In the wilds of Boston, the Celtics have gone from predator to prey in a single season. Last year, even with a slew of injuries, the Celtics were the talk of the NBA for the grit the team displayed and their against-all-odds record. Other teams feared them. Not any more.
Boston's recent 3-game losing streak told us a lot. The Celtics couldn't handle the Jazz (14 in West), Hornets (7th in East) or Knicks (12th in East), They trounced the 3-16, last-in-East Hawks and then lost to the Mavericks (11th in West).
I had previously written that the Celtics needed to figure this all out prior to the 25-30 game mark of the season. They have played 20 games thus far and have a 10-10 record - when most analysts would have projected them to be in the vicinity of 14-6.
Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier are struggling mightily. Gordon Hayward is steadily working his way back to 100%. But something else is vitally wrong with this team as it is currently constructed and employed. If Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens still see an even, 50-percent-win record through 30 games, expect to see some trade action. Marcus Smart is right. No one fears the Celtics right now, and rival teams seem to lie in wait to pounce on a team that just seems vulnerable. That is what predators look for in their prey. The tweet/video below is what we should be viewing from our Celtics as they pounce on their prey.
Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC, @CelticsSentinel and Facebook
Photo via Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images.
Boston's recent 3-game losing streak told us a lot. The Celtics couldn't handle the Jazz (14 in West), Hornets (7th in East) or Knicks (12th in East), They trounced the 3-16, last-in-East Hawks and then lost to the Mavericks (11th in West).
Marcus Smart on what’s ailing the Celtics:
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) November 25, 2018
"Lack of fear. Like, we don’t impose our fear and will on other teams. Last year, teams when they came in and played the Celtics, they knew they were in for a fight. This year, teams can’t wait to play us. And that’s a problem."
I had previously written that the Celtics needed to figure this all out prior to the 25-30 game mark of the season. They have played 20 games thus far and have a 10-10 record - when most analysts would have projected them to be in the vicinity of 14-6.
Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier are struggling mightily. Gordon Hayward is steadily working his way back to 100%. But something else is vitally wrong with this team as it is currently constructed and employed. If Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens still see an even, 50-percent-win record through 30 games, expect to see some trade action. Marcus Smart is right. No one fears the Celtics right now, and rival teams seem to lie in wait to pounce on a team that just seems vulnerable. That is what predators look for in their prey. The tweet/video below is what we should be viewing from our Celtics as they pounce on their prey.
Marcus Smart's a legend. #Celtics pic.twitter.com/KbZsE5D9q0
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) November 24, 2018
Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC, @CelticsSentinel and Facebook
Photo via Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images.
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