The Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics are suddenly left squarely in a position of great pressure.
How will they respond?
Against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5, the Celtics fell flat on their faces in front of their home fans, many of whom were seen ditching their seats and pointing toward the exits after yet another Joel Embiid basket.
Now the Celtics have to pack up for another road trip. Ugh. And they’ll have to go back in front of those same fans who will holler their “we want Boston” chants with even more pride and passion. Ugh, again.
To make things feel even more antsy, Boston is dealing with major struggles to two of its critical rotational pieces, both seen unquestionably vital in the team’s pursuit of another NBA Finals appearance.
What has gone wrong with Neemias Queta, who was a strong candidate for Most Improved Player this season, and especially the typically-reliable Derrick White?
One guy can’t stay out of foul trouble … and the other perhaps out of his own head.
Boston Celtics Facing Brutal Situation as Pivotal Game 6 Approaches
In their non-emotional, objective, level-headed moments, even Celtics fans will admit that was flat-out bad what they witnessed Tuesday night at TD Garden.
Where they watched their guys in green and white channel a seven-point halftime lead into (somehow) a 16-point wipeout.
There are many ways that loss can be explained, but taking the totality of this first round series, the fact that Boston has even lost twice to a team it probably shouldn’t lose more than once to is alarming.
But it goes back to Queta and White, two players single-handedly capable of altering the momentum in Boston favor, playing some of their worst basketball of the season.
GettyNeemias Queta speaks with Joe Mazzulla alongside Derrick White during a playoff game, as the Boston Celtics adjust their rotation with Joel Embiid nearing a return for the Philadelphia 76ers.
According to the Boston Herald, entering Wednesday’s slate of playoff games, Queta was whistled for more fouls than almost everyone in the NBA, while White’s 3-point shooting has gone from shaky to nonexistent.
“Queta’s 21 personal fouls this postseason are tied for the most in the NBA,” wrote the Herald’s Zack Cox. “Every other player in the top 10 on that list has played at least 145 minutes, including co-leader Jaden McDaniels, who’s logged 172 for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Queta has played 99. He’s averaging more than twice as many fouls per 100 possessions (11.1) as he did during his breakout regular season (career-low 5.6).”
Wrote Cox on White: “The 31-year-old defensive standout played at a borderline All-Star level this season despite posting the worst shooting numbers of his career (39.4%; 32.7% from three). … But they need more than what White has given them so far this postseason. He’s averaging just 8.2 points per game and has yet to score more than 11. And after ranking fourth in the NBA in plus/minus during the regular season, he’s finished in the negatives in three of the five games.”
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This is it.
A hostile environment in front of a crowd that fully believes its Sixers can force a Game 7. It will be loud and harassing, but that’s the position the Celtics have put themselves in.
Here’s a cool little nugget: The Celtics are 131-43 in games White has scored 15 or more points. That means if White merely reaches a point below his scoring average, the Celtics probably win.
White has degenerated into a one-trick pony. Over 30 of his 47 shot attempts this series have come from the 3-point line, where he is shooting an unsightly 21.2%.
Something has to change. Either he pulls back the volume, or he starts knocking them down. If neither happens, another Boston loss cannot shock anyone.
Queta, meanwhile, has been in bad foul trouble. That may not have mattered for the Celtics if Embiid was still not playing. But now that he is, Boston needs someone not named Nikola Vucevic, who’s never been accused of stifling defense, to guard on the low block.
Embiid ate Boston’s breakfast, lunch and dinner in Game 5. He was a beast in the second half. He was the reason the Sixers not only won but dominated their rivals.
Game 6 from Philadelphia tips tonight. Time to see what these Celtics are made of.
Celtics Receive Worrying Development Over Two Stars Before Massive Game 6