Boston Celtics Need Extreme Wakeup Call After Game 2 Loss to Bulls

The Boston Celtics have only proved that they are not worthy of the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference following a Game 2 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

If there was ever a time Brad Stevens could prove how good a coach he is, the time is now. Following an embarrassing Game 2 loss to the Chicago Bulls, the Boston Celtics young head coach must find a way to rejuvenate his team.

Granted, the grief All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas is going through following the death of his sister has had an impact on the team, but following down 0-2 to the No. 8 seed Bulls is unacceptable.

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But then again, it is the Bulls who have the playoff experience and players like Rajon Rondo, Dwayne Wade and Jimmy Butler playing the inspired ball the Celtics are struggling to find so far in these playoffs.

In Tuesday night’s 111-97 loss, the team just looked outplayed following a quick 7-0 lead to start the game. Bullied once again on the boards and carved up by Rondo, Stevens must find a trigger to get this team playing the type of basketball.

Celtics must find their way

It may take a lineup change, but the Celtics need to play quicker defense and find patience on the offensive side of the ball. Those to factors contributed greatly to the Game 2 loss.

"“A lot of times in transition, I think we’re just trying to get, down 10, trying to get the game back in one play,” Stevens said following the game, via the Boston Herald. “I felt like that in the first half. But I think obviously we’re going to have to play more purposeful offense that will help our defense. And then the defensive rebounding’s an issue.”"

While the team has focused on stopping the stars like Butler and Wade, players like Robin Lopez (18 points), Paul Zipser and Bobby Portis have been the players to really hurt the Celtics. That type of play from supporting players is what the Celtics will need to climb back into this series and play like the higher seed.

Who steps up?

With Thomas dealing emotionally with the tragic loss of his sister, veterans like Avery Bradley and Al Horford need to find ways to impact the game on both ends of the court.

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As far as the bench goes, Brad Stevens may have to see what Gerald Green can give them offensively and go to bigger lineups to counter the play of Portis and Lopez. That may mean more Tyler Zeller and Horford on the floor at the same time. Whatever the answer is, Stevens must find it before Game 3. More importantly, the Boston Celtics as a team can’t give up and must find cohesion. As Bradley told reporters following the game, they can’t continue this series with their heads down.

"“I looked around and a few times in the game guys were putting their heads down, I think getting down on themselves,” Bradley said. “But as a team we have to stay together. The other team is looking at that. They’re using that as motivation for themselves. I could even hear (Rajon) rondo like, ‘Yeah, they gave up. They gave up.’ But you never can let a team see that. You have to continue to be positive and go out there and play hard no matter what the outcome is.”"

Suddenly, a Boston Celtics team not known for giving up in any game have to find a way to claw back in a seven game series they have yet to show up in both physically and emotionally.

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