The Boston Celtics just suffered their worst loss of the season, and I’m struggling to find any silver linings. This 110-97 defeat against the Toronto Raptors was as bad as it gets. The defense was atrocious, the offense was stagnant, and the overall effort was non-existent.
I’ve been pretty even-keeled about the Celtics’ recent struggles, but this one felt different. It wasn’t just me – other writers and analysts shared the same sentiment. This loss stings more than the others.
What made it so awful? For starters, the defense was hot garbage. The Raptors ran simple pick-and-rolls, and the Celtics looked lost. Easy runs to the basket, wide-open shots, and 60 points in the paint for Toronto. The lack of effort was evident in the way players chased over screens with lazy, looping movements instead of planting and pivoting.
Offensively, it wasn’t much better. The non-Jayson Tatum minutes were brutal, especially in the second quarter. There was a lot of standing around, waiting for matchups, and slow, predictable pick-and-roll actions. This is not Celtics basketball. Where was the quick decision-making and ball movement we’ve come to expect?
Jaylen Brown had his worst game in recent memory. He looked slow, unfocused, and made poor decisions with the ball. His 4-of-16 shooting night was painful to watch. I’m actually concerned there might be something going on in his personal life because this performance was so uncharacteristic.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t want to call it a lack of effort after the game, instead citing a lack of attention to detail. But at this point, I think he needs to be more direct with his criticism. The team needs a wake-up call.
Despite my frustration, I still believe this team can win a championship. But they need to snap out of this funk quickly. The upcoming games against Orlando and Atlanta are now crucial. We need to see a response and a return to Celtics basketball.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Celtics’ struggles, tune into the Locked On Celtics podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Celtics Podcast:
• Kristaps Porzingis’ postgame comments
• Payton Pritchard’s strong performance off the bench
• Derrick White’s ongoing shooting slump
