The Boston Celtics may have scored a win on Wednesday, but the situation still seems bleak.
After a 2-5 start to the season, Marcus Smart called out his teammates (Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown specifically) for not passing the ball — a move that was heavily criticized by many.
“Every team knows we’re trying to go to Jayson and Jaylen,” said Smart. “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.”
Apparently, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics players held a meeting shortly after that incident, which apparently did little to resolve the situation.
“When Boston traveled yesterday to Orlando, I’m told they had a players-only meeting. And Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, they did talk about the collapse against the Bulls and Marcus Smart’s comments after the game about those two not passing the ball. It was emotional at times but in the end, not a terribly productive meeting, maybe not even beneficial. These are issues with this team and this group that have been going on for a while.
They changed the President, they changed the head coach, these issues remain.”
As Woj pointed out in his statement, the Celtics have dealt with these types of issues for years now, and they are not going to get very far unless they figure it out.
Boston, which is now 3-5, was eliminated in the very first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season. They hope for a better finish in 2022.
