Malcolm Brogdon admitted on Monday that the Celtics’ issues began well before the Eastern Conference Finals, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
Boston trails in the series 3-0 and got blown out by the Heat on Miami’s home court on Sunday night. Brogdon, who was acquired last offseason to solidify a team that reached the Finals a year ago, said the team has lost its defensive identity.
“Miami, Denver, there are only a few of them — that have a really strong identity, and they play by it every single night. They’re super committed to it,” Brogdon said. “And, for us, our identity has waned all year long. We’ve been trying to figure out who we are, because I think we’re such a great, talented scoring team, but when we don’t make shots, we got to rely on our defense, and our defense isn’t consistent every night. So, playing a team that’s very consistent and disciplined, we struggle.”
The Heat are shooting 51.9% overall and 47.8% from 3-point range in the series. They have also committed just 31 turnovers, compared to Boston’s 45.
Brogdon said the Celtics’ lack of defensive cohesion has been apparent throughout the postseason. They eliminated the Hawks 4-2 in the first round despite Atlanta scoring 119 or more points in each of the last four games of the series. Boston had to scramble back from a 3-2 series deficit to eliminate the Sixers prior to their matchup with Miami.
“We haven’t been consistently great defensively all year long, and that was the team’s identity last year,” Brogdon said. “I think that’s slipped away from us. We’ve had spurts where we’ve been great defensively, but not consistently. And, honestly, we’ve struggled in every series we’ve played. So, now we’re playing a team that’s playing as if they’re the best team in the league, and they’re just incredibly disciplined, incredibly consistent.”
Brogdon is hopeful for a history-making turnaround, starting with Game 4 on Tuesday.
“We still believe we’re the better team,” he said. “We have not played like it in these three games.”
Brogdon wants out. He’s starting to see the team for what it really is. It’s all built on coddling Tatum’s ego. Brown is going to ask for a trade, then Brogdon. The future of this team is about to come to a crashing halt. Goodnight Boston
Good
You’re super creepy with the Boston obsession. It’s just a basketball team bro, it can’t hurt you.
Your obsession with me is super creepy. But then again, I am a God, so it also makes sense.
Do you believe declaring something that you couldn’t possibly know will make it true?
But I do know. And I said it, so there for it’s true.
Wouldn’t really go that far.
He’s just stating the obvious
Considering he just won sixth man of the year and went to the ECF for the first time in his career, I doubt he wants to force his way out for more. What he’s just achieved this year is the most he’s ever achieved why would he want out?
Maybe he wants a starting position but he doesn’t strike me as a big ego person.
Think your reaching here pal
No good players want to play in Boston. It’s no reach, its facts.
Ever since Stevens came to Boston they have only signed two quality FA, Horford and Hayward and they left first chance they got. Otherwise, they only signing players no one wants like Schroeder and Gallinari.
On top of that, in the Stevens era they have only resigned two UFAs. That’s Smart who they overpaid and for some reason give him way too much power on the team that he wouldn’t get anywhere else. And the 36, 37 when his contract starts, Al Horford. That is it. In 10 years only 2 UFAs they have been able to resign. Straight Facts. The reach is to believe players actually want to play there.
Sounds more to me like Brogdon has issues with the coach as do others on the team. That should be job one. A new head coach. Some assistants are not head coaching material, just as some MLB coaches are excellent in that capacity but fail as managers (looking at John Farrell)
A new coach might appease Brogdon until his contract is up.
Celtics in 7. (Or Heat in 6, lol)
Celtics down by 7 with 8:20 remaining in the first quarter of game 4.
Horford and Williams needs to be replaced
100℅
Hate to admit it, because I’ve been a Time Lord fan, but they can’t win with him. And Horford is overused, tired and at the end of a fine career.
I’d add Smart to that list. Most overrated player ever. He doesn’t even do the 1 thing people think he does well, which is effort. Everyone talks about it when he dives for a highlight reel loose ball once per week but then they ignore the bad defense, open 3’s and dozens of possessions where he doesn’t even run up the court because he’s too worried about getting baby foul calls.
He’s not bad, but he’s not a starter on a championship team.
Horford’s fountain of youth has ran out. The Time Lord is not on Time at the moment. Jaylen is playing Hero ball. Tatum is not a leader yet. Smart has green hair but does not direct traffic. Why Hauser does not get minutes is beyond me.
Celtics are QUITTERS ……..
plain and simple ….