Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
The Boston Celtics need to start tuning up their engine before it’s too late.
In Wednesday’s 93-83 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Avery Bradley returned and there were flashes of brilliance displayed on the Red Auerbach Parquet floor, but Doc Rivers’ team couldn’t hold their own throughout the whole game against one of the NBA’s top defensive teams.
In analyzing the Celtics over the course of their four-game skid, there are multiple hiccups in their giddy ups when it comes down to chemistry, defensive rotations, and the flow in their offense.
Celtics need to start grooving and gelling:
Currently, there is no cohesiveness with the Celtics. It seems as though they are all individuals trying to work on their own game for their own good, not for the team’s.
Photo by Jim Davis/Boston Globe
In word’s of Kevin Garnett “this is where all the plastic people melt.” The “Big Ticket” made a presence in letting his words do the talking. Garnett shows true leadership and grit as a veteran who has passion for the game of basketball.
He is right though. If you want to survive with Garnett and company, there must be a sense of urgency and a relentless action to start coming out of games victorious instead of not showing up.
With all that being said, every player on that team should be angry. There is no reason to lose to the Sacramento Kings by 22 points with the talent that Doc River’s puts on the hardwood night in and night out.
Avery Bradley is back…slight change:
As if Avery Bradley didn’t have enough weight on his shoulders already, he has to help and ride the defensive mindset for the Celtics due to relevant complications in ways of defending the basket.
Photo by AP
I thought Bradley took a lot of criticism for his performance last night–he should have not. Besides Paul Pierce’s outstanding shooting performance (4-8 from the three-point line), Bradley was really the only spotlight for the green team in the loss.
The former Texas Longhorn isn’t done. He has more left to show, but he needs his fellow teammates to rub off and understand his defensive tactics as well as offensive details like his footwork in cutting to the hoop.
Coming into the season, I thought Avery Bradley’s return was going to have a side story type of role. Now, it’s like he is the savior for the Boston Celtics, which is a downgrade from their 2013 expectations.
Offense is stagnant in all facets:
The Celtics, three games under .500 (14-17), are struggling immensely putting the ball in the tin. As easy as it looks, Boston is showing how difficult it is as they are ranked 18th in the NBA with 95.5 points per game.
Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
In years past, the Celtics had the luck from Red Auerbach’s tip-ins. This year, Auerbach is placing a cover on the bucket. They just simply can’t buy a hoop. As Doc Rivers has always stated (sounds like a broken record) “it’s a make or miss league.” While that is true, Boston’s problem is getting the ball over half court with less than 20 seconds to run their offense.
Boston’s offense is horrific. It’s basically watching Rajon Rondo taking his time dribbling up the floor, passing it to one of the power forwards at the elbow, and then right back to Rondo where 10 seconds sits on the clock. And then, this is the best part, he hoists up 25-foot jump shot.
Seems to be that stagnant. There are times where the Celtics display great basketball on the offensive side having every player touch the ball, but then there is the common theme of the good ol’ one on one game.
Specifically, Jeff Green and Jason Terry are trying to make too many shots on their own. In result, there is not enough ball distribution. The blame in that aspect is on Boston’s general leaving less than five seconds left on the shot clock.
Boston will look seal the deal on their losing woes against another top defensive competitor in the Indiana Pacers on Friday at 8 p.m.
