Let’s be very clear about something right off the jump.
This was the worst performance by the defending champs of the entire season.
Objectively, it was a mostly disgusting display of basketball for 48 minutes.
Shorthanded, playing like absolute assholes, can you fight through it and find a way to win?
You know who does shit like that?
Remember, every team in each season is a completely new organism.
They have to go through their own experiences and pressures and ultimately figure it out.
It sounds crazy I know, but it’s honestly the truth.
Now let’s dive into what we saw
The Good
- See here’s the thing about Jayson Tatum.
Jayson Tatum in 2022-23 and Jayson Tatum in 2024-25.
Would I say this was one of Tatum’s better games this season?
Probably one of his worst showings overall this season.
So why is he in this section?
Pretty simple, when the team needed their superstar, their superstar delivered.
Early in the game, it was his 5 3PM.
While he only finished with 6 AST, don’t let that number fool you.
Tatum’s passing in this game was once again fantastic.
Just think of what this production has been over the last two games.
32 potential assists with just 8 actual assists.
In the fourth quarter/OT, it’s time for the best player to win the game.
That’s what Jayson Tatum did.
That is why he’s in this section.
In fact, it seems like he only makes great decisions.
Somewhere high on that list is his refusal to grant Payton Pritchard’s trade request.
This is who he is.
It was very frustrating.
He’s always going to have an automatic green light to shoot from wherever the fuck he wants.
I mean he’s Payton Pritchard.
You don’t tell him when he can and cannot shoot, he tells you.
But his growth as a play finisher/creator in the paint is the biggest reason for this jump.
Aside from that, Joe also delivered postgame.
In a game where they couldn’t hit an open 3 to save their lives, they never wavered.
They never moved away from what they believe in their core is how they need to play.
- Everything you thought you knew about Al Horford, I’m afraid you have to scrap it.
That was the Al Horford of old.
You have to remember, we’re dealing with Sir Al Horford now.
He’s a Knight.
He’s a Champion.
Whatever is needed to win, that is what Al Horford is going to do.
A beautiful left handed pass from Tatum, I love that Horford didn’t hesitate even for a breath.
To me, this is your classic reward from the Basketball Gods for playing the right way.
He made the right play.
He trusted his teammates to come through and they responded.
- The Sam Hauser make was the exact same thing.
Here’s a guy who was missing WIDE THE FUCK OPEN 3s all night.
Just nowhere close on anything which considering who Sam Hauser is, was rather annoying.
But when it was time to make the big one?
Same exact shit here.
Tatum easily could have tried to force that play at the rim and try and finish over two guys.
Instead, he made the right play.
He trusted his teammate to come through in a big spot, and the Basketball Gods rewarded him.
- I’m just noticing.
It literally took them over half a quarter to score more than 2 points.
So what was the deal?
Well, it once again looked like the Celts weren’t ready to handle physical ball pressure.
Listen, the book it out.
The Pacers did it, the Warriors did it, and the Nets did it last night.
Almost like they were punched first and then were in some sort of daze.
- Is it me or does it feel like Tatum misses a shit ton of technical FTs?
That’s what makes him elite.
It’s as simple as that.
Just a complete ass kicking on the boards.
We’re at the point where Xavier Tillman may not be playable.
If he’s not going to be able to make open 3s, the spacing on offense gets fucked.
Defensively he looks a step slow still, and at that point just play one big.
I’ll also say the same thing with Walsh.
He has to become a somewhat consistent threat on open 3s.
If he doesn’t take them, it hurts the spacing.
If he can’t make the ones he does take, it hurts the spacing.
Overall they played well, Jrue offensively and Derrick defensively, and that’s what I care more about.
But it’d be sweet if they got back to hitting their clean looks.
- In high leverage situations, you oughta take care of the basketball.
It didn’t cost them last night, but it will down the road.
The Ugly
- Where else would we put the 14-53 from deep?
The issue was simply they couldn’t make shit.
Do you know what a prayer it is to get that key in of shooting performance from this team?
This should be an automatic loss, which is what makes the win that much more impressive.
This bullshit really is every game, you almost have to respect it.
If there could be a time to snap out of this shooting funk, I vote that game.
