The Celtics, who were booed by their home fans during Friday’s loss to Sacramento, narrowly avoided a more embarrassing defeat Sunday night, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. The 8-32 Pelicans stayed even with the defending champions for a full 48 minutes and only lost when CJ McCollum‘s last-second floater bounced off the rim.
It continued roughly a month of inconsistent play for Boston, which is now 9-7 over its last 16 games, but coach Joe Mazzulla realizes that stretches like this should be expected during a long season.
“Every season is different, our journey [also]‚” he said. “With that being said, if you take a look at the perspective, there are things that we’re doing well. Most important is winning the game and making the necessary plays even when things aren’t going well. Every season brings on different challenges. Every season brings on different opportunities and the situation we’re in right now, we’ve got to just fight through it.”
New Orleans was more formidable on Sunday than its record would suggest. Zion Williamson was in the lineup for the second time since returning from a hamstring strain, and Trey Murphy was back after a three-game absence with a sprained left ankle. They teamed up with Dejounte Murray for the first time this season, and the three of them ignited the Pelicans’ offense by combining for 72 points.
The night was still a positive one for the Celtics, as Washburn notes that they gained a full game in the standings on top-seeded Cleveland for the first time since November 29.
“Maybe you don’t want to play your best basketball at the beginning of January,” Jayson Tatum said. “We’ve been through this before. We’ve still got a lot of time left to get back to our identity. It’s not supposed to be easy and we’re getting everybody’s best shot. New Orleans played really well. I don’t think they played like that all the time. But it was a good test for us. That’s just how it’s going to be.”
There’s more from Boston:
- Tatum had a technical foul rescinded from a January 2 game at Minnesota, Washburn adds in a separate story. After being called for a foul, Tatum reacted with a hand slap, which has gotten him T’d up several times. However, he insisted that he was frustrated with himself rather than the call, and the league agreed.
- Injuries have prevented Mazzulla from using his preferred starting five as much as he would like, and he has compared it to a training camp setting as he tries to get Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White on the court at the same time, per Souichi Terada of MassLive. Porzingis, who missed the start of the season while recovering from surgery, is optimistic that he’s ready to be a regular fixture in that lineup. “The first game I came back against the Clippers (on Nov. 25), it felt pretty natural,” he said. “Boom, I was right in. But then, again, I’m out, I’m in, I’m out a little bit. Not playing my best basketball, not being as efficient. That adds up a little bit to the team. But now I look forward to having a good, long stretch of being healthy and getting in a good rhythm and us hitting our stride.”
- Former Celtic Javonte Green could be a worthwhile trade target before the February 6 deadline, suggests Brian Robb of MassLive. The 31-year-old swingman has been averaging 21.3 minutes per night for the Pelicans, but his playing time might decline now that the team is healthier. He holds an expiring minimum-salary contract and likely won’t have a future in New Orleans. Robb sees him as someone who could provide wing depth for Boston at the price of a second-round pick or two.
The Celtics have not looked good since KP has came back. White and Pritchard have disappeared. It looks like they are forcing the ball to KP trying to get him going. They’re much better when White and Pritchard are scoring options. If a few more weeks if the struggles continue I have to believe they will be looking to move KP. JT JB White Holiday and Pritchard should all stay scoring options. KP needs to find his place with them not the other way around.
“If a few more weeks if the struggles continue I have to believe they will be looking to move KP.”
Yeah, they won the chip last year, are on pace for 57 wins, and are one of three teams considered a true contender. Time to blow it up.
Relax a little.
Aren’t Boston the second most efficient offence on the season? This with what….four games with their top eight guys in the rotation all season. Celts are the hunted now more than ever, every team gets up for the match up. It’s the defensive end not up to capabilities. Backcourt isn’t playing overly well either. Holiday and White aren’t scoring of late. Also the defensive efficiency is like 7th in the league but yeah, can be better. The ball isn’t pinging around either. Nowhere near their best and 3rd best record in the league isn’t exactly a bad problem.
Javonte Green could help a lot of teams. Very unlikely he’s still with N.O after the trade deadline.
Why trade for someone? Mazzula can’t even figure out how to use his current roster. Pritchard scores 19 one night, plays 11 minutes the next in a loss. Hauser is a mess because he doesn’t know where he stands. If you bring in another player, who loses their playing time? Certainly not any starters or Horford. Is it Pritchard, the primary catalyst off the bench? Is it Kornet who has played very effective minutes? Is it Hauser who is their best shooter when healthy and a regular part of the rotation? That’s 9 people. Where does anyone else fit in? When playiffs start Mazzulla will play his top 6 40 minutes a game like last year.
Maz is playing the crap out of his starters and he’ll end up paying the price.
Yeah, just like last year.
Hauser is a mess because his back is hurting. It has been for months.
His minutes are low because he isn’t playing well. Because his back is hurting.
You’re welcome.
Then rest him until he heals. Supposedly we have a deep roster. At least that is what we are constantly told. Comparing this year’s likely playoff teams to last year is not even a valid comparison. C’s will have to go through Knicks, Bucks, Cavs, maybe Sixers or Magic if the get healthy. Then they will face Thunder, TWolves, Nuggets, Mavericks, Grizzlies maybe at full strength. Not an easy road like last year.
You just wrote Hauser “is a mess because he doesn’t know where he stands”
I’m explaining to you he knows exactly where he stands.
You just mentioned 11 teams the Celtics need to be afraid of, 9 of which are playing far worse than Boston. Why don’t you throw the Warriors and the Hawks in there too while you’re at it
Worse records, not playing worse. Tell me how many of those teams are playing .500 basketball for the past month.
Not passing is the problem. Last night Tatum took 30 shots While D White took 6, and Hauser 2. I remember the first game of the season or thereabouts. Ball came down the court and one of our guys had a shot … but didn’t shoot. Looked like he was following directions. Ball was then passed 6 times before we shot. From that point on we played as a team and shot threes well. No longer it seems. Coach, get them passing again.
Hauser played 9 minutes, Not sure him taking 2 shots in 9 minutes is all that odd.
White shot 0-5 from three.
Dig deeper.
Holiday and White have been an unmitigated disaster. I knew absolutely nothing good would come from both of them playing in the Olympics. Who the hell cares, about the Olympics? The Boston Celtics need to come first for these high-priced guys, and older guys like Holiday. And, what in the world is the problem in the TD Garden? Whenever I see we’re playing at home, I say “Oh sh*t”. Total opposite of the Bird era, where we’d lose 3–4 games at home all season, including the playoffs. We are SO much better on the road. I wouldn’t mind seeing Holiday sit out for two weeks, and get some rest. Go with a backcourt of White, Brown, Pritchard and JD Davison for a while, and STOP shooting so many damn threes. It’s become ridiculous and unwatchable. We have the third-best record in the league, but we are far from the third-best team at this point. I never would’ve believed this would happen to THIS team. I truly thought they had more pride than this, letting these crappy teams come into Boston and win.