Celtics Jazz recap

The Celtics fall to 3-5 after a disappointing 105-103 loss to the 2-4 Jazz. The game was nip and tuck throughout but saw the Celtics once again fall victim to their lack of offensive rebounding. 

To begin the game, Boston quickly jumped out to a 14-2 lead but quickly let it slip away, losing the rest of the quarter 19-11. The offense was shaky to begin the game, shooting 9/23 from the field and 4/17 from three. 

The 2nd quarter was much of the same offensively, scoring just 21 points on 9/23 shooting once again. Defensively, however, they were considerably better, holding the Jazz to just 15 points on 6/27 shooting. Heading into halftime, the Celtics were up 46-36, with the entire team shooting poorly except for Payton Pritchard. 

In the third quarter, the Celtics had another awful defensive quarter, allowing 38 points to a below-average Jazz team. This was the 5th time the Celtics have allowed 36 or more points in a quarter; all 5 games resulted in losses. 

Offensively, they shot 9/23 for the third time and made just 1 of 11 threes. Heading into the 4th quarter, the Jazz now held a 74-72 lead. 

Both teams drew even in the 4th quarter, each scoring 31 points on nearly identical shooting. It all came down to the final possession. The Celtics contested the shot well on Keyonte George, forcing a miss, but allowed Jusuf Nurkic to grab the offensive rebound and tip it in with .6 seconds to go, winning the game 105-103. 

                             The good

Once again there was not much good to take away from the game. Payton Pritchard continues his hot streak after a slow start to the season, and Jaylen Brown carried the team in the second half, scoring 27 points on 60% shooting from the floor. On defense, they were extremely active with their hands, forcing 19 turnovers and recording 12 steals. 

                

                              The bad

Starting with the offense, it was bad throughout the game. The team shot over 40% in one quarter. A big reason for this is the lack of creativity. If the three-point shot is not falling, the Celtics don't have the talent to bail them out, and it is crushing them in these close games. For the season, the Celtics shoot the most threes per game at 47.8 but shoot the second-worst percentage at 31%. 

Derrick White and Anfernee Simons combined to shoot 8/22, a horrible game from 2 of the Celtics 3 backcourt players. Derrick White's season has shifted from a rocky start to concerningly bad. Sam Hauser once again did nothing, scoring just 4 points on 1/8 shooting in 28 minutes. It is simply inexcusable to give Hauser this many minutes if the shot is not falling. 

Defensively, the same issues arose. Defensive rebounding was poor once again, allowing 15 offensive rebounds for 13 second-chance points, with the final two being the game winner. As good as the Celtics are at stealing the ball, they counter this by consistently fouling. 

The Jazz shot 25 free throws, marking this the 7th time out of 8 total games where the opponent shot 25 or more free throws. The massive quarter from the opposition struck once again, allowing 38 points in the 3rd quarter. 

                             Conclusion 

The same issues that have plagued the Celtics all season came back to bite once again. Poor offensive structure and three-point shooting, consistent fouling, a bad defensive quarter, and poor defensive rebounding. 

In the past, talent alone could win despite all of the mistakes, but even against a bad Jazz team, that is no longer the case. The Celtics will end their 3-game home stand against a 1-6 Wizards team to try to improve to 3-5.