After one of the best Celtics season openers I can remember and one of the most disappointing Christmas games, I was hoping for middle ground. A sign of consistency—a clearer indication of who this 2020-21 squad really is. At the end of this contest vs. the Indiana Pacers, I don’t have that, which is fine, but also the Celtics lost 108-107, which sucked.
Despite a machine-gun offense to start the game, predictably strong performances from Jayson Tatum (25-11-5 plus a block) and Jaylen Brown (18-2-4-2-1 on 62% shooting) and a solid rally at the end, overall execution wasn’t there in the second and third quarters. Turnovers galore (7 of them in Q1 alone en route to 18 for the game), inconsistent defense, over-elaborate lineup experiments and Boston’s shallowness at guard are all things bound to kill you against a well-rounded Indiana squad. Read on for highlights, jokes and, as always, real-time fan and media reactions:
Opening minutes were all Jaylen, all the time.
https://twitter.com/Riffs_Man/status/1343365237219713029?s=20
I have seen enough, Jaylen is the new 2-point daddy @ByJayKing
— Handsome B. Wonderful (@JamPackard) December 28, 2020
jaylen is shooting 70% on pull-up twos this year. he just drilled another.
— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) December 28, 2020
Yet another Jaylen assist to a corner 3, followed by yet another mid-range pull-up.
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) December 28, 2020
Tristan Thompson flexed his muscle against the questionable interior defense of the Pacers:
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 28, 2020
It wasn’t all gravy: The Cs’ had their 12-2 run followed up not longer after by a 10-2 run against them and turnovers were a big reason why:
The Celtics imo should go back to making baskets and not turning the ball over. Brad Stevens should tell them to do that
— John Karalis 🇬🇷🇺🇦 (@John_Karalis) December 28, 2020
Agony vs. ecstasy:
while shooting 56%! https://t.co/e1uUlwLigz
— we came back haunted 🕸️🍉☘️ (@senddeadfIowers) December 28, 2020
End of Q1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/46MAdlAtY0
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 28, 2020
Second quarter was no cakewalk (like the waning minutes of Q1):
Pacers outscored Celtics 11-0 on points off turnovers in the first quarter.
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) December 28, 2020
If I were the Celtics, I would simply stop turning the ball over. Please, I'm begging.
— Thin Glizzy (@bayne_train) December 28, 2020
i don't find turnovers to be of any use to me
— david (@whaamncheese) December 28, 2020
But not without its pleasures:
Pritch -> Timelord -> 2 pts.#Celtics pic.twitter.com/kIBeq3RhZp
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 28, 2020
JT so smooth.#Celtics @tmobile pic.twitter.com/upcEFbanqn
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 28, 2020
indy’s strategy of doubling tatum didn’t work so they stopped and he was like sure let me just shred all the defenders in isolation
— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) December 28, 2020
getting it done pic.twitter.com/54mGwU6N3J
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 28, 2020
We’ll talk about this in more detail in the next installment of RATIONAL THOUGHTS tomorrow, but Pritch being a HABITUAL LINE-STEPPER was not great:
Payton Pritchard has stepped out of bounds so many times so far this season.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 28, 2020
Q2 kinda turned into a low-key battle between Pritch and the Pacers’ Doug McDermott (in terms of both wanting it to be White-Boy Day for them and them alone):
(Your reminder to watch/rewatch True Romance next time you get a chance. Script holds up even if the fashion don’t!)
Pablo Picasso. He was a Celtic during his Green Period. https://t.co/igyYMEwyxq
— Dart_Adams (@Dart_Adams) December 28, 2020
Celtics lead Pacers 55-49 at the half
Tatum: 16pts (6-of-11), 6rebs, 5asts
Brown: 8pts (4-of-5)
Pritchard: 8pts (2-of-2 from 3)McDermott: 11pts (3-of-6 from 3)
Brogdan: 10pts
J. Holiday: 9pts;— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) December 28, 2020
Mike Gorman just said it: Celts shot 61% in the first half, shouldn't they be up more than 6?
Yes. Yes they should have.
— Mike Dynon ☘️🏀 (@MikeDynon) December 28, 2020
I’ll back both Mikes on this. In fact, it’s why the Pacers were able to sneak in and steal a lead at the top of Q3:
10-0 #Pacers run to begin the 3Q.
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) December 28, 2020
The Celtics could have started the third quarter a little better, I’d say. https://t.co/3w41utkhhl
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 28, 2020
Good to know that these type of third quarters are still going strong in 2020.
— Erin (@erinava) December 28, 2020
They’re just kicking our asses this quarter. Not fun.
— Ryan Bernardoni (@dangercart) December 28, 2020
When you face Indiana you expect to get smacked around by Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon and T.J. Warren. Doug McDermott and Justin Holiday being in on the humiliation is…less fun.
21 Pacers points off 14 Celtics turnovers
— John Karalis 🇬🇷🇺🇦 (@John_Karalis) December 28, 2020
On the other hand, Timelord had his best game of the season thus far, and GRANT had moments:
We call them the Williams Brothers. (We don't, but we should) pic.twitter.com/FDbVV3ZGx1
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 28, 2020
And if things couldn’t get worse, apparently this is at least partially John’s fault.
Blame @RedsArmy_John for jinxing him. Teague saw this coming. https://t.co/6nntdyJS3I
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) December 28, 2020
SMDH.
https://twitter.com/maxacarlin/status/1343386742502682625?s=20
End of 3: Boston 83, Indiana 88 pic.twitter.com/WzIitAKGnQ
— Celtics Stats (@celtics_stats) December 28, 2020
Nice way to end the 3rd quarter! #Celtics cut the deficit to 5. What are we going with as a nickname for Payton Pritchard? #Askingforafriend
— Abby Chin (@tvabby) December 28, 2020
C got back to themselves in Q4, but too much too late:
things heatin' up in the fourth pic.twitter.com/Go04jsBlAe
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 28, 2020
It's winning time, so it's Mr. Winning Plays time. @tmobile pic.twitter.com/k8VJdFJAA1
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 28, 2020
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