You know the Celtics are bad when even ultimate homer Brian Scalabrine is getting frustrated. The typically green pom-pom waving analyst was audibly agitated while the Celtics blew a 19-point lead against the Bulls Monday, along with everybody else watching at home and the Garden.
When the Bulls started taking control late in the fourth quarter, Scalabrine, who called out the Celtics’ lack of energy at the end of the third quarter, started criticizing his beloved team.
“Nineteen-point lead. You’ve got to find a way to close that out,” Scalabrine said while DeMar DeRozen hit two free throws to extend Chicago’s lead to nine. “The NBA is crazy. You can’t drop your guard for a second.”
Marcus Smart responded with a missed three-pointer on the other end, essentially curtailing Boston’s chances at mounting an improbable comeback. DeRozan hit the game-ending dagger about a minute later.
“This is unbelievable. I can’t imagine how a game could turn just like this,” Scalabrine said.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to imagine the Celtics doing this, because they’ve been blowing games for the last two years. They play lackluster defense and uninspired offense. Jayson Tatum had another rough night, going just 8-of-22 from the field — though he did find the time to bark at officials as the Celtics’ lead evaporated.
Afterwards, Smart ripped Jaylen Brown and Tatum for not passing the ball.
Widely thought to be a middling Eastern Conference team, the Bulls are off to a 6-1 start, while the Celtics are sputtering at 2-5. Scalabrine dismissed Chicago’s winning streak at the top of the telecast, saying they’ve played soft opponents and don’t possess an “it” factor.
If that’s the case, then what does that say about the Celtics? Perhaps Scal was giving viewers a taste of his true thoughts about the team as the game slipped away Monday.
It’s hard to criticize other teams when your club is combusting on the hardwood.