Lessons from Celtics-76ers: what are we even doing?

What are we even doing?

It’s by no means enjoyable to lose a basketball sport, however it’s even much less enjoyable when that sport leaves you questioning what the heck the Celtics had been even attempting to do with their lives…

…and that’s about so far as I obtained. I began writing the intro to this text with slightly below two minutes left within the fourth quarter, with the Celtics down 14 and with a 99.8 p.c probability of dropping in keeping with ESPN Analytics. Usually, when one of many groups has lower than half a p.c probability of victory, I really feel wonderful beginning a column.

However the Celtics will need to have taken offense to my actions, as a result of they stormed again, chopping the result in three and had an opportunity to power additional time on a Kristaps Porzingis last-second miss. I nearly deleted that intro, however then the Celtics misplaced anyway.

And since I watched all the sport, which for 46 minutes consisted of somewhat-sketchy to downright uninspired Celtics basketball, I refuse to overreact to a two-minute stretch of glory. Sure, the Celtics started making open pictures, operating in transition, and enjoying actually-good protection that noticed a 90-second, 13-2 run almost get rid of a complete sport of lameness.

As a result of apart from that run, a lot of the sport begged the query I got here up with on the two-minute mark: what are we even doing? That’s a reasonably broad query, so I’m going to interrupt it down into some subsidiary what-are-we-even-doings, earlier than tying it up with a tragic, dejected bow.

Picture by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Photographs

1. What was Jayson Tatum even doing?

In a rivalry sport—and sure, Celtics-76ers is a real rivalry—it’s plainly unacceptable to mail in a pedestrian 16 factors instantly after being named Jap Convention Participant of the Week. Tatum was unable to say his will on offense, typically spinning into double groups or discovering ending angles clogged by the ever-present arms of Joel Embiid.

Tatum additionally dusted off by far the worst transfer in his bag: the throw-your-hands-in-the-air-in-disbelief-that-you-didn’t-just-get-a-call. He typically turns to complaining about officiating when he’s pissed off offensively, however that simply compounds the issue. Every time I see Tatum’s arms within the air, I do know it received’t be a straightforward sport.

The 76ers additionally employed a zone protection, forcing him to surrender the ball to open shooters who had been struggling to hit the broadside of a French bakery all evening. 76ers coach Nick Nurse additionally presumably employed a zone to forestall Tatum from isolating smaller defenders and obliterating them from the triple menace. That’s been his calling card all season, and it was robust to seek out an alternate rhythm.

Picture by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Photographs

2. What was Jaylen Brown even doing?

Brown was an enormous a part of that late run, however that’s nearly all that salvaged a very abysmal evening. He regarded misplaced everywhere in the courtroom, launching brick after brick and never making fast sufficient selections with and off the ball or on protection. He was routinely uncovered by Tyrese Maxey, who dominated the second half with relentless offensive conviction.

As I’ve mentioned many occasions, Brown’s weaknesses aren’t essentially that a lot worse than these of different comparable stars, however the way in which he makes errors is so visually unappealing that it feels ten occasions worse than it really is. Exhibit A:

Within the fourth quarter, Jaylen discovered himself dribbling the ball throughout midcourt, staring aimlessly at Derrick White, who was filling the lane to his left. It was fairly apparent one thing was about to go mistaken, as a result of Brown’s eyes had been glazed over, unable or unwilling to be decisive crossing half courtroom. And wouldn’t you recognize it, he misplaced the ball, giving up a vital fast-break bucket.

Possibly it wasn’t as unhealthy because it regarded, however… it regarded actually unhealthy. I assume optics make feelings, and let’s simply say I wasn’t vibing with Jaylen’s play final evening.

Picture by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Photographs

3. What is Payton Pritchard even doing?

With how the Celtics’ offseason panned out, the four-year, $30 million deal that Pritchard inked felt completely defensible. The Celtics traded their third guard to construct the super-ultra-mega backcourt of Jrue Vacation and Derrick White, so locking down Pritchard felt like a stable thought.

However perhaps there was a purpose Pritchard was unplayable final yr, as a result of man is he struggling. Since smoking the Pacers like a rack of spare ribs, Pritchard has unironically shot 0-11 from the sector, scoring zero factors complete within the final three video games.

That can’t proceed. A lot has been made from the Celtics’ elite beginning lineup, however holy mackerel has the bench been inconsistent. Sam Hauser—together with some Oshae Brissett flashes—has been serviceable, taking some strain off Tatum and Brown as a backup wing, however Pritchard and Luke Kornet have been fully unplayable.

Each minute both man has been on the courtroom because the Pacers sport, it appears like nothing productive goes to occur. I don’t anticipate so much out of Luke Kornet, and the Celtics have some flexibility with bigs and small lineups. However Pritchard has to get it collectively, in any other case the Celtics must look elsewhere for depth.

4. Lastly, what are we even going to do?

I watch sufficient sports activities to know what occurs when a staff begins out scorching, beating up on inferior groups after which dropping a pair to precise contenders. Within the subsequent few days, varied members of the media will name the Celtics “frauds.”

I simply need everybody to arrange themselves for that. “Frauds” is a very detrimental factor to name any person, however it’s price questioning how the Celtics will deal with nice gamers on the opposite facet of the ball, now having struggled in back-to-back contests in opposition to Anthony Edwards and the Embiid-Maxey combo meal.

For now, it’s onto Brooklyn to begin out the In-Season Event on Friday. Hopefully, I’ll no less than have an thought of what we’re even doing by then.