The Boston Celtics continued their street journey with a cease in Oklahoma Metropolis to tackle the Thunder. After a irritating offensive efficiency in opposition to Denver on Sunday, Boston wanted to get their groove again. Shortly earlier than the sport, OKC introduced that star Shai guard Gilgeous-Alexander was out for the evening (non-COVID sickness).
In a recreation the place the Celtics ought to have gained handily, they appeared unprepared to deal with the Thunder and had been flat out outhustled and outplayed as OKC ran away with a 150-117 win on Tuesday evening. It was one of many worst losses in Celtics franchise historical past, and with out query one of the vital disheartening video games this season. From a viewer’s perspective, it appeared just like the Celtics weren’t bringing their finest effort, and it made all of the distinction in opposition to a younger and hungry Thunder group.
“We bought our a** kicked, that’s what occurred,” stated star Jaylen Brown after the sport. “You come out, you are taking it as a right, and that’s what occurs. We most likely had it coming to us. We got here out the final couple of video games, we decide and select once we wish to play, and we weren’t linked. Didn’t have one another’s again on the market, no assist facet protection, we didn’t guard our yard. These younger boys over there got here out and so they made us look dangerous and so they embarrassed us. They kicked our a**, that’s what occurred.”
Boston has been in a tough patch going way back to their loss to Golden State in December. After barreling by way of groups for the start of the season, it appeared that the Warriors gave the blueprint on learn how to beat the Celtics; as quickly as there was regression from three level vary by a lot of the roster, Boston couldn’t shoot themselves out of conditions. The group’s losses to OKC and Denver spotlight the necessity for the group to play tougher on the defensive finish to make issues simpler on offense, which is the method that bought them to the NBA Finals final yr.
“You reply, you’re not purported to let that occur,” stated Brown on groups making an attempt to come back out and embarrass the Celtics. “No matter meaning, no matter you’ve bought to do, you possibly can’t let that occur. It simply appeared like for no matter purpose in the present day, we let go of the rope fully, which I haven’t seen from our group in a protracted very long time. So, no matter we’ve bought to do to determine it out, to get again on observe, let’s get all again on board. However I haven’t seen us let go of the rope like that, so in a way, it’s opportunistic. It’s an ideal time to reply. I believe that one thing like that, we had coming to us. We’ll see how the following recreation goes.”
Whereas Boston’s efficiency is regarding, the management of Brown and Tatum has proven by way of throughout these robust stretches. There’s a stage of possession from the star duo we hadn’t seen till later final season, and a want to determine issues out by any means mandatory. When it got here all the way down to why they misplaced, Brown hadn’t hesitated to talk his thoughts to carry himself and the group accountable.
“It’s only a maturity mindset factor,” stated Brown on the group’s loss. “You possibly can’t come out and count on groups to only give it to you, and we’ve been saying ‘You’ve bought to count on group’s finest shot’, after all. In order that’s precisely what’s occurring, groups are popping out, they’re prepared. they’re amped to play, and we’re pondering we’re simply gonna stroll out and simply determine it out down the road from A to Z. It simply appeared like from the highest of our roster to the underside of our roster, everyone was dangerous. It wasn’t similar to a few of us, it simply appeared like everyone was off tonight. However excellent time to all the time get again on observe, watch the movie, get again to feeling good about ourselves, and are available out and play exhausting in opposition to Dallas.”
The Celtics will tackle Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday evening on the street, 7:30PM EST tipoff.
