh no, what will we ever do?   one timeout couldn't fix the issue?  all is lost!!!

I know what will work, get a coach smart enough to call another timeout and get the team functioning again.

Well, if the first timeout made zero difference, what makes you think another one two minutes later would? Maybe the players just need to perform better. Play harder.

[slamtheking]

watched on delay.  today's hot takes:
- PG probably had his best game of the season.  I'm sure he'll have other really good games but I would not be surprised at the end of the season when we look back at how he's played and see this was his best game.
- Tatum had one of his worst games shooting and in general impact.  sure, lots of assists but at no point did it feel like he was going to lead the team to victory doing the tough/little things to win.  we'll see some other stinkers this season like we always do but for the first game of the year to play this badly says something.
- White shot better than last season but felt like a real non-factor.
- PP was not looking like a projected second option in this game. 
- The center rotation was underwhelming
- The young guns didn't step up to provide any spark or output.
- Joe coaching yet another game with his head up his butt.  blew another 20+ point lead.  couldn't bother to call a timeout to slow Det down as they stormed back in the third quarter.  absolute dumbass.

it's only 1 game but I'm wondering if this team will right the ship by next game or will we see a similar lackluster effort in the next one. No more JB to blame for team losses.  curious who the haters are going to select as the new whipping boy to blame.

Seen it since 2023, there is still one whipping boy to blame and it's Joe Mazz.

We got rid of 2/3rd of the issue (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown)...now we need to get rid of the final issue (Joe), and this one is supposed to be the biggest issue of the 3.

Amen. What did Joe do to stop the disastorous 23 - 0 run by Detroit ?

He called a timeout after they went on the first 7 of that 23pt run. It didn?t seem to make a difference.

well then that must mean there's no way a second timeout could ever hope to fix the issue or slow down the other team.  oh no, what will we ever do?   one timeout couldn't fix the issue?  all is lost!!!

I know what will work, get a coach smart enough to call another timeout and get the team functioning again.

Well, if the first timeout made zero difference, what makes you think another one two minutes later would? Maybe the players just need to perform better. Play harder.

so, again, you're postulating that a coach can only call one time out and if he doesn't get the results he wants, he should just throw his hands up and give up?   thank god you're not a coach.   

watch other coaches who are considered to be at the top of their game.  they will call a second time out if the first didn't get their point across.  at that point if the players aren't listening, a good coach does something to get them focussed -- yelling/pulling players out/etc...    Joe hoarding TOs until the end of the game when it's too late for them to make a difference is not good coaching

[Goldstar88]

watched on delay.  today's hot takes:
- PG probably had his best game of the season.  I'm sure he'll have other really good games but I would not be surprised at the end of the season when we look back at how he's played and see this was his best game.
- Tatum had one of his worst games shooting and in general impact.  sure, lots of assists but at no point did it feel like he was going to lead the team to victory doing the tough/little things to win.  we'll see some other stinkers this season like we always do but for the first game of the year to play this badly says something.
- White shot better than last season but felt like a real non-factor.
- PP was not looking like a projected second option in this game. 
- The center rotation was underwhelming
- The young guns didn't step up to provide any spark or output.
- Joe coaching yet another game with his head up his butt.  blew another 20+ point lead.  couldn't bother to call a timeout to slow Det down as they stormed back in the third quarter.  absolute dumbass.

it's only 1 game but I'm wondering if this team will right the ship by next game or will we see a similar lackluster effort in the next one. No more JB to blame for team losses.  curious who the haters are going to select as the new whipping boy to blame.

Seen it since 2023, there is still one whipping boy to blame and it's Joe Mazz.

We got rid of 2/3rd of the issue (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown)...now we need to get rid of the final issue (Joe), and this one is supposed to be the biggest issue of the 3.

Amen. What did Joe do to stop the disastorous 23 - 0 run by Detroit ?

He called a timeout after they went on the first 7 of that 23pt run. It didn?t seem to make a difference.

well then that must mean there's no way a second timeout could ever hope to fix the issue or slow down the other team.  oh no, what will we ever do?   one timeout couldn't fix the issue?  all is lost!!!

I know what will work, get a coach smart enough to call another timeout and get the team functioning again.

Well, if the first timeout made zero difference, what makes you think another one two minutes later would? Maybe the players just need to perform better. Play harder.

so, again, you're postulating that a coach can only call one time out and if he doesn't get the results he wants, he should just throw his hands up and give up?   thank god you're not a coach.   

watch other coaches who are considered to be at the top of their game.  they will call a second time out if the first didn't get their point across.  at that point if the players aren't listening, a good coach does something to get them focussed -- yelling/pulling players out/etc...    Joe hoarding TOs until the end of the game when it's too late for them to make a difference is not good coaching

You seem to think calling a timeout is some sort of magic spell that makes the players perform better. Unfortunately it?s not. Otherwise they would have played better after he called one. If you were the coach the team would be out of timeouts halfway through the first quarter. Thank god you are not.

[Celtics4ever]

I think the Pistons were sanEdited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.ging until the fourth folks.  They turned it  on and they were a top team in the East last year.

I don't see how a time out would fix them turning it on.   They came to play and wanted the W more in the second half.  They had more effort.  I also think they got some ridiculous calls by the refs.  Duncan Robinson was flopping all over.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

watched on delay.  today's hot takes:
- PG probably had his best game of the season.  I'm sure he'll have other really good games but I would not be surprised at the end of the season when we look back at how he's played and see this was his best game.
- Tatum had one of his worst games shooting and in general impact.  sure, lots of assists but at no point did it feel like he was going to lead the team to victory doing the tough/little things to win.  we'll see some other stinkers this season like we always do but for the first game of the year to play this badly says something.
- White shot better than last season but felt like a real non-factor.
- PP was not looking like a projected second option in this game. 
- The center rotation was underwhelming
- The young guns didn't step up to provide any spark or output.
- Joe coaching yet another game with his head up his butt.  blew another 20+ point lead.  couldn't bother to call a timeout to slow Det down as they stormed back in the third quarter.  absolute dumbass.

it's only 1 game but I'm wondering if this team will right the ship by next game or will we see a similar lackluster effort in the next one. No more JB to blame for team losses.  curious who the haters are going to select as the new whipping boy to blame.

Seen it since 2023, there is still one whipping boy to blame and it's Joe Mazz.

We got rid of 2/3rd of the issue (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown)...now we need to get rid of the final issue (Joe), and this one is supposed to be the biggest issue of the 3.

Amen. What did Joe do to stop the disastorous 23 - 0 run by Detroit ?

so joe blow blew a 20 plus point lead again? like he did in back2back gqmes in playoffs 2 years ago? How many more warning signs do we need to see that he is the one responsible this is his ship. unbelievable how accustomed we have become to choking.

3-1 series lead last year for first time ever in playoffs. fireable offenses. JOE is the common denominator brad. wake up from your coma man. good gawd.

[Kernewek]

watched on delay.  today's hot takes:
- PG probably had his best game of the season.  I'm sure he'll have other really good games but I would not be surprised at the end of the season when we look back at how he's played and see this was his best game.
- Tatum had one of his worst games shooting and in general impact.  sure, lots of assists but at no point did it feel like he was going to lead the team to victory doing the tough/little things to win.  we'll see some other stinkers this season like we always do but for the first game of the year to play this badly says something.
- White shot better than last season but felt like a real non-factor.
- PP was not looking like a projected second option in this game. 
- The center rotation was underwhelming
- The young guns didn't step up to provide any spark or output.
- Joe coaching yet another game with his head up his butt.  blew another 20+ point lead.  couldn't bother to call a timeout to slow Det down as they stormed back in the third quarter.  absolute dumbass.

it's only 1 game but I'm wondering if this team will right the ship by next game or will we see a similar lackluster effort in the next one. No more JB to blame for team losses.  curious who the haters are going to select as the new whipping boy to blame.

Seen it since 2023, there is still one whipping boy to blame and it's Joe Mazz.

We got rid of 2/3rd of the issue (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown)...now we need to get rid of the final issue (Joe), and this one is supposed to be the biggest issue of the 3.

Amen. What did Joe do to stop the disastorous 23 - 0 run by Detroit ?

He called a timeout after they went on the first 7 of that 23pt run. It didn?t seem to make a difference.

well then that must mean there's no way a second timeout could ever hope to fix the issue or slow down the other team.  oh no, what will we ever do?   one timeout couldn't fix the issue?  all is lost!!!

I know what will work, get a coach smart enough to call another timeout and get the team functioning again.

I don't have a horse in this race, but I can't imagine the entire run is dependent on one, or even two, time outs.

I do think a lot of us, holistically, find that our defence tends to let guys get in the zone more often than usual, which is why some of these big collapses always seem to happen to the C's, and why the fact that our defence is usually pretty good doesn't always feel like it passes the eye test. But that's bigger than two timeouts vs one timeout.

It's not just timeouts, but also have to get your players involved, have them increase their intensity. And switch up the schemes. Take less 3's and drive in more.

Same ol same ol that we saw for the past few years.

Sure, but it didn't start with Mazz and it likely wouldn't end with a new coach.

[Phantom255x]

This is now a 2+ year problem of overreliance on 3s, team choking in the clutch, blowing 20+ point leads, etc. and that includes two postseason series. Yet nothing changes. So maddening.

And Stevens seems fine with it too, not only does he keep Mazzulla but he also seemed to double down on the philosophy during his end of season press conferences after last season, and they also traded away Jaylen who didn't follow the philosophy (Jaylen was more attack, take mid-range jumpers instead of 3s, etc.). Yes I know that's not directly why they traded Jaylen but they did basically double down on using this philosophy with Tatum heading it.

[Roy H.]

watched on delay.  today's hot takes:
- PG probably had his best game of the season.  I'm sure he'll have other really good games but I would not be surprised at the end of the season when we look back at how he's played and see this was his best game.
- Tatum had one of his worst games shooting and in general impact.  sure, lots of assists but at no point did it feel like he was going to lead the team to victory doing the tough/little things to win.  we'll see some other stinkers this season like we always do but for the first game of the year to play this badly says something.
- White shot better than last season but felt like a real non-factor.
- PP was not looking like a projected second option in this game. 
- The center rotation was underwhelming
- The young guns didn't step up to provide any spark or output.
- Joe coaching yet another game with his head up his butt.  blew another 20+ point lead.  couldn't bother to call a timeout to slow Det down as they stormed back in the third quarter.  absolute dumbass.

it's only 1 game but I'm wondering if this team will right the ship by next game or will we see a similar lackluster effort in the next one. No more JB to blame for team losses.  curious who the haters are going to select as the new whipping boy to blame.

Seen it since 2023, there is still one whipping boy to blame and it's Joe Mazz.

We got rid of 2/3rd of the issue (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown)...now we need to get rid of the final issue (Joe), and this one is supposed to be the biggest issue of the 3.

Amen. What did Joe do to stop the disastorous 23 - 0 run by Detroit ?

He called a timeout after they went on the first 7 of that 23pt run. It didn?t seem to make a difference.

well then that must mean there's no way a second timeout could ever hope to fix the issue or slow down the other team.  oh no, what will we ever do?   one timeout couldn't fix the issue?  all is lost!!!

I know what will work, get a coach smart enough to call another timeout and get the team functioning again.

I don't have a horse in this race, but I can't imagine the entire run is dependent on one, or even two, time outs.

I do think a lot of us, holistically, find that our defence tends to let guys get in the zone more often than usual, which is why some of these big collapses always seem to happen to the C's, and why the fact that our defence is usually pretty good doesn't always feel like it passes the eye test. But that's bigger than two timeouts vs one timeout.

It's not just timeouts, but also have to get your players involved, have them increase their intensity. And switch up the schemes. Take less 3's and drive in more.

Same ol same ol that we saw for the past few years.

Sure, but it didn't start with Mazz and it likely wouldn't end with a new coach.

I think that the one outlier year was 2023.  I think that beyond just having better talent (which carried over into 2024), Charles Lee was a big factor on the coaching staff.

Obviously, he was one of the best assistants in the league, and he's proven to be head-coaching material.  But, I do think our team would benefit from an assistant coach of similar stature.  I was quite surprised by our off-season, and the second biggest surprise was that we didn't add any coaching talent to the bench.

[Vermont Green]

I found a stat that BOS blew a 10 or more point lead 9 times in 2025-26.  That ranks them tied for 20th (meaning 19 teams blew a >10 point lead more than 9 times).  SAS, for example, blew a >10 point lead 14 times.  OKC blew 8 >10 point leads, only 1 less than BOS.  MEM lead the way with 22.  Only 8 teams had 8 or fewer >10 point blown leads.

BOS blew a 4th quarter lead 11 times, ranking 17th (tied).  16 teams blew more 4th quarter leads. 9 teams had 10 or fewer blown 4th quarter leads.

If you look at the list, the worse teams tend to blow leads more often, in general, but BOS is not especially high (or low, however you want to look at this) on the blown leads lists.

https://champsorchumps.us/records/most-nba-blown-leads-in-2026

[SparzWizard]

I found a stat that BOS blew a 10 or more point lead 9 times in 2025-26.  That ranks them tied for 20th (meaning 19 teams blew a >10 point lead more than 9 times).  SAS, for example, blew a >10 point lead 14 times.  OKC blew 8 >10 point leads, only 1 less than BOS.  MEM lead the way with 22.  Only 8 teams had 8 or fewer >10 point blown leads.

BOS blew a 4th quarter lead 11 times, ranking 17th (tied).  16 teams blew more 4th quarter leads. 9 teams had 10 or fewer blown 4th quarter leads.

If you look at the list, the worse teams tend to blow leads more often, in general, but BOS is not especially high (or low, however you want to look at this) on the blown leads lists.

https://champsorchumps.us/records/most-nba-blown-leads-in-2026

I'm sure Boston blew the most 20-point leads in recent history, including playoffs 

[slamtheking]

watched on delay.  today's hot takes:
- PG probably had his best game of the season.  I'm sure he'll have other really good games but I would not be surprised at the end of the season when we look back at how he's played and see this was his best game.
- Tatum had one of his worst games shooting and in general impact.  sure, lots of assists but at no point did it feel like he was going to lead the team to victory doing the tough/little things to win.  we'll see some other stinkers this season like we always do but for the first game of the year to play this badly says something.
- White shot better than last season but felt like a real non-factor.
- PP was not looking like a projected second option in this game. 
- The center rotation was underwhelming
- The young guns didn't step up to provide any spark or output.
- Joe coaching yet another game with his head up his butt.  blew another 20+ point lead.  couldn't bother to call a timeout to slow Det down as they stormed back in the third quarter.  absolute dumbass.

it's only 1 game but I'm wondering if this team will right the ship by next game or will we see a similar lackluster effort in the next one. No more JB to blame for team losses.  curious who the haters are going to select as the new whipping boy to blame.

Seen it since 2023, there is still one whipping boy to blame and it's Joe Mazz.

We got rid of 2/3rd of the issue (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown)...now we need to get rid of the final issue (Joe), and this one is supposed to be the biggest issue of the 3.

Amen. What did Joe do to stop the disastorous 23 - 0 run by Detroit ?

He called a timeout after they went on the first 7 of that 23pt run. It didn?t seem to make a difference.

well then that must mean there's no way a second timeout could ever hope to fix the issue or slow down the other team.  oh no, what will we ever do?   one timeout couldn't fix the issue?  all is lost!!!

I know what will work, get a coach smart enough to call another timeout and get the team functioning again.

Well, if the first timeout made zero difference, what makes you think another one two minutes later would? Maybe the players just need to perform better. Play harder.

so, again, you're postulating that a coach can only call one time out and if he doesn't get the results he wants, he should just throw his hands up and give up?   thank god you're not a coach.   

watch other coaches who are considered to be at the top of their game.  they will call a second time out if the first didn't get their point across.  at that point if the players aren't listening, a good coach does something to get them focussed -- yelling/pulling players out/etc...    Joe hoarding TOs until the end of the game when it's too late for them to make a difference is not good coaching

You seem to think calling a timeout is some sort of magic spell that makes the players perform better. Unfortunately it?s not. Otherwise they would have played better after he called one. If you were the coach the team would be out of timeouts halfway through the first quarter. Thank god you are not.

timeouts don't always work but insisting that one is the limit on how many to call is asinine.  if the second one doesn't work, pull the idiots off the floor on the next deadball.  make an example of them

[SparzWizard]

watched on delay.  today's hot takes:
- PG probably had his best game of the season.  I'm sure he'll have other really good games but I would not be surprised at the end of the season when we look back at how he's played and see this was his best game.
- Tatum had one of his worst games shooting and in general impact.  sure, lots of assists but at no point did it feel like he was going to lead the team to victory doing the tough/little things to win.  we'll see some other stinkers this season like we always do but for the first game of the year to play this badly says something.
- White shot better than last season but felt like a real non-factor.
- PP was not looking like a projected second option in this game. 
- The center rotation was underwhelming
- The young guns didn't step up to provide any spark or output.
- Joe coaching yet another game with his head up his butt.  blew another 20+ point lead.  couldn't bother to call a timeout to slow Det down as they stormed back in the third quarter.  absolute dumbass.

it's only 1 game but I'm wondering if this team will right the ship by next game or will we see a similar lackluster effort in the next one. No more JB to blame for team losses.  curious who the haters are going to select as the new whipping boy to blame.

Seen it since 2023, there is still one whipping boy to blame and it's Joe Mazz.

We got rid of 2/3rd of the issue (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown)...now we need to get rid of the final issue (Joe), and this one is supposed to be the biggest issue of the 3.

Amen. What did Joe do to stop the disastorous 23 - 0 run by Detroit ?

He called a timeout after they went on the first 7 of that 23pt run. It didn?t seem to make a difference.

well then that must mean there's no way a second timeout could ever hope to fix the issue or slow down the other team.  oh no, what will we ever do?   one timeout couldn't fix the issue?  all is lost!!!

I know what will work, get a coach smart enough to call another timeout and get the team functioning again.

Well, if the first timeout made zero difference, what makes you think another one two minutes later would? Maybe the players just need to perform better. Play harder.

so, again, you're postulating that a coach can only call one time out and if he doesn't get the results he wants, he should just throw his hands up and give up?   thank god you're not a coach.   

watch other coaches who are considered to be at the top of their game.  they will call a second time out if the first didn't get their point across.  at that point if the players aren't listening, a good coach does something to get them focussed -- yelling/pulling players out/etc...    Joe hoarding TOs until the end of the game when it's too late for them to make a difference is not good coaching

You seem to think calling a timeout is some sort of magic spell that makes the players perform better. Unfortunately it?s not. Otherwise they would have played better after he called one. If you were the coach the team would be out of timeouts halfway through the first quarter. Thank god you are not.

timeouts don't always work but insisting that one is the limit on how many to call is asinine.  if the second one doesn't work, pull the idiots off the floor on the next deadball.  make an example of them

Exactly. "Hey why are you playing like dog crap? You don't just play for one half. Game is not over even with a 20point lead at intermission. Can we do everything else better? If not, sit back down and I'll let Jordan Walsh take some minutes." Sometimes gotta call them out.

And that goes for Joe Shmuck as well. Needs to cut down the 3's and tell his team to drive in more. Maybe have Pritchard or Walsh run point and not Tatum. Change it up.

[SHAQATTACK]

Didn?t see a lot of defense .

[Who]

Also, new to me for this season, but have you all looked at Dribble IO? Seems like an interesting platform (at least nice UX).
https://drbl.io/games/401909088

Interesting site. New to me too. Looks good. Thanks for sharing.