The OKC loss was a tough one to swallow for some fans. We’ve got some leftovers to chew on, and I’m not just talking about last night’s dinner.
First off, our three-point shooting. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster this season, hasn’t it? We’re sitting smack in the middle of the pack at 36.7% after being near the top last year. That’s a full two percentage points down, and over 35 games, it’s starting to look like more than just a blip.
Now, I’m not one to harp on three-point percentages every time we lose. Sometimes you just miss, right? But when you’re pumping out the volume the Celtics do, those misses add up. We’re talking about missing out on over 100 points this season already.
But here’s the thing – it’s not just about the threes. Against OKC, they abandoned “Celtics basketball” in the second half. We saw drives where guys were open in the corner, but the ball never made it there. If you’re gonna go up against three defenders, you better finish that play. I’m looking at you, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
The Physical Defense Dilemma
Now, let’s talk about OKC’s physical defense. They really got into us, and it showed. But here’s a question – is there any team that doesn’t have problems with physical defense? It’s not like there’s a squad out there saying, “Please, hit me harder!”
The Thunder set the tone, and yeah, there were probably some missed calls. But that’s basketball. When we’re at our best defensively, we’re physical too. It’s a two-way street.
The Fatigue Factor
I hate to bring it up, but it was our third game in four nights. By the fourth quarter, when OKC cranked up the intensity, we weren’t fighting for our spacing like we usually do. Tired legs? Maybe. It’s not an excuse, but it’s a factor.
Look, if this was the NBA Finals, we’d have had two days off before this game. Maybe then we get to our spacing in the fourth quarter, and some of those drives actually work. And let’s be real, how often are you gonna see Jaylen, Jrue, Derrick, Payton, and Sam Hauser all go scoreless in a half?
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Celtics’ performance against OKC, tune into the Locked On Celtics podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Celtics Podcast:
• The impact of Kristaps Porzingis’ absence on team dynamics
• Joe Mazzulla’s coaching decisions in crunch time
• The importance of maintaining confidence in shooters during slumps
