On paper, the Boston Celtics have enough talent to compete against anyone in the East. Unfortunately, their current condition continues to slide with each passing week.
On Monday, Boston suffered a brutal loss to a Timberwolves team without Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, and Anthony Edwards. They’re now 16-18 on the season.
After the loss, veteran big man Al Horford called on his squad to do some serious self-reflecting.
“Right now, this is who we are. We’re searching. Definitely,” said Horford.
“It comes from all of us. You know, Coach does what he has to do. But at the end of the day, it has to come from each individual player. We need to be accountable and held accountable. Individually, we need to look in the mirror.”
Truth be told, the Celtics have looked lost since opening night. Troubling stretches of play coupled with inconsistency from the entire team have caused some to question whether it’s time to blow up the team completely.
It didn’t help that Jaylen Brown was so quick to brush of Horford’s comments.
“Searching and looking in the mirror? Nah. No comment.”
Jaylen Brown was asked about Al Horford's comment that the team is "searching" and "has to look in the mirror".
Brown said: "Searching and looking in the mirror? Nah. No comment."
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 28, 2021
This isn’t the first time the players have called each other out in such a way. Earlier this season, Marcus Smart made a now-infamous rant about the selfishness the team’s top stars were playing with.
“Every team knows we’re trying to go to Jayson and Jaylen. Every team is programmed and studied to stop Jayson and Jaylen. I think everybody’s scouting report is to make those guys pass the ball. They don’t want to pass the ball. That’s something that they’re going to learn. They’re still learning.”
“We’re proud of the progress they’re making, but they’re going to have to make another step and find ways to not only create for themselves but create for others on this team to open up the court for them later down in the game where they’re always going to have to take those tough shots or take tough matchups when they do get the 1-on-1 or they bring the trap. It’s something we’ve been asking them to do and they’re learning. We just gotta continue to help those guys do that… There’s only so much I can do when the ball isn’t in my hands and I’m standing in the corner.”
Needless to say, the Celtics aren’t in a good spot right now. With the New Year right around the corner, their play is looking less like a slow start and more like the norm for a team that’s flawed at its core.
At the very least, the players have to get on the same page on how to address and handle their issues.
