Celtics Suffer Loss After Controversial Call

I am writing this article a day late because of how depressed I was after last nights loss. The Celtics fell to the Bulls last night 104-103 in Chicago after Jimmy Butler drew a foul late against Marcus Smart. The big story in the game was whether or not Smart actually committed the foul, but more on that later.

The Celtics were once again without Avery Bradley and Jaylen Brown, and it showed. The starting five struggled to put up points with Isaiah and Amir Johnson being the only ones to score in double figures. Even though the starters didn’t totally come through the C’s seemed to have the game in hand on paper. They outscored the Bulls in three quarters, had more bench points, and shot and made more three pointers. But once again, the story of the Celtics season came down to rebounding.

Boston was out rebounded 51-31, which resulted in 22 second chance points as opposed to Boston’s 4. The Celtics need more quality minutes from their big men. Olynyk hauled down 7 rebounds off the bench, but no one else managed to grab more than 4. That makes it hard to win close games.

Nearing the end, Marcus Smart made what was then the play of the game. Jimmy Butler started to drive to the basket and pulled up for a shot, but Smart was able to tear the ball straight out of his hands. It was something Smart is known for and it seemed like the Celts had the victory in hand. But after a bad shot by Isaiah, the Bulls had the ball with 8.4 seconds left.

Butler once again got the go ahead, rose up and shot from the elbow. The ball clanked off the rim and Horford raised his hands in victory, but the whistle could not be unheard. Smart was called for the ticky-tackiest of tickey-tack fouls, as he grazed an arm hair on Butler’s elbow. In this day and age, it is hard to justifiably say the refs decided the game, but in this case it was hard to say otherwise.

After the game, Sportscenter posted an Instagram video of the final play and Isaiah Thomas had some choice words.

It is hard to disagree.

For now, Boston sits in second place in the East as the All-Star break comes just in time. Hopefully Bradley and Brown can come out the other side of the break in good health as the Celtics will be pushing for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.