Hey Celtics fans, it’s John Karalis here. Let’s talk about our recent two-game losing streak - the first of the season. I’ve been hearing a lot of chatter, and I want to break down both sides of the argument.
First, the pessimist’s view. We’ve already lost five games at home this season, compared to just four all of last year. That’s not great. Our three-point shooting, once a strength, has become average at best. In December, we’re shooting a below-average 34% from beyond the arc.
Jaylen Brown hit the nail on the head after the Philly game when he said we came out too casual. This casual approach is bleeding into our effort, our shooting, and our defense. Speaking of defense, it’s been noticeably worse lately, especially now that our hot shooting isn’t masking the issues.
But let’s flip the script and look at the optimist’s view. Sure, we’ve lost five at home, but we’re still 11-5 at the TD Garden. More impressively, we’re 11-3 on the road - tied for the most road wins in the NBA. When you look at the big picture, we’re only a game and a half off last year’s pace. Win our next two against the Pacers, and we’re right back on track for another 60-win season.
As for the defense, let’s not forget we’ve been without Porzingis for a good chunk of the season. Even with our “bad” defense, we’re still top 10 in the league. Jrue Holiday and Al Horford are easing into the season, and let’s be real - do we really want them going all-out in December?
Here’s my take: Are there concerns? Sure. We don’t want to build bad habits that are hard to break later. Jaylen’s shooting percentages are a bit worrying. But it’s only December, folks. We’re 22-8, winning 73% of our games. That’s a recipe for a top-three finish in the East.
Last season, everything went right for us. This year, we’re facing a few more bumps in the road. But I’m still 75% optimistic. The Celtics are still really good, and I have zero doubt they’ll be where they need to be when it matters most.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Celtics’ recent performance, tune into the Locked On Celtics podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Celtics Podcast:
• The impact of Payton Pritchard’s shooting slump
• Joe Mazzulla’s offensive approach and its long-term benefits
• The importance of building good habits for playoff success
