Celtics Pistons Postgame Recap






The Celtics fall to 0-3 after a 119-113 loss to the Pistons. The Celtics stormed ahead early, going up 29-12, but gave up the big lead as quickly as they gained it. 

For the third straight game we saw a new starting lineup, with Hugo Gonzalez being the newest addition. After the first quarter, the Celtics were ahead 33-24 off the back of Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown each scoring 10 points.

Pritchard has had a rough start to the season, so this was encouraging to see early on. We also saw Joe Mazzulla once again play 4 bench players in the first quarter, with all of them playing at the same time alongside Jaylen Brown as the lone starter. 

The 2nd quarter is when the game flipped, losing the quarter 36-25 with an awful offensive quarter. Anfernee Simons and Jaylen Brown combined for 20 of the team's 25 points, with the rest of the team shooting 2/13 in the quarter. 

Defensively, the rebounding problems continued, allowing 5 offensive rebounds in the 2nd quarter that resulted in 10 second-chance points. The margin of error being as small as it is has led to quarters like this being backbreakers. 

The third quarter was much of the same, losing 34-23, but this time the fouling was their biggest issue. The Celtics committed 8 personal fouls in the quarter, which led to the Pistons shooting 16 free throws. An early 17-point lead has now turned into a 13-point deficit because of the little things that have plagued them thus far. 

In the 4th quarter, the offense was better, scoring 32 points, with 10 being from free agent signing Josh Minott. Defensively, it was a mixed bag. They held the Pistons to 25 points on 8/23 shooting but allowed 9 offensive rebounds for 11 second-chance points. 

This not only allowed the Pistons to get extra possessions but also prevented the Celtics from getting any quick, easy points in transition. Their lack of size once again played a huge factor in a loss. 


                            The good

Jaylen Brown had his best game of the season, scoring 41 points on 48% shooting. This was his best game of the season and was the main reason the game was competitive. Payton Pritchard returned to form after a rough first two games, scoring 21 points on 50% shooting. 

Defensively, they did a much better job at forcing difficult shots and jumping passing lanes. The Pistons shot just 42% from the field. 26% from three, and had 16 turnovers for the game. Derrick White once again showed why he has made multiple all-defensive teams, recording 4 blocks and 3 steals. 


                                 The bad

The lack of size once again came back to bite. The Celtics allowed 18 offensive rebounds and 30 second-chance points. This size discrepancy also led to a high amount of fouls. The Pistons shot 36 free throws for the game;13 of them coming from Jalen Duran. 

Centers Luka Garza and Neemias Queta combined for 9 fouls, despite neither playing heavy minutes. Through three games it has become clear the Celtics will need an upgrade at the center position. 

Joe Mazzulla's offensive system of high-volume three-pointer's failed yet again, with the team shooting 15-45 from downtown.  For the season, the Celtics rank 3rd in three-point attempts but 28th in percentage. A new strategy will have to be implemented if the Celtics are to find their footing offensively. 

Derrick White has not handled the heavier offensive burden well, shooting 6/18 in this game and 32% for the season. White will likely return to form, but his poor play has played a big part in the offensive woes. 

                            Conclusion

The Celtics will travel to New Orleans on the second night of a back-to-back in search of their first win of the season. Facing a team lacking in major talent and size should allow for a more favorable matchup, but the Celtics will still have to take advantage. Can they get their first win of the season?


        
                    

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