something needs to change fast

[slamtheking]

I'm not sure what changes can be made at this point to get this team back on track. sure, having Baynes would help but right now,
- Kyrie and Al are not playing like stars, certainly on offense, for the past few games
- Hayward has regressed back to bad Hayward
- Smart and Morris aren't delivering the same impact to the starting lineup that they had when they were moved there.  they are both back to their shooting norms which is hurting us offensively.
- the role players aren't playing their roles.  Brown's about the only one who's coming close to consistent lately.

I think the whole Davis circus did have an impact on this team.  They really look like they're just going through the motions for the most part and just waiting for the axe to fall this summer to see who's left standing.   I had hopes that they'd get it together going down the stretch of the season so they'd be on a upswing going into the playoffs but I just don't see that happening.  sure, on a given night when they're hitting they're shots, they can beat anyone.  all too often now, they're living the adage of "live by the 3, die by the 3" and they've been dying in a gruesome manner. 

I've given Brad the benefit of the doubt in most regards because he's not the one chucking bad shots, playing passive D, making bad passes and half-assing it on the court but he seems to be losing this team if he hasn't lost it already.  his philosophy of having them play through bad stretches without a TO to stem the tide is infuriating.  what are those timeouts worth at the end of a 20 point blowout?

[C3LTSF4N]

So we went 7-7 from Dec. 19th through Jan. 15th when Baynes was out and went 8-1 during the stretch that he played after that, with a 6 game winning streak starting the game he came back.

[SparzWizard]

I find it hard to believe Baynes is the true difference maker in our run.

Otherwise, why can't Ainge just pick up a big through the buyout market.

[C3LTSF4N]

I find it hard to believe Baynes is the true difference maker in our run.

Otherwise, why can't Ainge just pick up a big through the buyout market.

Either way I think he gives a pretty positive contribution.

[PhoSita]

This team is like a trash can that reeks so bad you can smell it from across the room.

Only way to fix the stench is to remove the rotting garbage.

[bopna]

Change the Starting five and insert JB over Morris.

Kyrie rests instead of playing the entire first qtr at the 6 min mark to start the 2nd qtr.. This saves this team from having scoring lulls in the middle qtrs by having Kyrie in there. Hayward relieves Kyrie.

I'd have both Al and Williams play together in spurts.

Play little to no Rozier at all.

Instruct guys to drive to the rim all the time and make plays from there... NO iso ball.. Move and drive and repeat.. Drive and repeat.

[ozgod]

Like I've been saying I think they gave up on the 3rd seed before the All Star break...just going through the motions to make sure they don't drop lower than 5th and play either Indiana or Philly away and presumably play Milwaukee (I'm sure they prefer that) to get to the ECF, then take their chances against Toronto or whoever it is. They don't want to play Toronto in the 2nd round that's for sure, since we won't have home court. We've lost 14 of 15 games in Toronto I think?

Tonight they looked more checked out than they've ever been...no togetherness, no effort plays supporting one another, no covering for each other on defense. Like always they have the resistance of a wet paper bag when the opposition makes a big run, the 2nd quarter was pretty embarrassing from a defensive standpoint but it's a microcosm of how the season has gone. How can a team ranked 5th in defense overall show this type of effort and get outscored 38-18? Happens when you've checked out mentally and just going through the motions. Because when they make that effort and show that commitment this shouldn't happen, at least not as much as it's happened this year.

To me Brad's biggest failing this season, far more than his sketchy timeout management, or substitution system, or whatever else in-game things we yell at him about in the game threads, is his failure to consistently prepare these guys to play through a full game with a high level of effort. You see it here and there, when they are switched on, so you know they CAN do it, but then they switch off far too many times that a team of a) this talent level and b) lacking any meaningful achievements (i.e. they made the ECF, that's not exactly like winning the finals). Teams that have won it all, like the Dubs, know what they need to do. In a way you can say they've earned the right to coast because you know what they will deliver come playoff time. But this team hasn't earned anything yet, yet they're not showing the drive and relentless desire to play at their hardest like those teams, and players, that have something to prove.

They look like a team on the verge of unraveling but they will probably keep it together long enough to get to the playoffs and maintain 5th seed (if they can't maintain 5th seed then I don't know what else to say). Then we will see if they really are a "playoff team".

[SparzWizard]

Like I've been saying I think they gave up on the 3rd seed before the All Star break...just going through the motions to make sure they don't drop lower than 5th and play either Indiana or Philly away and presumably play Milwaukee (I'm sure they prefer that) to get to the ECF, then take their chances against Toronto or whoever it is. They don't want to play Toronto in the 2nd round that's for sure, since we won't have home court. We've lost 14 of 15 games in Toronto I think?

Tonight they looked more checked out than they've ever been...no togetherness, no effort plays supporting one another, no covering for each other on defense. Like always they have the resistance of a wet paper bag when the opposition makes a big run, the 2nd quarter was pretty embarrassing from a defensive standpoint. How can a team ranked 5th in defense overall show this type of effort and get outscored 38-18? Happens when you've checked out mentally and just going through the motions.

They look like a team on the verge of unraveling but they will probably keep it together long enough to get to the playoffs and maintain 5th seed (if they can't maintain 5th seed then I don't know what else to say). Then we will see if they really are a "playoff team".

This roster could beat the Raptors. Their first meeting they came close but just let off the foot in the 4th quarter. I remember I got scrutinized with my hot-take comments by other people here regarding Lowry/Leonard, but that was just like game number 3 of the season (now at this point of season we should all be worried on how this Celtics team is moving along). The Celtics secured the two home wins over them. This fourth meeting nobody showed up after the 1st quarter. Somebody told them game over after they won the 1Q.

It's just a chemistry issue on top of some coaching stuff, and unfortunately IMO, it won't be solved in time. I think playing Milwaukee is tougher, but I'm holding on the hope that they fold. Then again, should they figure things out the C's need to start winning on the road if they are indeed a 5-seed because the 76ers/Pacers are not going to be waiting for them.

[Silky]

Its as mich Danny as anything.

There is no excuse for Rozier amd Morris to still be on this team. I refuse to believe that there wasnt a team in the nba who would have traded an asset with an extra year on their deal for one of them.

Now we are stuck with their chemistry killing asses until they sign a contract elsewhere amd the team get NOTHING in return.

The other this is the lack of a healthy center. Horford does not play well, 90% of the time, when he is playing at center. He is most effective at the pf spot. There is a reason we win more regularly when baynes plays. And it isnt baynes. Team needed a center.

And Hayward. God. He needs more touches but with everyone on this team he isnt gonna get it. He should have been shopped

[Moranis]

So we went 7-7 from Dec. 19th through Jan. 15th when Baynes was out and went 8-1 during the stretch that he played after that, with a 6 game winning streak starting the game he came back.

Schedule matters.  Boston has had very distinct runs of easy schedule to hard schedule without much in between. 

[Larry for 3]

It’s too late, the opportunity was at the trade deadline to move Morris & Rozier to balance this roster out. Dannn did nothing so this is who we are. We are not playing for this year. We’re waiting to trade for Davis. I mean honestly, Jaylen Brown needs to be playing 30+ min per game but can’t because of the roster. Danny is trying to have his cake and eat it to. It’s not working.

[KGBirdBias]

You'll keep pointing to the wrong things. LOL Morris and Rozier...seriously?

We need more leadership when things get tough, they just give up. They aren't focused for the entire game.

[NKY fan]

To me it looks like we always struggle against teams with tall quick athletic and skilled power forwards see games against :
Bucks ; raptors; lakers and the Magic .
For some reason we do well against Anthony Davis - maybe cause his passing isn’t that great 🤷🏻‍♂️.
If I were Danny and raptors were rebuilding next year I would trade for Siakam

[BlackCeltic]

To me it looks like we always struggle against teams with tall quick athletic and skilled power forwards see games against :
Bucks ; raptors; lakers and the Magic .
For some reason we do well against Anthony Davis - maybe cause his passing isn’t that great 🤷🏻‍♂️.
If I were Danny and raptors were rebuilding next year I would trade for Siakam

Thats because we have a powerless power forward named Marcus Morris.

[Celtics4ever]

This team had issues well before the Davis drama.