Even the shots that the Boston Celtics have made these last few games have note been pretty. Here ... [+] Robert Williams gets harassed by Jalen Smith during the team's loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. (Photo by Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
MediaNews Group via Getty ImagesFor the moment, the “M-V-P” chants at TD Garden have been partially replaced by boos. When the Boston Celtics fell behind by as many as 30 points in a 117-112 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, the crowd understandably turned on the home team. While they might not be as bad as their recent 1-5 run suggests, the Celtics are also not as good as their 21-5 record to begin the NBA season made them appear to be.
“We got booed, you never want to do that,” Jayson Tatum, who scored 41 points to help make the game’s results more respectable, said after the loss. “Rightfully so. But it’s all about how we bounce back. There’s literally nothing we can do right now to change what happened.”
The boos weren’t just about their performance in this particular game, as frustrating as it was. They were more of a reflection of a dream start to the season that has, without warning, become a nightmare. The Celtics’ 125-98 blowout win over the Phoenix Suns on the road earlier this month felt like a statement victory at the time but is looking more and more like an aberration.
Once again it was the Golden State Warriors who brought the team back to earth by beating them 123-107 in a high-profile NBA Finals rematch. Since then, the Celtics have won just a single game, one against the Los Angeles Lakers where they managed to blow a 20-point lead in regulation and needed an overtime collapse by their opponents to clinch victory. As it turns out, Boston’s struggles weren’t just due to Al Horford’s absence.
MORE FROM FORBESHow Al Horford's Absence Proved His Value To The Boston CelticsBy Hunter Felt
Now, some of this has been simple regression to the mean. The Celtics were playing over their head early on, relying on unsustainable offensive production to cover for a noticeable decline in defensive intensity compared to last year. While that has started to come around—before Wednesday’s game the Celtics had climbed into the league’s Top 10 defenses list—it has been at the same time that Boston’s shots have stopped falling.
Maybe the hot start also papered over the reality that these Celtics were dealing with a sudden change in leadership. Joe Mazzulla was part of Ime Udoka’s coaching staff last year, so there has been some continuation after his predecessor’s shocking suspension, but there are obvious differences between the two head coaches’ styles. For starters, the team could still be adjusting to Mazzulla’s tendency to hold on to his timeouts and forcing his players to play through adversity.
It's just strange that this adjustments would be happening now rather than at the start of the season. It’s also troubling that the Celtics’ struggles have corresponded to the return of center Robert Williams into the mix, especially given that the team’s major weakness heading into the season was their thinness at the big man position.
Of course, Williams is returning from offseason surgery (and looked solid during the Celtics’ loss to the Pacers). It’s to be expected that it would take more than three games for him to return to form. No, whatever is going on with the Celtics is a team-wide problem and one that can no longer just be dismissed as a poor stretch of games.
The question now is whether this is something that this Celtics roster can fix on their own or if it is something that requires action from the front office. The NBA trade deadline is February 9, which gives Boston time to wait and see if the Celtics start once again resembling who they were at the start of the season. If not, it might be time for them to start contemplating making a significant personnel move or two, a possibility that seemed unthinkable just weeks ago.
Hunter Felt, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/hunterfelt/2022/12/23/the-boston-celtics-deal-with-home-crowd-boos-as-dream-start-becomes-a-nightmare/
By: Hunter Felt, Contributor
Title: The Boston Celtics Deal With Home Crowd Boos As Dream Start Becomes A Nightmare
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/hunterfelt/2022/12/23/the-boston-celtics-deal-with-home-crowd-boos-as-dream-start-becomes-a-nightmare/
Published Date: 12-23-2022
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a NBA Hybrid Contract?
A hybrid contract allows the NBA to offer players higher salaries that they wouldn't otherwise be able. These contracts allow for a portion of the salary to be added to the team's cap and the remainder is paid directly as a bonus to the player. This allows teams to offer larger salaries while still being able to comply with league salary restrictions. Players are also more likely to sign with teams that offer higher salaries while still being able to comply with league salary restrictions.
What is a buyout in the NBA?
In the NBA, a buyout is a contract between a team or player. In this agreement, the players agree to be paid a part of or all the remaining contract amount. Players can become free agents and sign for any team within the league once their buyout has been completed. If necessary, it allows teams to cut salaries or adjust their roster composition.
What is the NBA's Bird Rights?
"Bird rights", in the NBA, refers to a system that allows certain players to be resigned by their current teams for more money than any other. This rule is named after Larry Bird (ex-Boston Celtics player), who was the first to profit from it. The rule says that a team may exceed its salary cap limit in order to re-sign players if the player has been on their roster for less than three years. Bird rights allow players the opportunity to keep their place on the same team, and to receive a greater salary than they could have received from any other team.
Who invented basketball?
While the origins of basketball are not known, many believe that James Naismith invented it in 1891, while he was a teacher at Springfield College, now the International Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Training School. Naismith wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto an elevated track. He divided his class of 18 into teams of nine players and set about to teach them the basics of his new game, which he called "Basket Ball." Original version included a soccer ball and two baskets of peaches attached to each end of a gymnasium. Players were limited to shooting at the basket from below, and goaltending was not yet part of the game. The game gradually spread across America, and by the early 1900s, basketball had become an organized sport with professional teams playing in large arenas. Today, it is one of the most popular sports in the world.
What team is the most successful NBA team ever?
The answer to this question is subjective and will likely be debated among fans for years. With 17 titles, the Los Angeles Lakers (with 17 titles) and the Boston Celtics (17 with 17 titles) have the most NBA championships. The Chicago Bulls were in their prime during the 1990s, when six titles were won by Phil Jackson, a Hall of Fame coach. The San Antonio Spurs have won five championships since 1999, and the Golden State Warriors won four titles in the last decade. Other notable NBA teams include the Philadelphia 76ers from the early 1980s, Kobe Shaq Lakers of 2000s, and LeBron's Miami Heat team which won back to back championships in 2012/2013.
Who is the best basketball player of all time?
This is a callous question since there are many outstanding players, and everyone has their own opinion. However, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant are among the top contenders for the title. Each one of these basketball legends has had a profound impact on basketball and earned their place in basketball's history. These players also have unique styles of play that are admired by millions around the world. It is difficult to answer this question definitively as everyone has their opinion about the greatest player of all. However, one can surely agree that any list ranking the greatest players of all time must include these six truly remarkable players.
But, the majority of people agree that Michael Jordan truly is the greatest basketball player of all-time. He was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, on February 17th, 1963.
Jordan began his professional career as a basketball player with the Chicago Bulls, in 1984. He was soon one of the most prominent and successful players of his era. Jordan was a six-time NBA Champion, six-time NBA Finals MVP, five times NBA regular season MVP. He was also a 10 time NBA scoring leader, 10-time NBA team MVP, nine-time NBA all defensive first team, and three-time NBA steals leader.
Jordan was also a two time Olympic gold medalist and was inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame 2009. Jordan is best known for his extraordinary ability to make plays and score from anywhere on court. Because of his unwavering ambition and drive, Jordan will always be an inspiration for millions.
Jordan's legacy will live on forever; he is the undisputed greatest basketball player of all time. His level of greatness is unparalleled by any other player. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest sports figures in history. Michael Jordan is simply the greatest ever. His extraordinary career and achievements will always be remembered. He was, still is, and will forever be "The Goalkeeper," the legendary Michael Jordan.
Statistics
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- As of 2014, 45 percent of its viewers were black, while 40 percent were white, making it the only top North American sport that does not have a white majority audience.[102]As of 2017Democrats than Republicans.[103]Outside (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
bleacherreport.com
sbnation.com
nba.com
twitter.com
- Tweet / tweet
- Sam Amico on Twitter: "Timberwolves Waive PJ Dozier, CJ Elleby and AJ Lawson - Hoops Wire https://t.co/xKu1ZTuQZN" / Twitter
How To
How can you prepare for a NBA game experience?
You can prepare for an NBA game by making sure you have the right tickets. Tickets can be purchased online by the team, as well as through third-party sellers. Be sure to plan your trip and learn the arena rules so you don’t forget. You will want to arrive at the arena on time to do warm-ups and pregame activities. Acquire team merchandise, like a shirt or hat, if desired. Don't forget to pack your camera and binoculars to take pictures and get close views of the action on the court. You might also consider other entertainment options, such as a concert, or special event at halftime, if the action is too intense for you. Enjoy the game.
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