Boston Celtics: Troubles, struggles, and a victory over Orlando
Seeds of doubt already surround the Boston Celtics and the 2021-22 season is not even a month old.
Good thing the season is only in the early going. Discontent could be brewing just above the surface but there is plenty of time to turn things around.
Adjusting to a new head coach and — despite a core group — acclimating to new players, styles, and attitudes are all part of the struggle. So, too, is Marcus Smart airing his frustrations out in the open.
Maybe those words were the kick-start the Celtics needed. And if the second-half of Wednesday’s game vs the Orlando Magic is any indication, tensions could very well be on the decline.
Boston Celtics: A victory
The Celtics picked up their third victory of the season with a second-half example of what this team is capable of doing.
Trailing 46-44 at the break, Boston opened the half with a 16-0 run and a 31-10 third quarter advantage to put the game away. A late burst by the Magic was not enough and the Celtics won 92-79.
Jaylen Brown continued his hot start, finishing with 28 points as four starters reached double figures. This included a fine performance by Al Horford, who nearly had a triple-double in finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists.
It was a much-needed victory for the Celtics as the first eight games have been eerily reminiscent to the letdown Boston suffered at the end of last season.
Boston Celtics working through troubles
In some ways, Smart was right about Brown and Jayson Tatum needing to find ways to avoid too much one-on-one play. Trouble is, when the flow of the offense is focused on isolation plays, a lack of assists is going to occur.
When the Celtics are locked in, flowing and passing with ease, this team looks like they are on a completely different level. When opposition locks them into isolation and double teams, however, is where Boston struggles.
Tatum and Brown have had a little trouble gelling on the same nights early in this season. Both are averaging over 25 points per game and have had their highlights. Yet Tatum is struggling from the field and had another tough night against Orlando, going 4-16.
One issue is the lack of a true knockdown shooter. It’s been one for years now, with the team not having that one consistent threat to hurt opposing teams with the three-ball. This would be a huge benefit to help keep teams from double-teaming Brown and Tatum as much.
The team as a whole is having trouble from deep, with a 10-27 performance against Orlando one of the better ones of the season. Cold shooting from beyond the arc is often what did the Celtics last season, too.
Wednesday was also one of the team’s best defensive efforts of the season, which is hard to paint because of individual efforts. Horford is a shot-blocking machine through eight games, adding another three tonight, and has been a welcome return. And Smart has 18 steals this season.
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Kinks are obviously being worked out and rotations still being defined. It’s far too early to hit the panic button but there is a certain feeling that if the Celtics, behind their two young stars, can’t get going this season, changes will be made. The leaders of this team have been together far too long to let Boston slip too far. A victory against Orlando was a good start at turning things around. Miami is up next on Thursday and a victory could very well mean troubles are ready to be boxed away until another day.