The day was consumed with rumors.
Were some of those internet rumblings correct, with Brad Stevens actually entertaining leaving the Celtics for Indiana University? That conversation, however, came to a screeching halt just prior to the C's game against the Kings thanks to the coach's pregame meeting with the media.
A few hours later, the buzz involving Stevens had moved on. That was unfortunate for the self-proclaimed 40-year-old Masshole.
Stevens' team has to be considered one of the most disappointing Boston sports stories in some time, a reality that was surfaced once again thanks to the Celtics' 107-96 loss to the less-than-good Kings.
The C's are now one game under .500 (20-21) with the excitement involving possible trade deadline acquisitions moving on to acceptance that it might very well simply be a lost year for what was supposed to be one of the Eastern Conference's most talented teams.
"I haven't done a good job of leading this team," Jaylen Brown said after leading the Celtics with 19 points. "I lose sleep because of that."
"I think we need to be more engaged in each other," Stevens said. "I think that teams are fragile things, guys are trying — and they're all really good guys. ... I can't say enough good things about [the players]. That's why I believe it's there. That's why I think our ceiling's better than we played -- because I believe in who we have. But we've gotta do it together. That's the bottom line."
But the Celtics have been left lying not he floor staring at their ceiling far too long.
Stevens' team has lost four of their five games since the All-Star break. It sits in the conference's No. 8 seed, eight games behind first-place Philadelphia.
So, what is happening?
It's really not that complicated. The Celtics' stars (Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Brown) are at the level where they can make up for a supporting cast that can't keep up with even teams like the Kings and Cavaliers.
Then there is the coach, the guy who is perceived as the savior in Bloomington and the problem in Boston.
So, how can this be fixed? There isn't really an easy answer for that question. What is clear is knowing something needs to be done, and it needs to be significant. This group has had their chance.
“It’s got to be 17 guys dying to play well together and I think the fun follows that,” Stevens said. “You share it. You dive on the floor, you rebound, you’re tough every single play. When something doesn’t go your way, you tip your cap and move on. We need more of that, bottom line.”