The Boston Celtics took a tough loss against the Orlando Magic last night, and it’s a game that’ll stick in my craw for a bit. Despite the Magic missing key players like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, they managed to outmuscle and outplay us, especially in that brutal third quarter.
Let’s be real - this game was all about physicality. Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown couldn’t stop talking about it post-game, and for good reason. The Magic came out swinging, literally and figuratively, and we just couldn’t match their intensity.
Now, I’m not one to harp on officiating, but this game was called loose. Very loose. If you were expecting a whistle every time you drove to the hoop, you were in for a rude awakening. The refs let ‘em play, and Orlando took full advantage.
Our shooting woes didn’t help either. We went ice-cold from beyond the arc, hitting just 8 of 32 threes. That’s a recipe for disaster against a team that’s hungry to prove themselves against the champs.
The first quarter was a thing of beauty, though. Jaylen Brown was absolutely cooking, dropping 15 points and controlling the game like a maestro. Our defense was swarming, and it looked like we might cruise to an easy win.
But then came the third quarter, and everything fell apart. We got sloppy with the ball, turning it over seven times for 14 Magic points. Our offense stagnated, and we fell into the trap of over-dribbling and forcing bad passes.
Credit where it’s due - Orlando’s coach Jamahl Moseley had his guys fired up. They played like it was Game 7 of the Finals, while we looked like we were already thinking about Christmas dinner.
For more insights and a deeper dive into this game, tune into the Locked On Celtics podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Celtics Podcast:
• Al Horford’s controversial late-game three-pointer
• The impact of Jason Tatum’s absence
• Standout performances from Orlando’s role players
