After finishing 2 wins away from an NBA championship last season, the Boston Celtics came out of the gate lighting the world on fire, starting 21-5, the Celtics had the best record in the league, the best net-rating in the league, and one of the greatest offensive ratings of all time. However, recently Boston has slipped. Over the last six games the Celtics have gone 1-5 and have the worst offensive rating in the league over those six games. It has been a frustrating week and a half for the Celtics, should there be any panic?
On Wednesday December 7th, the Celtics went to Phoenix and bullied the Suns, beating them 125-98, leading by 45 at one point in the game. Since that point, the Celtics have gone just 1-5, with blowout losses in San Francisco to the Warriors, Los Angeles to the Clippers, 2 losses at home to the Magic, and a loss at home to the Pacers, trailing the Indiana game by 30 at one point. The huge problem is the 3 point shooting has tanked, shooting 29.1% over the last 6 games. That should improve, their shooting is too good. Players like Malcolm Brogdon, Grant Williams, and Sam Hauser, you would assume, start hitting their 3 pointers again and Boston’s offense should go back to near the top of the league. The ball movement has also tanked for Boston over the last few weeks, the passing has not been as crisp as it was at the start of the season. Even though their assist percentage has stayed relatively the same during the last 6 game stretch, the Celtics do not seem to be moving the ball as well as they had been and that is also a reason the 3 pointers have probably tanked. There are signs that tell us the Celtics will be okay, and are still one of the best teams in the NBA.
The Celtics defense has been better over the last couple of games and is starting to look like an elite defense. Over the last 10 games, Boston’s defense has improved and they are 4th in the league in defensive rating over that stretch. This can be attributed to the return of Robert Williams III. Yes, Boston has yet to win since Rob returned but he is arguably the team's best defensive player (alongside last season’s Defensive Player of Year Marcus Smart). Williams’ rim protection gives Boston an element they haven’t had for the first quarter of the season. The frontcourt of Williams along with Al Horford, gives the Celtics one of the elite frontcourts in the sport and should give them one of the best defensive units in the sport. Boston has yet to start the 5 man unit of Marcus Smart-Jaylen Brown-Jayson Tatum-Al Horford-Rob Williams yet this season but last season they were the best 5 man unit in the NBA which is a positive for the Celtics.
Trade season is here and the Celtics have been active the past 2 trade deadlines acquiring Evan Fournier while sending Daniel Theis out the door in 2021, it did not change the season in any way and they were eliminated in the first round. Last season, in his first as head of basketball operations, Brad Stevens made a bold trade acquiring Derrick White from the Spurs in exchange for Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, a 2022 first round pick (turned into Blake Wesley), and a 2028 pick swap (the team also re-acquired Theis). The White trade worked, as he played a huge part in the Celtics run to the NBA Finals. I don’t think Boston will play a big factor in the trade market this season, as they already traded their first round pick this season for Malcolm Brogdon, I could see a small move for the Celts but nothing huge like Derrick White was last season.
The Boston Celtics have spiraled over the last 6 games but I do not think there is any need to panic, this is still a really good basketball team. Jayson Tatum scored 41 points on Wednesday night and while the first half was dreadful, they gave a comeback a run in the second half. The offense has gone down the drain and it is because of all the missed 3 pointers. They need to find other ways to score the basketball, like driving the ball and scoring inside the paint. I believe the Celtics will be fine and should still be considered one of the favorites to win the title.
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