POST GAME - LAC - HOME - LAC 123, BOS 112 Final

Celtics Wrap: Boston Blows 28-Point Lead In Brutal Loss To Clippers

NESN by Michael McMahon on Sat, Feb 9, 2019 at 10:31PM

BOSTON — After blowing a colossal lead in a gut-busting loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, the Celtics continued to give fans heart palpitations Saturday night against LA’s other team — the Clippers.

The C’s saw a 28-point first-half lead disappear, and ultimately fell 123-112 at TD Garden. To add on, the Celtics lost Kyrie Irving for the second half because of a right knee strain. He finished with 14 points.

Gordon Hayward led the Celtics with 19 points. Montrezl Harrell had 21 while Danilo Galinari had 19 for the Clippers.

The Celtics move to 35-21 with the loss, while the Clippers climb to 31-26 with the with.

Here’s how it all went down:

STARTING FIVE
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Marcus Morris Sr.
C: Al Horford

C’s TAKE MASSIVE LEAD
The Celtics got out to a hot start, and finished the first 12 minutes even stronger as they built a commanding 43-20 lead through one quarter.

Boston got out to a 9-0 lead behind an early surge from Irving and Al Horford, who traded assists to open the scoring. But the Clippers came roaring back with an 11-0 run to tie the game 14-14 with 6:16 to play.

From there, the C’s went back in control, scoring the next 15 points, highlighted by 3-pointers from Daniel Theis and Jayson Tatum.

Following a steal by Terry Rozier, Theis came back to drain another three to make it 34-17 with 1:49 to play. Rozier came up with another steal, leading to a highlight-reel transition dunk to push the lead to 20.

Boston finished the quarter on a 29-5 run, and shot 53.8 percent from the floor in the first. Irving led all scorers with 12.

HOSTS IN COMMAND
Boston was not able to build on its massive first-quarter lead, as the Clippers held the scoring advantage in the second 33-31, but the C’s remained very much in control, leading 74-53 at the break.

The hosts continued to move the ball seemingly at will, with Marcus Morris and Hayward pairing up to keep the C’s well in front. Morris hit back-to-back shots for Boston to push the lead to 54-33 with 8:22 left in the half.

The Clippers narrowed the lead to 71-53 with 26.7 seconds left in the half, but a Rozier step back three led the Celtics into the locker with an exclamation point.

Boston finished the first half with four players scoring in double digits, but lost Irving for the game with a right knee sprain.

C’s SLIP IN THIRD
Boston struggled mightily in the third quarter with Irving, as the Clippers held a 28-12 advantage in the quarter to dwindle the C’s lead to 86-81 heading into the fourth.

The Clippers were able to claw away at the Celtic lead, going on a 9-0 run capped with a dunk by Temple. A 3-pointer from Gilgeous-Alexander narrowed the Boston lead to 82-72 with 5:04 to play in the quarter.

Boston’s lead continued to shrink as the hosts couldn’t buy a shot, going a measly 4-of-22 in the third.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
What once seemed like a runaway win for the C’s turned into an utter nightmare.

LA continued to hang around well into the fourth, with Harrell closing the gap to four, converting an and-one after drawing a foul on a drive to the hoop to make it 93-89 with 9:31 left to play.

Landry Shamet tied it at 100-100 with a corner three with 6:41 to go. The Clippers got their first lead of the game with a Gallinari basket to make it 102-100.

Shamet was fouled by Brown on a 3-pointer and finished the 4-point play to make it 106-102 with 3:26 to play. Patrick Beverly’s three made it 112-107 Clippers with under two minutes remaining. Harrell followed up with a transition dunk off a Celtic turnover to make it 114-107.

Beverly hit another three to make it 117-110 with under a minute left, closing it out.

PLAY OF THE GAME
Hayward with the heads up D.

UP NEXT
The Celtics hit the road for a tilt against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday in the first leg of a back-to-back. Tip off from Wells Fargo Center is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

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STUNNED!

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I didn’t see the game tonight, home in time for the post game.

Tommy says “a loss like this can lose a season for a team, last years team would bounce back but can this years team do the same?”

Morris in his post game says “no one has fun on this team.” He sees others teams rooting for each other, bench players jumping around and cheering. “But when I look at us I see a bunch of individuals.” “It hasn’t been fun for a long time.”

Brad in his last two post games talks more about he needs to do a better job.

Interesting to say the least.

Team culture begins and ends with one Indian Chief!   The problem with the Celtics, we have no Indian Chief, we just have Indians.  Garnett was our Indian Chief and he laid the law down and kicked butt to those who under performed.  Players eventually fell into line.

Irving is trying to become a Chief, but he either lacks the physical intimidation or leadership skills or both to achieve that now.

Also, the players may also be turning off to Brad and not buying into what he is selling.  Sometimes you have to be an SOB and SHOW IT to get respect.  I think Brad may be too soft in that area and players are beginning to walk over him now.

For sure, the culture has changed for the worse.

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This really sucks. Glimmers? Theis and Hayward. But we are way beyond the time for glimmers.

https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/02/09/kyrie-irving-hurt-celtics-squander-huge-lead-in-loss-to-clippers/

https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/02/09/bulpett-doc-rivers-knows-its-hard-getting-talented-young-celtics-to-buy-into-roles/

This team has no guts. It's been evident for some time. Who's at fault? If I knew that I'd be sitting in Danny's chair. Is it the coach? The players? A combination of both? I hope to hell he knows what's going on and is in a position to fix it. What is so disturbing is that this is almost the same team from last year which played with so much Celtic's pride and tenacity. Disgusting!

Jay King: Marcus Morris said when he looks at the Celtics he sees a bunch of individuals. Said he sees everyone else having fun around the league, they don’t have fun. “It hasn’t been fun for a long time.” Marcus Morris: “I watch all these other teams around the league and guys are up on the bench … they’re enjoying everything, and they’re playing together and they’re playing to win. And when I look at us I just see a bunch of individuals.” – via Twitter ByJayKing

“The goal has to be to win,” Morris said. “Bottom line. We’ve gotta play to win. That’s sacrificing playing hard, that’s sacrificing being a better teammate, that’s sacrificing whatever it is. We have to put it to the side. No one’s getting traded. The trade deadline’s over. We’re competing for a championship. And that’s how we’ve gotta approach these games. Win, lose or draw, man. We’re going to lose games, but we don’t have no attitude, we don’t have no toughness, we ain’t having fun. It’s been a long season.” – via The Athletic



the pressure of expectations!

and Irving down with yet another injury. Perhaps this is a chance for the team to get back what they had in the previous couple years without Irving and Hayward.

I hate divas'..did I say that already?

I'd rather have Rozier and Morris than Irving next year, he can take his wishy washy stuff to NY or LA and be with LeBron again for all I care. We play better without him, sometimes lees is more.

I blame Brad. When he has a Butleresque group with potential -kids- he gets the most out of them, and they over-achieve their way into the conference finals. But he's showing he cannot handle a team of NBA-sized egos.
He has no control over Kyrie (a player I've suggested we trade, because he does not make others better).
He does not play his best combinations, for what seem to be political reasons unrelated to play on the court. This is a team with its best center - Williams - nailed to the bench because (the announcers say), the coach is mad that other players throw Williams lobs rather than stick to the game plan of launching bombs.
When Morris complains the team isn't having fun, that the bench isn't cheering, remember those rare moments when Williams is on the floor. The bench goes crazy. Part of this is that Williams is a rookie, trying to find his way. Mostly it's that Williams is a defensive force and while he's in the middle, other teams cannot drive with abandon past the smaller men Brad prefers to play.
When Baynes is healthy, the problem is masked, because Baynes is a decent back-up center. But when Baynes comes out and is replaced by one of Brad's forward-centers, other teams began to feast inside. When they feast inside, the C's defense collapses and then the other team feasts outside, too.
Hayward is not a star. He had a decent game against the Clippers, but his minutes are not earned by play this season. As Brad's favorite, he gets teacher's pet treatment. The rest of the class is not amused, because if it's clear to an old fan whose eyes are dimming, it's crystal clear from the bench.
Horford is pacing himself. In any one game (maybe more in the playoffs) he's the same old Al, a very good but not great forward. When he's on the court, he wants to play with a center, not as center, because he's not that rugged. Listen to him!
Tatum's game, I read, was hurt by working out with Kobe. Maybe, but to me, it seems he has caught a dose of Kyrie. The problem with me-ball, especially late in the game, is that the other team knows what's coming. The cure is coaching - demanding team ball, demanding that Tatum be looking to pass, as well as shoot, on his way to the rim and that everyone else be moving, ready for that pass.
If Brad mixed it up by starting Williams until Baynes is back, by playing Hayward less and Semi more, I think that Brown, Rozier, Morris and Smart would be fine. Theis is playing great; let him play the 4 where he belongs. Good play should be rewarded. Players' salaries should not determine PT; that's a sure way to kill team spirit.
Finally, Danny. He gave Brad a team with too many forwards, and a young center the coach won't play. He talks of a marriage between the C's and the overly delicate, incredibly skilled Irving. But like Pete Maravich, Irving is more a solo act than a cornerstone. Don't do it, Danny! Hawk

I did not turn the game on until just before the end of the 1st quarter as the Celtics were building a comfortable lead.  In the NBA there is no such thing as a comfortable lead.  Boston simply loss their focus while the Clippers took advantage of an opportunity to make it a game and the momentum just built from there.

This was a bad loss and the fans expressed their displeasure by booing the team late in the 4th QTR.

How they respond to this loss will set the stage for the road ahead which becomes increasingly hazardous.  I am still trying to figure out who this team is.  I saw the schedule and thought these last two games would go in the win column.

Morris should have just shut the fuck up, he’s not that good, 2 J’s obviously had a bad game, Hayward scored a quiet bunch of points, giving him minutes despite how he plays effects the team. Smart been missing last 2 games and Kyrie got hurt and Baynes still out. Inconsistent young team blows a big lead with injured superstar, okay it happened, the world will go on tomorrow.....Morris should have shut the fuck up.

Choke.  I can come up with other words like deplorable, disgusting, deflating, unacceptable, even unbearable but choke is, unfortunately, the most apt.  The Knicks loss was the worst loss of the year, but I think this one is worse still even though the Knicks are the worst team in the league.  The Clippers are a team with 7 new players.  They had only 1 practice together and, according to Doc's pre-game interview, was going to run only 3 plays.  One of those plays was the pick-and-roll, which is one of the first two plays invented by Dr. Naismith (the other is the give-and-go) and is one of the first plays you learn in junior high school.  We defended it like we'd never seen it before.  And who was rolling on us?  Zubac and Montrezl Harris, two players that have no game that isn't rolling off the pnr or running the floor.

We were up 28 and ended up losing by 11 and the only reason why it wasn't worse is because the Clips ran out of time.  We scored 43 points in the first quarter and 43 points in the next 2 quarters combined.  We were outscored 70-38 in the 2nd half.

Tatum 4-12, waving his arms like a football ref signaling a touchdown every time, looking for a foul.  Stop it.  If anything the refs were whistle-happy last night.  They blew 56 fouls, good for 56 ftas, you not getting respect isn't the problem, Jayson, the problem is that you were taking fadeaway jump shots over 6'1" Patrick Beverly from 6' away, and missing, instead of just leaning in to him.

Horford 3-11.  If you look at his shot chart he took 3 shots in the paint, and was 1-3.  He was up against Zubac and Harris and he didn't go inside.

Jaylen Brown took 4 shots from above the break, just left of dead center.  27 foot shots, according to ESPN.  He missed all 4.  He was 0-5 from 3, 1-6 from outside the paint and only 4-8 from deep in the paint.  50% from right in front of the rim for an athlete like Brown is poor.  Poor.  4-14 on the night.  Doesn't understand "heat check" not only means "let's see if I'm hot" it also means "if I'm not, do something else".

Smart was awful too, on both ends and when I'm down on Smart on the defensive end I am NOT happy AT ALL.

They had 8 players in double-digits.

Rozier 6-12 for 16, Hayward 6-11 and 19 points.  The unlikely heroes in this debacle.

I have no idea WHY they aren't having fun, but Morris is right.  They aren't and now it's hurting the team.  Between the Laker game and this game these are the types of performances that get coaches fired.  I don't think Brad is going to get fired, but someone is.  It might not happen before the end of the season but this team is going to get blown up, AD or no AD.  Not because we are missing players who can do specific jobs but because we are weak mentally and immature.  At the NBA level the most important muscle is the 4" one between the ears and that's where I believe we are the weakest.

We ought to bring back Roman-era vomitoriums.  There'd have been lines down the block and around the corner in Boston last night.



bob



.

Good point bob, 2 J’s need more patience and more refined moves, when the defender has been studying them and knows which moves to take away, they need to go with the new move right away, as you said, not the same one, over and over. They both have been playing well recently, must be frustrating at times when their game is on and they can’t get shots or minutes. They are still only 20 and 22, not everyone comes in like Bird or Magic, took time for Kyrie and Smart to get their games to a certain point, Smart still evolving and it’s his 5th year.

Kawhi Leonard went 4-15 last night, okay it happens, no player plays great every game.

What should never happen is a veteran complaining in the press like that, he should be more resilient.

Cow..I do not get what you are saying about Hayward.
The guy is out there doing what is expected of him. Rebounds, shares the ball, and last night scored 19 points.
Watch the game when he is out there with the young guys. They do NOT share that ball, it is all hero ball with them. Hayward sets them up, they blow the shots. He is not on the floor with Tatum too much as it is either one or the other out there.

I think you are putting the blame on the wrong guy. If there is one thing wrong with his game, it is that he shares the ball too much.

I have said over and over, Tatum rebounds and unless Kyrie is on the floor, alot of times he decides he is going coast to coast, plows into whoever is under the basket, and gets called for an offensive foul. I would love to see the stats on how many offensive fouls he has committed.

There is dysfunction here, but it should be shared by all, not one. I am so disappointed in this team. I can see a few trades in the offseason, unless things turn around,
Bob you are right, the BIG CHOKE was on last night

OUCH!!!!!

Terrible game, but not the end of the world. Lots of tough games left to bounce back in to be sure to be ready for the playoffs. This season has been frustrating for players, coaches and fans, but it is not over yet.

CAN ONE PERSON HAVE CAUSED SO MUCH TENSION ON THREE TEAMS?????????????????????

This Anthony Davis fiasco has put more guys on edge on the Pelicans, the Lakers (although they didn't look it the other night, but just read all the crap coming out of LA regularly, and, our Celtics. Everyone sitting on the edge of a cliff, not knowing what the hell is going on.
This has something to do with bad vibes on this team

cowens/oldschool wrote:Morris should have just shut the fuck up, he’s not that good, 2 J’s obviously had a bad game, Hayward scored a quiet bunch of points, giving him minutes despite how he plays effects the team. Smart been missing last 2 games and Kyrie got hurt and Baynes still out. Inconsistent young team blows a big lead with injured superstar, okay it happened, the world will go on tomorrow.....Morris should have shut the fuck up.

With all due respect, Morris is right and someone needs to say it. It’s obvious at least to me that what he is saying is true. If we’re talking about just this one game than I can see your points. Blowing leads and getting our asses kicked by teams that are not remotely close to having the talent that we have has been happening On a regular this season. Certain players are playing ME ball and most of them are the younger players. The team has no real leader. Smart tends to lead more by example. Kyrie is not a leader and Horford is too damn quiet. Morris being “not that good” is irrelevant. I happen to think hes pretty damn good and has been overall pretty damn consistent. Even if it true that hes not that good, The things he was pointing out have little to do with talent and skill. He was speaking in terms of attitude and hustle amongst his teammates.
I sincerely want to know why (other than hes not that good) you feel he needs to keep his mouth shut.

Was this loss really about certain players just having bad games? Not hardly. This was more about attitude and effort. Bet if Brad had cleared the bench at the start of the third and let some of the ‘2nd and 3rd stringers play it out, we would’ve won.
This team has attitude problems and I could be wrong but from my viewpoint the ones that need to check their “tude” before they come to play are Rozier, Tatum, Brown and Kyrie. Funny, they’re the ones with the most talent! Who da thunk it???

RosalieTCeltics wrote:Cow..I do not get what you are saying about Hayward.
The guy is out there doing what is expected of him. Rebounds, shares the ball, and last night scored 19 points.  
Watch the game when he is out there with the young guys. They do NOT share that ball, it is all hero ball with them. Hayward sets them up, they blow the shots. He is not on the floor with Tatum too much as it is either one or the other out there.  

I think you are putting the blame on the wrong guy. If there is one thing wrong with his game, it is that he shares the ball too much.  

I have said over and over, Tatum rebounds and unless Kyrie is on the floor, alot of times he decides he is going coast to coast, plows into whoever is under the basket, and gets called for an offensive foul. I would love to see the stats on how many offensive fouls he has committed.

There is dysfunction here, but it should be shared by all, not one.  I am so disappointed in this team. I can see a few trades in the offseason, unless things turn around,
Bob you are right, the BIG CHOKE was on last night

Rosie did you see the big steal on Hayward in 4th when he tried a move and got stripped of the ball that clinched the game? I root for GH and did not mean to blame him for the whole loss, but forcing a role for him this season for the most part has had mixed results on the overall success of the team.

With all due respect, you think Rondo didn’t go at it with the Big 3 sometimes? Players are going to clash, what shouldn’t be done is complain to the media IMHO. This was a stronger statement than any I can remember during the Pierce-KG years, should have been kept in house.

i agree Cow. That 2007-2008 team was a team of some of hottest heads around!!! They argued with Rondo all the time, and look at the relationship Doc had with him, they argued all the time. In house. No one could stand up to KG though, and that is the issue. I believe Kyrie feels he is not a babysitter, and it is getting to him. That is why I feel more than one of these guys will be gone next year, not counting Morris, because he is definitely walkingl.

Not that I want to trade him or dislike him, but last 2 games Kyrie wasn’t his usual lights out self, dazzling Kyrie. He had a bad game vs Lakers and against Clips didn’t play after 2nd quarter because of his injury, if Kyrie is Kyrie, we win last 2 games and it would have masked the problems....

wideclyde wrote:OUCH!!!!!

Terrible game, but not the end of the world.  Lots of tough games left to bounce back in to be sure to be ready for the playoffs.  This season has been frustrating for players, coaches and fans, but it is not over yet.

Wideclyde with the voice of reason in the darkness of the wilderness.  A game like this may serve to help the team play better.  This offense works best when the ball keeps moving.  We got one player on this team that can get his shot anytime he wants.  Everyone else is most efficient when they move the ball in search of a better shot opportunity.    Jacking up the first available 3 point shot is not beneficial.  

A lack of effort on the defensive end is inexcusable.  

All of these things fall right in the coaches lap.  It is his job to get his team to execute his schemes at both ends.  It is his job to call time outs so that a 28 point lead does not disappear in a blink of the eye.  It is his job to sit a guy down if they continually miss defensive assignments and play too much ISO ball.  It is his job to identify matchup issues and move quickly to reverse a bad matchup situation.  

This loss falls squarely on the shoulders of coach Stevens.  Let him spend less time dolling out rotation minutes to the exact second and minute and more time demanding excellence from the team.  

I do not like Marcus Morris and never did and never will.  He has shot the ball well all year and has been very consistent in doing that but his leadership antics leaves much to be desired.  When your team is down the message needs to be more positive.  Post-game comments in the midst of 2 real tough losses should be tempered and not divisive.  Let he who did not take a bad shot be the first to throw the first stone.  Let he who did not miss a defensive rotation cast the first stone.  Mr Morris Sr took bad shots last night and please tell me who the f was he checking?

Coach Stevens needs to assert himself before he losses this team.

In comparison to the 2008 team, I don't fear this team. The 2008 team, even as a fan, I feared them. This team does not have the "now since I have my foot on your throat, I'm going to snap your neck," attitude.

I can't remember which game it was in the finals of 2008, but it was one of the 3 LAL games, probably game 4 and we got down by 23 points. We came back and won that game and of course the series.

I hate to type this but if this continues to the next game on Tuesday, PHI will seal our fate and we will be resigned to winning the championship from 5th place in the East.

I can't believe Danny is feeling very good about making no changes. We'll see. Afraid to watch Tuesday's game.

PO'ed in Raleigh,

db