The Celtics are down. What’s going on? Tatum is responsible
A team that finished runner-up last season and was top of the Eastern Conference heading into the All-Star break in a bid to recapture the title has fallen to the point where it can’t even play since losing first place in the division. Yesterday’s loss to the Rockets was surprising, and Tatum’s last drive was so close. What’s wrong with this Celtics team?
After Tatum missed a simple layup yesterday, it was impossible for the Celtics and Rockets to make it to the final possession, let alone lose it. The rocket escaped into the sky. “Man, Tatum played so badly in Houston, he missed 2 of 10 3-pointers and a tying layup. The Celtics lost again, this time to the Rockets. I can’t remember the last time a good team has had so many bad losses.”
Tatum also took responsibility after the game: “I take responsibility for that. I didn’t start the game at my best and that affected the team in a way. So energy-wise, I should have started better.”
With the loss, the Celtics have lost five of eight, including three in a row, to slip out of first place in the Eastern Conference and feel the threat of the Sixers. So what’s wrong with the Celtics, and why are they so depressed?
Tatum is crucial to how well the Celtics play. Tatum has played in seven of those eight games, averaging 29 points, 10.3 rebounds and six assists while shooting 46.2 percent overall and 32.9 percent from three-point range. That’s down from the season average in everything except rebounding and total shooting.
There were three games in which he played particularly poorly. He scored 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting and 1-of-9 from 3-point range against the Knicks. In Game 2, against the Nets, he scored 22 points on 10-for-23 shooting and 0 for 7 from 3-point range. Game 3 was yesterday against Houston, where he made 8 of 22 shots, 2 of 10 from 3-point range and scored 22 more points. The Celtics have lost all three.
In the past, we’ve marveled at the consistency of the Green Corps and its ability to cover up mistakes, dragging the team along in games where Tatum doesn’t play well, and then finally waiting for a big shot from Tatum when it counts. But these days even this has become an extravagant hope. The other team either doesn’t give you that chance, or Tatum is no longer able to save the team.
Tatum’s globulization trend has deepened this season. He’s taking 23.4 percent of his shots from three feet under the basket, which has improved over the last three seasons and is on pace to match the level of his first three seasons. The percentage of three-point attempts is at a career high of 44 percent, and the percentage of three-point attempts is becoming heavier season after season. The obsession with the three-point instead of the mid-range allows opposing defenses to respond, and by putting a speedy defender behind Tatum from beyond the arc, Tatum’s power is reduced.
Even when pushed into overtime, the Green Army often failed to overcome the opposition. The Celtics are 4-7 this season after 11 games were sent to overtime. The 3 – overtime loss to the Cavaliers was even more confusing. When the game is on the line, the Green players still shoot the three-point shot recklessly. And this gets tangled up with the following question.
Celtic inner line is also in trouble, a period of time ago rumors to take Pelter, but suffering from insufficient chips, can only watch Pelter return to the Raptors to save the emergency. Peltl did not come, the Green Army inside the back of the problem, Robert Williams last 5 game injury, the latest news indicates that the next will not return. The absence of Lowe, the interior rebounding problem is highlighted. Late in games, the Celtics often played only one post in Horford, and Horford couldn’t play two roles. By the time the perimeter attack draws Horford in, the Celtics have a vacuum inside, no one to fill (Cornett and Griffin can’t help), and the rebounding court is open city.
The Celtics made it to the Finals last season and lost, giving people a lot of excitement and a lot of respect for the Celtics. This season, the Celtics added Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari and were expected to add insurance to the offense. As a result, Danilo Gallinari went to bed without playing a game, but the Celtics were still favored in that situation, especially after Tatum rose to MVP status early in the season and the Celtics clinched first place in the East with two nine-game wins. The media at the time were constantly calculating the Celtics’ chances of winning an 18th title.
However, the recent 5-8 loss of the Celtics fans have been somewhat discouraged, even called the Celtics, but it doesn’t have to be. As Smart put it: “I’d rather be struggling now than later. I’d rather it happen now than in the playoffs.” All the Celtics have to do is put their heads down and try to regain some of their momentum with a winning streak.
