The Celtics streak of great basketball is over. They didn’t have the same energy as they had over the past few games and it cost them against the Wizards. After the game, they chalked it up to “one of those games” but that brushes past some of the real issues, like the crappy defensive effort. John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal talks about that, how the top seed is probably no longer in play, and why this game shows how Joe Mazzulla needs to develop a better feel for the game as it’s happening.
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Locked On Celtics is a daily Boston Celtics podcast by Boston Sports Journal beat writer John Karalis. It’s an inside look at the C’s from a former professional basketball player who is at practices & games.
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36 Comments
John, we’ve been talking about this since the playoffs last season. THIS IS WHO THEY ARE. They are not an instigating team, they are a retaliatory team. Their sense of urgency only comes when they sense adversity. As soon as they feel good, they let go of the rope.
They’re not going to change. They’ll be great in every game 1 of a series. After that, if they’re up big in the 1st half they’ll come out flat in the 2nd half. If they’re up 2-1 or 3-2 they’ll come out flat the next game. They’ll blow home games that could put a series away.
They’re also the team that will win more road games than expected. They’ll play their best after a crushing defeat. They’ll charge back after taking an opponents best 1st punch..
This is the psychology of this team. 15 years working in the league studying behavior for development planning – this is who they are.
They’ve got superior talent to last year & more ball handling options. Tatum will be inconsistent offensively vs any team that takes away the paint b/c he (still) has no in-between game & can’t hit off the dribble 3’s at a high rate this year (29%)
As long as he doesn’t Hoover up 25-30 shots in those off-games BOS has the offense to overcome them & the defense to compete if 3’s aren’t falling.
They can win a title, but they’ll shoot themselves in the foot enough time that one of them may be fatal.
The NBA grind. Draymond said it is hard to get up for every game. The Celtics come across like they want the regular season to end, get the week off, and start the playoffs.
John, I so appreciate your frustration, your passion & your disgust for this non-mamba mentality!!
Tatum is mentally-weak still & would rather adore KB publicly than dig in deep privately. Tatum also resents having JB playing alongside him & playing at a high level.
Anyhow, I’m taking the Bucks game off following their lead & will NOT expose my Son tho these bullshit!
Absolutely maddening…when the deep bench came in and instantly they guarded the paint, I felt the full extent of our starters’ indifference.
Calling Brogdon a lier or the players is short sighted. JOE MAZZULIA is the problem. The first of the season they played great and everyone gave credit to Mazzulia. As the season has went on the worse the team has played. Every problem that was there before Ime has come back. This team like the warriors was on automatic "meaning good habits". The difference is Steve Kerr understood they were perfect just the way they were. Ime to win was defense now Mazzulis hole understanding is to shoot 3's. Do you really think the players don't understand Mazzulia is not the one. Jason Brown's contract is coming up. Now why would he lock himself into s a contract in his prime with a horrible coach. Brad is part of the problem. He picked the guy.
Every team needs a coach the warriors got Steve Kerr and we get Joe Mazzulia.Both teams with the same type situation, one created a dynasty and the other so far it looks shaky.
Speaking of Pritchard, Kornet, Hauser, Muscala…the STARTERS & Joe don’t give a f#ck about them. They don’t respect them as players or persons because JT & JB only give a f%ck about their stats.
I hope the JB, JT & MS ride the bench for the remainder of the regular season.
I believe it’s Jayson Tatum fault because he just brings a certain type of shook energy as the so called Franchise Team Leader when leading is not really his strong suit.. He’s a Timid Introvert with a Beta Male Heart.. Ain’t no way JT is the real leader of that team and I feel like he was exposed for a coward during that Marcus Smart scuffle with half the CAVS TEAM as JT & White both turned their backs with heads down in fear while Smart get man handled by the Opps 🤷🏽♂️and no Boston Celtics teammates that was on the court came to assist in the brawl 🙇🏽♂️… @ that point I sensed cowardly fear on many of the Celtics Players except Smart
If it was another JB Lead Team effort I bet Celtics win that game but instead so as a rested Tatum is back in the starting lineup they lose to a below average nba team when they just had a blowout game versus a similar weak team 2days before🤷🏽♂️ Now we all need to ask ourselves ⁉️🗣{WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR U } get us a win versus an average team somethin Tatum can’t do even after a full 2 days of rest JT comes back and lays a stink bomb vs Wizards win 🙎🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
If Ume were coaching do you think they would have to these lesser teams this is a who cares team, they will be lucky to get out of the first round,, Embarrising
It wasn’t just JT fault the team as a whole has been overly confident and think they will automatically win and cruise control thru games and forget defense exist and fall asleep on rebounding Joe doesn’t do a good job on getting them to lock in against mid teams he also is too dependent on lineups and swaps out hot hands just roll with it and adjust later I agree he should have put Pritchard or Hauser in to boost the team he does make bad choices that cost us
The bench came in and played defense and made a good run. This Celtics starting team has major issues. The don't play defense at all. They are just standing around and getting beat left and right. At this point, I don't have the faith in them winning. Can't win when you don't play defense and Mazzulla needs to stop being best friends with the starters. Hold them accountable!!!
They barely got through Milwaukee without Middleton and with home court advantage last playoffs. And they don't care about home court against a now healthy championship team? Bunch of frauds. Not winning a championship because of dumb loser mentality. So frustrating as a celtics fan.
The celtics team attitude Sucks
This team is just off. Brogdon just said last game they are focused on getting the 1st seed back.
And Smart and Tatum saying they aren't.
They are not a team. Just a bunch of individuals. That is a coaching problem. It should be crystal clear for everyone on the team what the goals are. Which has to be the best seed possible. Embarrassing
Jayson Tatum attitude and lack of leadership, lack of urgency, lack of good shot selection, lack of defense, has killed this team. Completely overated. He shows up once every 3 games. Nothing special at all. Just unnecessary hype by his unrealistic fans and himself
Well Jayson and Marcus are the only regulars who showed up but as usual they’re the only 2 guys that get held accountable by anybody including you media folks. Interesting Jayson is always your cover photo when the Celtics lose. You want Jaylen to be the guy then hold him to the same standard. I hope Tatum requests a trade so y’all realize how much stuff he’s been covering up. And further more John if you want to be a good journalist how about you look up the question, Tatum was asked by Bobby Manning about if playing on the road concerns him, not about seeding.
the fact that mazzula, tatum, brown and smart showing this attitude of lack of drive to win/be 1st is a big concern. tbh if brad decides he wants to blow up the team next summer, i'm all for it. there has to be a bigger care and drive for winning much like what brogdon said. i'd say everyone's on the table for being traded/fired at this point aside from brogdon. those responses were disgusting. they should be wanting to win EACH and EVERY game. they should be wanting the 1st seed. they should be wanting to go into the playoffs on a roll. this team is becoming unlikeable. making mazz the head coach post the ASB was a mistake. i cant believe i'm wishing for the trash that's udoka to come back.
and yes i though JT would get kobe's mamba mentality. he doesn't have it. he should be angry after a loss like this. the attitude was so lackadaisical. we want players who want to win in boston. not players who are ok with being 2nd place. it's sad that giannis who has already won a championship has more drive to win and improve his flaws (practicing FTs after a tough loss). I do hope JT and JB gets this mentality sooner than later.
this was another contender for the worst loss of the season. this is such a disappointing post-ASB performance by the celtics and by JT who likes he's already contented with his ASB mvp trophy. and alot of the players have their own agendas: pp wants to get traded, grant is playing for his next contract, JT wanted the mvp, JB wants all nba, mazzula wants to stick to his principles even if it's not working just to show up people. just a disaster.
"The celtics can win a game in Milwaukee." And Milwaukee won't win a game in Boston? They had home court and lost 2 home games last season. Almost lost the series. But now they got it figured out and won't even need that lol
The only way we can get top spot is if Milwaukee has a horrible losing streak and we play perfect
Thank u for speaking them bars bro💯 Why bother fight for the top spot, why bother?!?!
It's nice to see the true basketball fan come out of u💯 It shows ur love for the game!! Ur NOT wrong in any of ur evaluations!! Never have been
Na he ain’t being harsh and it’s not even about after the game, it seems like the teams always carried that mentality that’s why we don’t have a ring and the team that won 2 years ago, pushed us to 7 games without their 2nd best player and closer has a ring also know what position they want to be in to possibly win this year and they are hungry with a mature team, they def take these regular szn games serious because they went on a 16 game win streak
Honestly, I don't even watch the after game pressers when they lose because I'm so tired of the nonchalant BS. The only reason I'm even here is to support the channel. I don't really want to hear this LOL
I don’t see this many comments on the wins. Anyway, they only get up for contenders. Is what it is. In the playoffs, every game matters. I just wish they told me that they didn’t care about this game. I could’ve done something else lol
The team needs a real point guard. They need an engine to drive this team. Nobody on this team can do it. Joe Mazzulla saying they had an off night it doesn’t happen that often is hilarious. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME!! They’re soft and selfish.
I’m done honelsty. I’m sorry John this team puts me through too much.
This is not the trait of a championship team. There is something missing with thease guys. To nonchalant, to much money, involved. This coach is kinda weird.. Udoka really f— up an messed this team up. We're is the hunger.
Would you rather play Cle or Philly in rd2? I'm honestly not sure. I also like Cle against Mil. I'm not afraid to play any of them. But those lanky kids could wear Giannis down and they're definitely a match up problem for us. If Philly wants to run with us they can try. Just saying it may have been a bit like the Bucks sitting everybody last year and letting us have the 2. They know that if they're healthy they can win in Mil.
This team is gonna get bounced in the 2nd round and they deserve it… You don’t care about the #1 seed!!?!?! Do these players have amnesia??? Did they not learn from the Bucks last year?? The Bucks did the EXACT same thing last year and it cost them a game 7 in Milwaukee… Now look, the Bucks aren’t playing around this year and are trying to get that HC locked up. CELTICS ARE NOT WINNING A GAME 7 IN MILWAUKEE
This team is p¡$$¡ng away their Championship window..
I don’t think it was bad defense as much as insane shot making
#BleedGreen18
Celts don't try when playing lower level teams and have consistently
been beaten. The Celts have a chance to win the Division title and tie the LA Lakers at 33 a piece. If they don't watch the last 2 weeks of the regular season, they may be handing the Division title to Philly.
This guy is so annoying. The sky is always falling, I used to play for them, It's not that bad. Why does he have access to the facility?
My dog ate my effort is that a good excuse John
This team will win a few more games but honestly, they are not making it far this post season!