Sometimes, you have to be lucky to be good. The Celtics were lucky in their 120-119 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The injury-ravaged Pelicans walked into TD Garden with just eight wins on the season. Coming off a loss, this looked like a perfect get-right game for Boston, with many expecting a blowout. Instead, it became the most recent chapter in what’s been a month-long stretch of underwhelming play from the Celtics, with the Pelicans becoming the latest team to punch above their weight against the reigning champs.
New Orleans entered the night averaging 11.8 made threes per game (28th) on 34.0% shooting (26th). They knocked down 17 at a 45.9% clip. It was just the fourth time this season they shot 45% or better from beyond the arc, outshooting the Celtics in both makes (17-14) and percentage (45.9% to 29.5%).
Dejounte Murray (6-of-9) and Trey Murphy III (5-of-10) set new season-highs for three-pointers. Murray, who made sure the Celtics’ bench knew every time he hit one, came into the game shooting a career-low 26.1% from beyond the arc this season. Murphy, known for his shooting prowess, also entered the night shooting a career-low from deep, though still a respectable 36.4%.
“Shoutout to the Pelicans. They played really well tonight,” Jayson Tatum said after the game. “I don’t think they play like that all the time, but it’s a good test for us. Every single night, we’re getting everybody’s best shot.”
The Celtics have grown to expect it. Teams are going to overperform when they play against Boston. It’s been discussed all season, and it’s a reality they have accepted they will need to deal with. However, there’s still plenty to clean up internally, and even with the win, the Celtics acknowledged that truth.
“We’re just not playing our best basketball,” said head coach Joe Mazzulla. “When you’re 7-6 over 13, it’s not just one thing. And the reference points are different. There are two great teams in the league that are having historic seasons, so they become the reference point of like, ‘Oh, you’re not as good because you’re not them.’ And they’re great, great teams having historical years, and we’re on our own path that we have to be able to work through. And just because we were this last year, you can’t take for granted the details, habit, execution, togetherness, trust – all that stuff has to be rebuilt. And I think sometimes, when you have the same team, we have this expectation that we’re just going to pick up there. And it’s different. Different year, people, and different spaces. And so, we have to reestablish that; you have to work on that, and it just takes time. So, this is the space that we’re in. I love the fact that we’re not happy. It’s the best place to be in, and we’ll figure it the hell out.”
As Mazzulla pointed out, it’s not just one issue dragging the Celtics down over this 15-or-so-game stretch. Some problems are more glaring than others, and on Sunday night, two of the most prominent were on full display: three-point shooting and fourth-quarter performance.
In their last 16 games, the Celtics have shot 30% or worse from beyond the arc seven times. Sunday marked the first time they won a game shooting that poorly; they had lost their previous six. When the Celtics shoot 30% or worse from three, they’re 3-6 on the season.
Since the start of the new year, the Celtics are shooting just 32.8% from three (25th) on 43.7 attempts per game (2nd). Meanwhile, opponents are hitting 41.2% from deep (3rd) on 38.8 attempts (19th).
The perimeter battle has been key to Boston’s success. Last season, the Celtics outscored their opponents 4,053-3,177 (+876) from beyond the arc. Eleven of their 18 losses, including all three playoff losses, came when opponents made more threes. That dominance has waned over this stretch.
“If we’re not making shots, it starts to wear on us a little bit, and then we’re at 5% less effort on defense, like 10% less effort,” Kristaps Porzingis said. “If somebody takes a bad shot or I take a rough shot or whatever it is, you know? We just have to be mindful of those moments, play smart, take the right shot at the right moment, but still shoot the ball because we’re a great shooting team, but just be really smart about it.”
The other issue has been the fourth quarter. Missed free throws (three), careless turnovers (three), point-blank misses (6-of-13 in the restricted area), sloppy defense (30 points allowed on 47.6% shooting), and mental lapses—another dismal fourth quarter nearly cost the Celtics the game.
Over their last 13 games, opponents have been shooting an eye-popping 47.1% from three in the fourth quarter—the best mark in the league. They’re also shooting 47.5% from the field. Meanwhile, the Celtics have been shooting just 33.1% from three and 45.4% from the field. In their last seven losses, opponents are shooting 55.7% from the field (fourth) and 55.7% from three (2nd).
A lack of execution, defensive breakdowns, giving up second-chance opportunities, and untimely turnovers have been at the root of the problem and reared their ugly head again on Sunday.
“Every season is different. You’re on a journey. With that being said, if you take a look at the perspective, there are things that we’re doing well, and I think when you’re- The most important is winning the game and making the necessary plays,” Mazzulla said on the fourth quarter issues.
“I would say, you have games throughout a season [that] you lose because of effort. In certain situations tonight, they were mistakes with effort. But when you have a few games in the bank where you make mistakes without effort, it’s harder to accept. Like I thought tonight, we had great intentionality on the game plan and great intentionality on details on both ends of the floor. I just thought we made mistakes with effort. And those are the things that are going to happen, and as long as we keep it that way and we continue to just get better, that’s the most important thing.”
The word “uncharacteristic” was tossed around frequently on Sunday night, and it’s the perfect way to describe the Celtics’ recent play. Take Derrick White, for example, who had two puzzling turnovers in the fourth quarter—a ball fumbled out of bounds unguarded on an inbounds play and a five-second violation while inbounding with 6.1 seconds left, giving the Pelicans a chance to win the game on the final possession.
Everyone knows the kind of player Derrick White is, and that wasn’t it.
The Celtics are in a funk, and it’s lasted a bit longer than many might have anticipated. While this is uncharted territory for this group, there remains a sense of confidence in the locker room.
“I would say the ultimate compliment is that we’re 28-11, and these are the types of conversations that we’re having,” said Mazzulla. “It’s a beautiful place to be in. I’m serious. I think it’s great. It’s a great standard and a great expectation to have, and we have to deliver. And so, we all know that. That’s the process towards it. But when you’re, what are we, the third[-best] team in the league right now? Which isn’t great, but look at it; It sounds like a morgue in here. And that’s how it should be because of where we’re trying to get to. So, it’s the ultimate compliment, and we just continue to work through it.”
The Celtics recognize the issues that need fixing—it’s been the same story for about a month now. At some point, that acknowledgment will turn into action.
“We’ll get there. We’ll keep building,” said Porzingis. “We’ll keep being honest with ourselves. With the kind of talent in this locker room, it’s impossible that we don’t start playing better basketball.”
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