The Boston Celtics suffered a surprising loss to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, with the Wizards winning 118-100. This marks Boston’s third loss against a team with a losing record in just two weeks. The defeat now puts Boston’s hopes of getting the top seed in the playoffs further out of reach.
Lack of effort in the game
Following this defeat, Jayson Tatum admitted that their lack of urgency has caused them to lose against Washington Wizards. Tatum’s statement about losses being inevitable proved to be false as such losses can be avoided with more effort from the team. Coach Joe Mazzulla’s excuses that such defeats are common in the NBA cannot be justified as it shows a lack of respect for opponents.
Concerns over consistency
10 of the 24 losses by the Celtics were against teams who had losing records, showing their lack of consistency and respect for their opponents. Consistency of effort is necessary for winning championships and connecting with fans, which is what every team aims at.
Playoffs seeding impact
The Celtics losing to the Wizards could be detrimental to their chances of getting the 1-seed in the playoffs. If they had won, they would have tied with the Milwaukee Bucks, but now they are 2.5 games behind, making it difficult for them to get back on top. While Boston still has a chance to tie with Milwaukee, they need to win out and hope that the Bucks lose two games in order for this to happen.
Poor performance on defense
The Celtics struggled on defense throughout the game against Washington, allowing Kristaps Porzingis from Washington to score 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Wizards’ Corey Kispert hurt them with three-pointers while Kendrick Nunn made an uncontested dunk that demonstrated the Celtics’ poor performance on defense. Boston’s all-bench lineup briefly trimmed the lead, but they failed to catch up which ultimately led to the Wizards’ victory.
Boston Celtics remain confident
Despite this setback, Boston’s players remain confident in their ability to perform well in the playoffs. Celtics players were relaxed and unfazed by the loss, with Coach Joe Mazzulla attributing it to simply being an “off night.” Tatum and Brown were the Celtics’ top scorers, but they were benched for the final nine minutes of the game.
Match against Milwaukee Bucks
The Celtics will now face the Milwaukee Bucks who are currently in first place on Thursday at 7:30 pm. An unlikely win for Boston would help them inch towards getting a better seeding in the playoffs, but given their lack of effort and consistency, it is going to be a tough battle for them.
In conclusion, the Celtics’ lack of effort and inconsistency has been a recurring problem throughout their season. While they remain confident in their playoff chances, losing against teams with losing records is something that they cannot afford to do again if they want to make a deep run. The loss against Washington puts their playoffs seeding in jeopardy and playing against Milwaukee will be an uphill task for them. Consistent effort and winning games against lower-ranked teams are essential if they wish to prove themselves as championship contenders.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
