After a stretch of 5 video games in seven nights (and 6 in 9), it’s not shocking that the Memphis Grizzlies outscored the Celtics 22-4 in transition factors en path to a 127-121 win at TD Backyard on Saturday night time.
Boston had truly turned a 14-point deficit within the third right into a 4-point result in begin the ultimate body, however in the long run, didn’t have the legs to shut it out.
It’s undoubtedly powerful. All people’s drained. It’s been type of a troublesome stretch, however it’s no excuse,” Payton Pritchard stated after scoring 22 factors on 6-o-f-11 capturing from the arc and being a part of the closing lineup. “You gotta come out. We’re the very best workforce within the NBA and we gotta present it each night time. That’s our mentality. We gotta present it each night time.”
For essentially the most half, they’ve regardless of some tough circumstances. The loss to the Grizzlies was their first in 5 backends of a back-to-back. They’d gained each video games in Charlotte in an away-and-away in opposition to the Hornets, blew out Brooklyn on the street, and crushed the Clippers and Warmth after powerful video games in opposition to the Timberwolves and Cavaliers respectively.
They’ve a glowing 15.9 internet ranking on the second night time of a back-to-back (121.9 off rtg, 106 def rtg). You might even argue that they’re at their finest with their backs (no pun supposed) in opposition to the wall. With a extra conventional night time off between video games, their internet ranking drops to 7.1.
However now, by advantage of lacking out on NBA Cup rivalry, they’ll play simply two video games within the subsequent eleven days — Thursday night time internet hosting the Pistons and Sunday night time in DC — earlier than heading again to TD Backyard for a Thursday tilt in opposition to the visiting Bulls.
“It’ll be good, to get some days off,” Jaylen Brown stated. “It’s been some powerful scheduling, so tonight, I don’t suppose was the very best indication of Celtics basketball.”
All issues thought of, the Celtics are comparatively wholesome (after a Kristaps Porzingis damage scare) with six of their subsequent 9 video games duringthe holidays at residence. They’re second within the East at 19-5 with a top-10 offense and protection with the third highest internet ranking within the league. A troublesome December loss to one of many West’s hottest groups doesn’t change that.
“It’s basketball. It’s going to occur to each single workforce, so we don’t actually have an excuse,” Jrue Vacation stated. “You simply should go on the market and play, though generally, video games may not go your method, we all the time know we’ll be in it due to the best way we play and the way laborious we play.”
