Boston Celtics: Kyrie Irving’s cold hand highlights loss in Toronto

The Boston Celtics lost their third consecutive game on Tuesday night to the Raptors following a poor notable 2nd quarter effort.

Here we are again.  The Boston Celtics fell 118-95 in one of the most anticipated games of the season for the team in green.

Typically, these Celtics anger disposal blogs come following an unnecessary loss to teams like Chicago, Charlotte, or pretty much any other non playoff contender barely hovering above the .500 mark or playing for a draft selection position come June. However that wasn’t the case last night for the Boston Celtics when they took on the Raptors in Toronto on Tuesday night.

Now this loss raises question to Boston’s integrity or lack thereof failing to show up against teams that matter. Are we witnessing the C’s karma of failing to perform against lower tier competition catch up to them?

More from Chowder and Champions

• 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
• 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
• MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
• 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
• Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win

Perhaps this was the case for the Celtics last night who’ve been riding a now three-game loss skit since their aching one-point loss against the Milwaukee Bucks following the NBA All-Star Break.

Since then, the Celtics’ defense has taken a turn for the very worst. Throughout the 61 games played by this 2018-19 Boston Celtics, the green have held opponents to 107 points per game which is seventh in the league.

However, ever since the All-Star Break, opponents are scoring 114 points a night against Boston- and it doesn’t end there. The Celtics on average hold opponents to 34.3 percent shooting from three-point territory, but last night Toronto had other plans for the struggling C’s.

The Raptors had themselves a night. A Toronto team that knocks down 11.7 outside shots a night, caught fire and connected on 17 of their 36 from beyond the arc. That’s 47 percent which is major considering the Celtics this season hold their opponents to 34.3 percent.

Boston didn’t do themselves any favors, putting together one of the ugliest 2nd quarter offensive shooting effort we may have seen from this team all season long. In the 2nd, the Celtics shot 4/15 (26.7 percent ) while scoring only 13 points to the Raptors 36. Pretty one sided to say the least.

Kyrie’s off night

Aside from Boston’s lackluster effort on the defensive end, it wasn’t much of a leader-like night for Kyrie Irving who recently stated that he doesn’t “see anybody beating [the Celtics] in 7 games”.

Irving had himself a three quarter night for this was a game that the he and the Celtics would like to put behind them. Three-of-ten from the field with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in 28 minutes was the night for Irving- who saw the most time on the floor than any other Celtics player last night. On the floor Irving was a -10.

Uncle Drew even had his fair share in Boston’s defensive inability to get stops. Whether it was failing to read cuts to the basket by Jeremy Lin or failing to step up on a fast-break led by Pascal Siakam, one things for sure being that Kyrie Irving himself cannot take locker-room shots at the defensive effort of others.

With the loss, the Celtics are now 37-24 (fifth in the Eastern Conference). It’s reported that Danny Ainge spoke with Kyrie Irving by his locker directly after the game. It not confirmed what was said however I can confirm that with 21 games remaining on the schedule, the clock is ticking for the Boston Celtics to flip the switch and prove themselves entering a playoff run.