The Boston Celtics misplaced consecutive video games for the second time this season, this time falling to the Denver Nuggets in a nail-biting 115-109 loss Thursday evening that supplied a handful of priceless classes to the NBA’s most-winningest crew.
There haven’t been many chilly streaks price noting all through Boston’s first 48 wins, nevertheless, after back-to-back losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Nuggets, the Celtics could have discovered their first. Jayson Tatum was humbled, Derrick White was off and the bench solely provided 10 factors of offense.
“We bought an opportunity to take the lead with 40 seconds left, it was a one-possession recreation and we had a wide-open shot, an ideal shot, and we simply didn’t make it,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla instructed reporters, per NBC Sports activities Boston video. “And so they even gave us an open one with, I feel, 12 seconds left down 4 (factors) — gave us a wide-open three there. So we had our probabilities, and once you play in opposition to one other good crew, these issues get magnified.”
That received’t assist overcome the defending NBA champions or many aggressive groups that stand in Boston’s approach of elevating Banner 18.
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Listed here are three studying classes for the Celtics to review shifting ahead:
1.) Environment friendly basketball overrules all else
Denver has set the usual for environment friendly basketball lately, using off-ball screens, a number of chopping, and motion to mislead defenses and discover openings that permit for simple scoring.
Granted, the Celtics by no means trailed the Nuggets by greater than 12 factors, however no matter the place Denver’s lead stood, it was at all times well-protected. Within the second quarter, the Nuggets didn’t drain a single 3-point try, lacking three in complete, however nonetheless outscored Boston, 32-26, in that body. As a substitute, Denver appeared contained in the perimeter for all of its second-quarter scoring, together with a buzzer-beater financial institution shot from Jokic to offer Denver a 62-54 lead at halftime.
Boston had a handful of alternatives, however didn’t have the new hand from three, capturing 11-for-38 and bought too sloppy at instances. The Celtics dedicated 12 turnovers and scored simply eight fast-break factors. When wanted to adapt to a extra versatile offensive type, Boston struggled and that’s even more durable to perform when taking part in in opposition to a crew that’s mastered scoring versatility higher than anybody else within the NBA.
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2.) Margins of every kind should be valued always
It’s not obscure why Denver owned nearly all of the 48 minutes over Boston when wanting on the field rating alone.
The Celtics didn’t match the Nuggets by a handful of margins, together with discipline aim proportion, 3-point proportion, free throws, assists, steals and factors within the paint, amongst others. It’s not simple to dig that deep of a gap, lacking 9 free-throw makes an attempt, capturing simply 28.9% from three and nonetheless stay aggressive for a full 4 quarters. However to Boston’s credit score, that’s precisely what Mazzulla’s squad did.
Boston did go on an encouraging 12-4 run to chop Denver’s result in 109-106 with lower than two minutes to play within the fourth quarter, however nonetheless flopped. On a three-on-two with underneath a minute to play, with an opportunity to knot the rating even at 111-111, the Celtics handed on a positive shot on the rim and as a substitute fed Tatum wide-open within the nook, which the 26-year-old missed, giving the Nuggets an opportunity to additional add to their lead — which they did.
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That was the largest likelihood to use some late-game strain on Denver, however as a substitute, Boston bought and located a method to abuse an ideal alternative.
3.) Jayson Tatum’s aggressiveness can’t be requested, it must be automated in marquee matchups
Tatum’s closing shot try completely encapsulated his greatest flaw throughout final season’s flopped playoff run.
Tatum was nowhere to be discovered within the third quarter, trying simply two pictures — one in every of which was a missed open layup — throughout a essential stretch. That remained the case within the fourth quarter as properly, bringing again daunting recollections of the second-half stretches throughout final yr’s Jap Convention finals in opposition to the Miami Warmth. At this level, Tatum doesn’t should be reminded when the Celtics want him to flip the swap.
Tatum completed the second half going 2-of-7 from the sector, lacking the largest shot of the evening for the second straight recreation. Boston’s No. 1 possibility simply didn’t present up, and it in the end allowed the Nuggets to notch a season sequence sweep.
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Tatum scored solely 15 factors on 5-of-13 capturing and dedicated a team-high 5 turnovers in 39 minutes. That left a void that, for essentially the most half, proved to be sustainable, however ultimately, held the Celtics again and despatched them to the loser’s column for a 14th time this season.
As was the case after Boston’s loss to the Cavaliers on Tuesday evening, the Nuggets provided loads of causes for the Celtics to self mirror and recalibrate with now 20 video games left to go earlier than the playoffs begin.