2022 - 2023 POST GAME HOUSTON ROCKETS - AWAY

Celtics Wrap: Boston’s Failure To Capitalize Proves Costly Vs. Rockets
Have the C's hit rock bottom?

NESN by Gio Rivera

The Boston Celtics suffer yet another frustrating loss, falling 111-109 to the subpar Houston Rockets on Monday night at Toyota Center.

The Celtics fell to 47-22 on the season while the Rockets improved their record to 16-52.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
The C’s dug themselves a hole, allowing one of the league’s worst team’s to overtake momentum for the better part of the night. This allowed the Rockets to, at one point, take a 13-point lead and cruise for three quarters while the Celtics played catch-up due to their poor outside shooting performance. Boston finished the night knocking down just 12-of-42 total attempts as Malcolm Brogdon, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum were the only Celtics players to connect on multiple outside shots.

Tatum didn’t do justice by the Celtics or his league MVP campaign, registering another uncharacteristic showing following the NBA All-Star break. Tatum was ice-cold from beyond the arc, shooting just 2-of-10 while committing a team-high four turnovers to go alongside 22 points. Tatum provided a glimmer of hope, knocking down his second 3-pointer to end the third quarter and cutting the Rockets’ lead to five points.

Unfortunately for the Celtics, this wouldn’t amount to much.

In the fourth quarter, Boston crumbled. On several opportunities in which the game was within single digits, the Celtics failed to execute, and the Rockets countered. Brown even brought Boston within a point with 8.7 seconds left, giving the Celtics a picture-perfect opportunity. But as they’ve shown on various occasions throughout this season’s final stretch, Boston still hasn’t figured out how to close a game.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Jaylen Brown kept the Celtics within reach, erupting with a 43-point showing. The All-Star also grabbed five rebounds and knocked down four 3-point attempts, shooting 16-for-25 from the field.

— Jabari Smith Jr. notched a double-double as the 19-year-old scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. He also connected on 5-of-6 shot attempts from 3-point range, which tied Smith’s career-high mark.

— Brogdon provided 22 points off Boston’s bench, going a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.

WAGER WATCH
FanDuel Sportsbook set the over/under on Tatum’s assist total at 4.5 with -150 odds on the Over prior to game time in Houston. Tatum cleared those odds easily, dishing out a team-leading six assists. A $100 wager on Tatum would’ve resulted in a $166.67 total payout.

UP NEXT
The Celtics, who now return to the loss column, continue their six-game road trip on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tip off from Target Center is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

112288

WOW! GETTING UGLY!

112288

The Celts look like a lost team.

112288 wrote:WOW! GETTING UGLY!

112288

That’s what we look like with putrid offensive nights from Tatum, Al and Smart. Al gave us so many great shooting nights recently, he was due for an off game. On off shooting nights Bird and Pierce knew how to do enough little things to help effect winning, not seeing that from Tatum. Does he need contacts or something? How does an MVP candidate miss so many bunnies?

Bouncin' their butts along the rocks.

Only 3 Celtics in double-digits.  Where's our depth gone?

Our starters were 8-30 from 3.  Tatum was 2-10, because he has no conscience at all.  Tatum is now shooting 35.2% from 3 this year, which is below the league average, is averaging about 9.5 3pt fgas/game and hasn't figured out that he's not a lights-out 3pt shooter.  Shooters are expected to have short-term memories on misses, they need to keep shooting, but they need to recognize when they've got it and when they don't.  If they don't/can't see that then the coach needs to tell them they need to try something else to contribute on offense.  Drive to the rim, drive-and-kick, run the floor.  Unfortunately, we've got Joe, and I've yet to see Joe put his foot down in a game and tell a player to stop doing something that isn't working that night.

We would have been blown out if it hadn't been for Jaylen's 43.  Everybody except Brogdon should apologize to Jaylen for wasting his beautiful game.

One-Trick Pony Joe is being revealed as the rookie he is.  When the 3s aren't falling, and we shot 28.6% this game, he doesn't know what other plays to call.  We go into the hole because we're not hitting our 3s and his answer to that is "take more 3s!  It's the only way we can catch up!".

Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
2 minutes ago
Marcus Smart not overly concerned with Boston’s inconsistencies. “I’d rather it happen now than when we get into the playoffs … Last year it flipped around this time, we started to catch the rhythm … So we started early; hopefully we can catch our rhythm late (this time).”

Smart is whistling past the graveyard.  We have 13 games left.  When would you consider a good time to start getting our "playoff rhythm", Marcus?  Show me "the switch" and I will personally fly back there to flip it for you.

We are now tied in the loss column with Philly, fighting to hold onto second place.  It'd be nice to see a little bit of emotion, a little bit of competitive spirit now.  I'm done with the "it's a long season" BS line.  It isn't a long season anymore, the season is only 13 games long at this point.

Mentally weak.  I've been saying it for weeks now.  We're mentally weak and immature and, at this point, there's no excuse.  We have older veterans like Al and Blake and Moose and even 30 year old Malcolm Brogdon and almost 29 year old Derrick White.

Wyc said he told Brad that "this was the year, not next year or the year after.  This one.  He had a blank check to compete this year".  And...?  We have an open roster spot, but I think we're too late to sign someone for the playoffs.  Nice job listening to your boss, Brad.  

I'm flying back to the US on March 15th.  That means I won't be able to watch them vs the Timberwolves.  Not oddly enough that doesn't bother me as much as it would have earlier this season, and that's sad.  At this point this team needs to show me what they've got and they have to show me they've got it consistently, because they've used up their reservoir of trust with me.


https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401469179


Bob


.

Tatum Al Smart Hauser combined 4-23 from 3

No plan B when the 3’s aren’t falling!!

3s are not the issue. The inability to break down the defense is the issue.

If the shots don't fall one will not win. I am looking at how the shots were being generated.

After Brooklyn, this is the second time that an all mid-size lineup gave us fits. Plus once again we started the game as if entitled.

And then there has been the NY physicality that we have not been able to match.

A lot to worry about with the Celts right now. I don't see the toughness.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS PERIOD!

112288

Hi,
The only explanation/justification I could come up with was it's some kind of experiment. I don't know...

AK

prakash wrote:3s are not the issue.  The inability to break down the defense is the issue.

If the shots don't fall one will not win.  I am looking at how the shots were being generated.

After Brooklyn, this is the second time that an all mid-size lineup gave us fits.  Plus once again we started the game as if entitled.

And then there has been the NY physicality that we have not been able to match.

A lot to worry about with the Celts right now.  I don't see the toughness.

Its not the offense that is concerning so much as the lack of effort on defense. Great defense leads to fast break points and easy open shots. Last year we had it; this year we don't. Unless Tatum is hurt his performance this year is unforgiveable for a guy with all that talent. Brown is IMO a much better player this year. I had to turn off the game yesterday because there simply wasn't the effort present. How many offensive rebounds did they give up? A lot. They got all the lose balls. Houston wanted to win more than we did. Our coach is partly at fault-its his job to get the team ready for each game and maintain focus throughout. Too many blown big leads this year. Right now they look like they might possibly make it out of the first round but thats about it.

Just in case it has been forgotten, MIL lost to HOU this season on Dec 11, 2022, 97-92. MIL is still doing well.
We'll be ah-ight.

db

There were a lot of ways to win what turned into a single possession loss.

Pick a 'margin'

48-38 rebounds for them, including a 15-10 advantage on the Offensive glass

10 turnovers for them and 14 for us

54-50 PITP in their favor

27 assists for them and 19 for us

Man, when you cannot win a basketball game against a team that is fighting to lose, something in the milk is sour.

I guess CJ can take some pride in the fact that the Celtics launched 42 3 pointers which is right on their average attempts per game.  Making only 12 is well below their average.

The Celtics are losing games because their defense is really not that good.  Defensive rebounding is a defensive stat and we have seen way too many games lost because we cannot secure a damn rebound.  Our bigs switch out and we go ball watching instead of finding a man and controlling our rebounding space.

This team is playing themselves into what could be an early exit in the playoffs.

This team is mentally weak especially on the defensive end of the court.

dbrown4 wrote:Just in case it has been forgotten, MIL lost to HOU this season on Dec 11, 2022, 97-92.  MIL is still doing well.
We'll be ah-ight.  

db  

I agree.

Too many people expecting a flood every time there's a little rain.

The one player that could save the team is Robert Williams. Our defense will never be viable until he returns and is able to play.

We miss his rebounding and rim protection.

He has only played in 28 games this year so all of us have real concerns about his health and if he can come back and help this team re-establish a defensive presence.

I have said this before and i will say it again. The Celtics are not going anywhere unless RW can get back in the mix.

And the answer to the next question is yes, Giannis played that game. Had a DD with 18 rebounds 16 points.  

db

P.S.  I'm needing that dboss hammer..."We're winning every game from here on out/grab a glass of shut the Hell up/rub some dirt on it and get back in there" kind of pep talk!!

db

P.S. I'm needed that dboss hammer..."We're winning every game from here on out/rub some dirt on it and get back in there" kind of pep talk!!

Last year I could see where they were going.  I could feel the energy as this team climbed the ladder all the way to the top.  Going down the stretch run this team did not duck and cover.  This team embraced every challenge.  When the Bucks avoided a first round battle with the Nets the Celtics took the opposite path.  The reason why they were able to do that is because they had a great defense and they knew they could win on that end of the court.

This years' team, despite career numbers from several players, will not be able to recapture the magic.  Our 3 point shooting circus, despite it's impact on our ability to put up big points will not and cannot replace the one ingredient that is a prerequisite for winning a championship!  Great Defense..

My call to action, my rah rah rally cry can only be realized if Robert Williams returns to action and is able to reconnect a defense that right now pretends to be engaged.

If Robert Williams returns and can be available, the Celtics will beat every team in the East and in the West.

RWIII, in healthy form and on the floor, is, I agree, no doubt a critical piece for this team.

He has the defensive skills needed and unlike 3-point shooters, you don't miss a lot of dunks when fed the ball under the rim.

Problem is that along with those skills, RWIII has legs made of paper mache.

I'm getting on my seemingly annual draft or trade for a couple of bigs bandwagon now.

Rallying cry or no rallying cry, this team is flawed beginning with the center and power forward position.

1) We are small at center with Rob Williams being 6'9" at best plus Rob cannot battle big body centers.

2) We have no true center who can really play and has size at 7'. Please do not use Luke or Muscala as they cannot start or play major minutes otherwise they would be logging 35+ minutes in Williams absents.

3) Al Hortford is not a center at 6'9". At power forward yes, but he is 35+ years old and cannot give us a consistant game, game in and game out because he cannot do it physically and produce results. We are now seeing this more and more.

I point out these two positions out as this is what coach Joe is harping on that we cannot control the boards and rebound!

Go to war! Call to win this #18 this year!  Nonsense, Brad did not fill the needs at center and power forward and center.

It is also increasingly obvious that Tatum is regressing in shooting the 3 point shot and being consistant. Other areas like rebounding are ok, but if we preach 3 point shooting, we cannot rely on Tatum to take the last shot! I have said this ad nauseam about Tatum for the whole year!

112288

112288 wrote:Rallying cry or no rallying cry, this team is flawed beginning with the center and power forward position.

1) We are small at center with Rob Williams being 6'9" at best plus Rob cannot battle big body centers.

2) We have no true center who can really play and has size at 7'. Please do not use Luke or Muscala as they cannot start or play major minutes otherwise they would be logging 35+ minutes in Williams absents.

3) Al Hortford is not a center at 6'9". At power forward yes, but he is 35+ years old and cannot give us a consistant game, game in and game out because he cannot do it physically and produce results. We are now seeing this more and more.

I point out these two positions out as this is what coach Joe is harping on that we cannot control the boards and rebound!

Go to war! Call to win this #18 this year!  Nonsense, Brad did not fill the needs at center and power forward and center.

It is also increasingly obvious that Tatum is regressing in shooting the 3 point shot and being consistant. Other areas like rebounding are ok, but if we preach 3 point shooting, we cannot rely on Tatum to take the last shot! I have said this ad nauseam about Tatum for the whole year!

112288

The Celtics can beat a team that has a beast in the middle. We just need for our two best bigs to be healthy at the same time. Rotation guys like Blake, Kornet and Muscala can provide some rotational depth provided they are not tasked with playing significant roles. No, Brad did not add a quality big to the team. That's on him. It could bite him on the buttocks. The Celtics have to find a way to win with what they have and hope that RW can come back strong.

Both JT and JB are not shooting the 3 ball well. Their attempts are up year over year but their efficiencies are down. In spite of that, both are having very good years shooting the ball. (FG%)
Jaylen is shooting 49% overall (Career high) and JT is shooting 46.1% which is his best shooting since his rookie year. They remain a great scoring tandem.

Offense is not the Celtics biggest problem. They have to be much better defensively and stop relying on the 3 ball to win games. They can score in other ways but they have to buckle down and defend. There is a reason why defending is hard to do. Right now they do not have their top defender and rebounder and none of the add ons have his skill level.

dboss wrote:

112288 wrote:Rallying cry or no rallying cry, this team is flawed beginning with the center and power forward position.

1) We are small at center with Rob Williams being 6'9" at best plus Rob cannot battle big body centers.

2) We have no true center who can really play and has size at 7'. Please do not use Luke or Muscala as they cannot start or play major minutes otherwise they would be logging 35+ minutes in Williams absents.

3) Al Hortford is not a center at 6'9". At power forward yes, but he is 35+ years old and cannot give us a consistant game, game in and game out because he cannot do it physically and produce results. We are now seeing this more and more.

I point out these two positions out as this is what coach Joe is harping on that we cannot control the boards and rebound!

Go to war! Call to win this #18 this year!  Nonsense, Brad did not fill the needs at center and power forward and center.

It is also increasingly obvious that Tatum is regressing in shooting the 3 point shot and being consistant. Other areas like rebounding are ok, but if we preach 3 point shooting, we cannot rely on Tatum to take the last shot! I have said this ad nauseam about Tatum for the whole year!

112288

The Celtics can beat a team that has a beast in the middle.  We just need for our two best bigs to be healthy at the same time.  Rotation guys like Blake, Kornet and Muscala can provide some rotational depth provided they are not tasked with playing significant roles.  No, Brad did not add a quality big to the team.  That's on him.  It could bite him on the buttocks.  The Celtics have to find a way to win with what they have and hope that RW can come back strong.  

Both JT and JB are not shooting the 3 ball well.  Their attempts are up year over year but their efficiencies are down.  In spite of that, both are having very good years shooting the ball.  (FG%)
Jaylen is shooting 49% overall (Career high) and JT is shooting 46.1% which is his best shooting since his rookie year.  They remain a great scoring tandem.

Offense is not the Celtics biggest problem.  They have to be much better defensively and stop relying on the 3 ball to win games.  They can score in other ways but they have to buckle down and defend.  There is a reason why defending is hard to do.  Right now they do not have their top defender and rebounder and none of the add ons have his skill level.

My point is, Brad did not focus on a vital area which is the power forward and center for additional level 1 help. Luke and Muscala are a best journeymen who can spot a starter or a bench center minutes who has foul trouble. But to rely on them as your alternative if Williams gets hurt was out and out stupid or the very least near sighted.

I disagree on "we are ok at center with Rob and Al playing together." We got false hope beating Milwaukee in the playoffs due to them missing their key starter. They would have won the series I believe in 5 or 6.

You may point out that we took off fast and had the best record in the league until All Star break. Yes true, but as Sam (Dick Dorr) always said teams usually get going somewhere in mid to late December, and start getting in sync with their teammates. I think that is what happened. So being without Rob earlier in the season gave us a false impression as to how good we were because of what I stated above about teams starting to play better in December. At least that is my opinion! But if you look - Philly, Milwaukee, Knicks put together some recent and long winning streaks as an example of what I am trying to convey above.

Hope you are right and I am wrong.

Best to you and your family,

112288

dboss wrote:The one player that could save the team is Robert Williams.  Our defense will never be viable until he returns and is able to play.

We miss his rebounding and rim protection.  

He has only played in 28 games this year so all of us have real concerns about his health and if he can come back and help this team re-establish a defensive presence.

I have said this before and i will say it again.  The Celtics are not going anywhere unless RW can get back in the mix.

His offensive rebounding is also huge, his putbacks and taps keeping the ball alive for other looks/shooters killed teams. When he is right does so many things to spark the team that don’t show up in boxscore.

There was a stretch RWill had 3 15 rebound games in a row. We looked great then….

I’ll gonna keep a wishing and a hoping for #18 this year.
And…..
No, the sky’s not falling but the thunder rain and winds indicate some sort of warning.

A few of us here appear to be unbothered by some of the teams performances since All Star break.

Well with 13 games to go and with the way we have been losing and to who how can we not be concerned? It is for me.

I have no confidence in the Head Coach. Here lately we’ve been serving up Sloppy Joe’s and if this keeps up the leftovers will be served to us no later than the 2nd round.

I don’t care and have never cared for the way we have used Brogdan. Whatever is going on with Grant needs fixing post haste or our post season won’t last long. We.Need.Grant!

Coaches rotations are puzzling especially at games end.

Wyc either lied to us about the blank check and winked at Brad or was telling the truth and Brad mistakenly thought he winked.

Damon bounced pre playoffs and he’s just the first of many that will bounce by July.

If this is not cause for concern I don’t know what is.

“God grant me the serenity to except the things I cannot change”

The main problem is defensive rebounding. Certainly, Rob would help if he was available, but that’s really no excuse. The Knicks, Cavs, Hawks and Rockets all generated too many second shots. Until we clean this up, we will continue to struggle.

Last night once again we lacked consistent intensity. We expected to beat Houston, but let them gain confidence. Taking possessions off just doesn’t get it done.

To echo the obvious if the 3’s aren’t falling, attack the basket. The reason Houston won was because they generated more free throws.

I’m tired of the sane last shot set. I know the ball went to Jaylen once and I know JT got a good look at the last shot, but don’t they have other sets? The league has seen this one. Why not put the ball in Brogdan’s hands? He’s super clutch and will make the right play..

We got 13 games to start playing consistent winning basketball. Joe is on the hot seat. He has to wake this team up and get them to play hard for 48 minutes. I’m disappointed in Marcus, he has been horrible the last couple games. He still makes winning plays, but lately he’s been making just as many bad plays and his shooting is always inconsistent. We him to distribute the ball better.

112288 wrote:

dboss wrote:

112288 wrote:Rallying cry or no rallying cry, this team is flawed beginning with the center and power forward position.

1) We are small at center with Rob Williams being 6'9" at best plus Rob cannot battle big body centers.

2) We have no true center who can really play and has size at 7'. Please do not use Luke or Muscala as they cannot start or play major minutes otherwise they would be logging 35+ minutes in Williams absents.

3) Al Hortford is not a center at 6'9". At power forward yes, but he is 35+ years old and cannot give us a consistant game, game in and game out because he cannot do it physically and produce results. We are now seeing this more and more.

I point out these two positions out as this is what coach Joe is harping on that we cannot control the boards and rebound!

Go to war! Call to win this #18 this year!  Nonsense, Brad did not fill the needs at center and power forward and center.

It is also increasingly obvious that Tatum is regressing in shooting the 3 point shot and being consistant. Other areas like rebounding are ok, but if we preach 3 point shooting, we cannot rely on Tatum to take the last shot! I have said this ad nauseam about Tatum for the whole year!

112288

The Celtics can beat a team that has a beast in the middle.  We just need for our two best bigs to be healthy at the same time.  Rotation guys like Blake, Kornet and Muscala can provide some rotational depth provided they are not tasked with playing significant roles.  No, Brad did not add a quality big to the team.  That's on him.  It could bite him on the buttocks.  The Celtics have to find a way to win with what they have and hope that RW can come back strong.  

Both JT and JB are not shooting the 3 ball well.  Their attempts are up year over year but their efficiencies are down.  In spite of that, both are having very good years shooting the ball.  (FG%)
Jaylen is shooting 49% overall (Career high) and JT is shooting 46.1% which is his best shooting since his rookie year.  They remain a great scoring tandem.

Offense is not the Celtics biggest problem.  They have to be much better defensively and stop relying on the 3 ball to win games.  They can score in other ways but they have to buckle down and defend.  There is a reason why defending is hard to do.  Right now they do not have their top defender and rebounder and none of the add ons have his skill level.

My point is, Brad did not focus on a vital area which is the power forward and center for additional level 1 help.  Luke and Muscala are a best journeymen who can spot a starter or a bench center minutes who has foul trouble. But to rely on them as your alternative if Williams gets hurt was out and out stupid or the very least near sighted.

I disagree on "we are ok at center with Rob and Al playing together."  We got false hope beating Milwaukee in the playoffs due to them missing their key starter. They would have won the series I believe in 5 or 6.

You may point out that we took off fast and had the best record in the league until All Star break.  Yes true, but as Sam (Dick Dorr) always said teams usually get going somewhere in mid to late December, and start getting in sync with their teammates.  I think that is what happened.  So being without Rob earlier in the season gave us a false impression as to how good we were because of what I stated above about teams starting to play better in December.  At least that is my opinion!  But if you look - Philly, Milwaukee, Knicks  put together some recent and long winning streaks as an example of what I am trying to convey above.

Hope you are right and I am wrong.

Best to you and your family,

112288

112288

We do not disagree on much that you say.  However there are a few things that you said that I said that are simply not accurate.

I said "We just need for our two best bigs to be healthy at the same time"  The operative word is healthy.  I agree that relying on Kornet, Muscala and Griffin as alternatives if Rob is hurt was and is a  mistake by Brad. But I already said that in so many words.

I should point out that beating the Bucks was no small task.  Afterall they were the defending world champions and both teams know each other well.  While it is true that they were missing Middleton, Rob was less than 100% and he only played in 3 of the 7 games.  Plus the Bucks had more depth than we did after the D White trade.  

I did not say anything about our fast start.  I do agree with your comments however.

What I have said consistently is that our defense is not playing as well and I think the big difference is not having Rob.  I believed and still believe that we really needed another big who could rebound and defend.  I am just as concerned about Rob returning and being able to make a big impact as everyone else.

If he can and that is a big if, I think that we can beat anyone.  

The only other major factor in my mind is coaching.   CJ remains in a learning curve.  He is not a top of the line coach yet and that could come from more experience.  The playoffs will be the big test for him.