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The loss to the Bucks (22-9) was certainly disappointing, but I asked Kyrie Irving was there anything beyond the loss itself which made a team meeting following tonight’s game warranted.
“Much needed; much needed you know,” Irving said of the meeting. “I think everyone can see that we’ve had some inconsistencies regarding our play. I think it was the time to address it.”
NBC Sports Boston: Irving: Team meeting after third straight loss ‘much needed’
Although he was quick to classify the meeting as private, Irving, who has not been afraid to call out the team’s inefficient and uninspiring play this season, still shed light on something specific that’s been bugging him: “selfish play.”
“We have some really talented guys, but we’re better as a team sharing the basketball,” Irving said. “If it’s late in the shot clock, that’s when we start shooting our iso plays, as opposed to, if we have nothing in transition, shooting with 16 or 17 on the clock or shooting a fadeaway — something like that.”
Boston.com: Celtics hold team meeting after 120-107 loss to the Bucks
The Celtics looked lackluster against Milwaukee, even allowing for the absences in the front line. Jayson Tatum admitted the team needs to play harder, and that the losses in the last three games were indicative of the effort.
“It’s just something we’re supposed to keep in the locker room,” Tatum said. “It’s not for everybody to know what we talked about. We’ve just gotta be better as a team.”
Brown wouldn’t say whether it was heated or who initiated the conversation. He was asked if the team feels like it’s closer to the same page now.
“We need a few more,” Brown said. “We’ve got to keep going forward though, just keep building. We’re trying to do something as a unit. We’re trying to be together, we’re trying to make sure we’re on the right page, and we’re going to do that.
“It’s not about me,” Brown added. “It’s about us, so we’re trying to be a unit, either we’re going to be all in or we’re not. I didn’t take anything personally from it, but we all got to be better.”
Looking back at the start of the season, when the Celtics were the early toast of the Eastern Conference, Jayson Tatum can see that this team felt a little too good about itself.
“Um, yeah,” Tatum said after the Celtics’ sense of self once again was stripped to the floor boards by Friday night’s 120-107 loss to Milwaukee. “We’ve got a very talented, talented group. Human nature can cause you to listen to all the hype that was surrounding us and things like that, but especially during the regular season the team that plays the hardest usually wins on any given night. And just being consistent. So we have to be consistent and play hard, and the rest will take care of itself.”
Herald: Celtics notebook: Meeting challenges after another jarring loss
Festivus is celebrated on December 23, and although the Celtics were a couple of days early, it’s good that they went ahead with their Airing of Grievances last night. After their third straight loss, and their umpteenth ugly performance of the season, it was definitely time for a team meeting.
I can’t even remember the last time the Celtics needed to have such a session. Certainly, this was a first under Brad Stevens. The Brad Era has been marked by continuous overachievement, and a winning team is usually a happy team.
On the other hand, this season’s Celtics are obviously underachieving. Their record should be much better when you consider this:
Based on opponents' winning percentage, the Celtics have had the easiest schedule in the NBA so far this season. That'll change quickly in the coming weeks.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) December 21, 2018
The recent reappearance of the Hospital Celtics is one factor for the struggles, but not the root cause. There have been several brutal home losses, such as to Orlando, New York, Charlotte and Utah, when the Cs were at full strength or close to it.
No, for whatever reason, this group has misplaced its mojo. They’ve lost games that they would’ve won in the past, and being dominated in two straight home games has brought the situation to a head. In their comments after the meeting, everyone was saying the right things and promising to improve. But if they don’t start playing harder and being more consistent, those promises will be as bare as a Festivus Pole.
If you want to be optimistic about it, think back a couple of years to the Miami Heat. They were 11-30 in the first half of the season, then flipped to 30-11 in the second half to finish at 41-41. Eric Spoelstra even got nominated for Coach of the Year.
Boston is absolutely capable of doing that and more. However, the Hornets are here tomorrow, followed by the Christmas showdown with the Sixers, then a three-game road trip. The Celtics had better resolve their grievances in a hurry.
Related —
NBC Sports Boston: Losses continue to pile up for the Celtics
MassLive: Boston Celtics fall to Milwaukee Bucks 120-107: Jaylen Brown breaks out, plus 10 things we learned | Boston Celtics’ Kyrie Irving isn’t playing role ‘I selfishly would want,’ but that ‘goes on the back burner’
Herald: Bulpett: Celtics can’t get into the party spirit against Bucks | Sluggish Celtics fall to Bucks for third straight loss
ESPN: Celtics hold meeting after third straight loss to address ‘inconsistencies’
SB Nation: The Celtics already had a team meeting. What’s going on with Boston?
On Page 2: Pierce-Tatum connection continues
Our fast break through the mall has caused a stir. “We’re gonna win a championship with you!” one shopper yells over. “True!” Tatum replies, before telling me of his aspirations, which include winning an MVP award and seeing his jersey in TD Garden’s rafters. “I want to be the next Paul Pierce–spend my whole career here, win a championship and have the city of Boston love me.” Tatum’s first order of business, though, is righting his talented squad’s ship. The Celtics are off to a disappointing start following a run to the Eastern Conference finals in May. “We kind of let the attention get to our heads,” he explains. “But it’s a long season. I’m not worried at all.”
ESPN: Hang Time: All I want for Christmas is hoops
Jayson Tatum has been compared to Paul Pierce since he came to Boston. Even Pierce himself has said so. It’s great news then that the second-year wing wants to pattern not just his game, but his career, after The Truth. If Tatum develops as it looks like he might, it would be a relief if he accepts that the grass is, in fact, greener in Boston.
Obviously, with Tatum in only year two of his rookie contract, any concerns about him looking elsewhere are literally years away. But the way this past week has gone for the Celtics, any news is good news.
And, finally… The story that remains a non-story
Yesterday afternoon, the Anthony Davis watch got a little exciting with this report from The Athletic:
“According to a source with knowledge of Davis’ thinking, he does not see the extra $87.3 million that New Orleans is expected to offer in a five-year, $239.5 million supermax extension this summer as a factor in his eventual decision.”
But a few hours later, an ESPN report said “never mind!” to that:
New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry on Friday was crystal clear on where his team stands with star Anthony Davis.
“No we’re not trading him,” Gentry said to open up his media availability. “We’re not trading him under any circumstance. You can move on from that one.”
So we’re back to status quo, and while it would be great to take a break from talking about something that won’t happen for a long time, if ever, our friends at Celtics Blog summed up that situation very well:
(whispers)
None of knows anything at all about what will ultimately happen with Anthony Davis and all this conjecture is purely people's opinions.(out loud to my staff)
More Anthony Davis articles!— CelticsBlog (@celticsblog) December 21, 2018
Related — ESPN: Small-market GMs upset NBA won’t enforce tampering rules
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