The Boston Celtics should not taking part in their finest proper now, shedding two of their final three video games.
The defending NBA champion Boston Celtics suffered an sudden loss at residence to the rejuvenated Sacramento Kings.
The Kings have fared properly beneath interim coach Doug Christie for the reason that firing of Mike Brown, and with the departure of De’Aaron Fox.
The 114-97 victory over the Boston Celtics at TD Backyard was one other huge night time for Domantas Sabonis.
Sabonis had 23 factors and 28 rebounds, essentially the most rebounds in an NBA recreation this season, surpassing Victor Wembaneyama’s 23 rebounds in opposition to the Nuggets.
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula was requested by reporters after the Celtics’ residence loss, asking if his workforce did not strive onerous sufficient.
Mazzula stated the hassle is just not a long-term concern, however acknowledged it could possibly be a problem within the quick time period.
He pointed to the workforce’s inefficient 3-point taking pictures as making every part troublesome.
“When you’ve an inefficient offense, it places stress on the protection, so I do not assume it is a long-term effort. Whether or not it is shot-making or execution, it places a whole lot of pressure on you,” Mazzula stated. I will give it.
“If you are going to shoot 20 % from three, you are going to must do a whole lot of different issues rather well.”
Sabonis’ huge rebounding night time confirmed the dominance of a participant who merely wished it extra. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 12 rebounds.
Requested additional in regards to the workforce’s effort, he stated, “It is positively a short-term (effort problem).”
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown scored 28 factors within the loss, however agreed with some elements of Mazzula’s postgame evaluation.
However what he did not wish to conform to was implying an absence of effort by claiming they have been nonetheless preventing onerous.
He replied: “The pictures weren’t falling, in order that put stress on our protection. The league made some changes for us. They made extra threes than we did, they made extra threes than we did. I made a 3.
“We had some turnovers and a few unhealthy pictures.”
When requested in regards to the workforce’s efforts, he replied: “We’re preventing, we’re positively taking part in good basketball and we’re making an attempt to determine it out. Your opinion is we’re not preventing.
“We have to determine it out this yr. Final yr is over and a brand new yr has begun.”
Brown was leaning in direction of one more reason for the poor efficiency, however admitted that it was not dependable.
He stated, “A part of the explanation for that’s it is the primary recreation again from a protracted highway journey, however that is actually no excuse.”
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