In A Blink Of An Eye, The Entire Present And Future Of The Boston Celtics Has Changed Forever

Elsa. Getty Images.

I'm going to be honest, I've tried to start this blog 6-7 different ways, and I'm just not sure what to even do. I'm going to apologize in advance if none of this makes any sense or isn't even coherent. I'm running on zero sleep, extreme sports depression, and an uncertainty around my favorite basketball team that I didn't even think was possible.

Throughout my life, I've experienced every sort of basketball pain as a fan that you could imagine. I've seen this team lose franchise cornerstone players (yes, multiple) because they shockingly died before their careers even got going. I've seen this team lose their starting center to a blown ACL in Game 6 and then lose Game 7 of the NBA Finals….to the Lakers. I've seen this team lose a Game 7 of the ECF on their own floor after their best player got hurt 25 seconds into the game. 

And now, here we are. Again. You have the pain of choking away a double-digit second half lead in 3 of the 5 games, 2 of which came at home with a 20 point lead and only 15 minutes left in the game to fall down 3-1 in a series you have no business being down 3-1. Normally, that would be bad enough. That's normal playoff pain.

But now? Now everything has changed. Not just this playoff run, but the entire future of the franchise. I can understand why that might seem dramatic, but it's the truth. One misstep and boom, everything has changed. Their window of title contention, their roster, their future, all of it. 

In the blink of an eye, everything surrounding this team and their best player, one of the best Celtics to ever live, has gone from one end of the spectrum to the other. Now, all that's left is fear, uncertainty, and depression. It's why winning a title is so hard and repeating the next year even more so. Sports are cruel, and I'm not sure it gets more cruel than what we just experienced in this series.

It's hard to even know how to feel at a moment like this. I want to be pissed about this Game 4 choke and the series overall, but at the same time I also don't give a flying fuck now that Tatum is seriously hurt and the entire direction of the franchise is now up in the air.

Had they lost the series but Tatum was healthy, that's an entirely different situation. But now? Knowing that he's most likely out for the next calendar year and we have no idea what he'll look like once he comes back?

It's almost as if my brain can't even process what the fuck just happened. I can process bad playoff losses. Those have been happening literally my entire life. But this? What it could mean for the next 5-10 years? I'm not sure my brain is ready to move past the denial stage and move towards acceptance. It simply refuses to process this new reality, and it's damn sure near impossible to even think about the rest of this series.

While not technically dead at 3-1, I'm not sure even I have the heart to spinzone things. I can't bring myself to entertain the idea that shit maybe they just go on a prayer run and win 3 straight as some sort of cosmic karma by the Basketball Gods. The combination with how they've fucked around and essentially blown their title defense while also adding in a potential career altering injury to Jayson Tatum, I mean holy hell.

As I said at the top of this blog. I have no idea if anything I've said so far even makes sense or is coherent. Normally, this is a space to blog through our pain, but I have to admit, it's not working. In fact, I feel worse. 

OK, let's dive in.

The Good

- We did not just witness one of the best performances of Jayson Tatum's life last night, we witnessed one of the greatest single game performances in NBA Playoff history. That's not homerism or hyperbole talking, that's reality

With the Celtics backs against the wall heading to MSG, Tatum did what Tatum does. He was great in Game 3, giving the game exactly what it needed to keep their season alive. Then, in Game 4, with the season once again on the line, he was generational

To lose a Tatum masterclass like this is painful enough. To see his career potentially completely change? I am at a loss for words. I don't even know how to describe that other than sports are the fucking worst (and the best). A player who never gets hurt, never misses a game, misses his first career playoff game in Round 1 and then has this happen to him in Round 2? Through a freak accident? 

It's why you can NEVER take any title for granted, and why you need to appreciate the fuck out of it when it happens. You can have everything, the high end talent, the roster construction, the experience, the win profile, etc and none of it guarantees shit. Everything about the success and trajectory of your franchise can change in an instant, and that is what the Celts and their fans are dealing with today.

While we should obviously wait for the official word, I think we all can understand what this is. Even if it's not the worst-case scenario that it certainly looks to be, I can't imagine Tatum plays at all next season. Who knows who will make it through the summer still on this roster. The ripple effects not just from this series, but also from this injury, are going to shape the franchise for the next 5-10 years. There's simply no way to sugarcoat around that. 

This version of the Boston Celtics, as we know them, is over. 

Before Games 3 & 4, I tweeted that until my final breath, I will always believe in Jayson Tatum with his back up against the wall. If there is one player in the NBA that you know you can go to war with when times get tough, it's him

What we saw last night is exactly what I was talking about and why this is all so gutting. Tatum does everything right, both on and off the floor. He's everything you want in a franchise player AND THEN SOME. I think part of what makes this so painful is not just the basketball side, but the human side. None of us knows Tatum personally, but we've been together for 8 years. Through countless insane highs and the lowest of lows. He fulfilled his prophecy and delivered a championship. Shit like this shouldn't happen to a player and a person like this, but that's life. It's a real motherfucker. 

It honestly just doesn't feel real. My brain knows it's real. My heart knows it's real. I just cannot believe it. Now if you'll join me, let us all cope together before we move on because it's going to be a LONG time before we see this again

- Derrick White was awesome too (offensively). That was fun.

OK, let's continue.

The Bad

- In a surprise twist, we're skipping this section to. When something like last night happens, nothing deserves to be in this section. It was all Ugly, so let's just move right along

The Ugly

- Tatum injury aside, there's a lot that went wrong in this game and why the Celtics season is now effectively over, barring a legitimate Hospital Celtics miracle. 

I'd like to start with the play of Jaylen Brown. To get back in this series and keep their title dreams alive, it was non-negotiable that the two best players were going to have to step up and backpack this team. Be the franchise players they are.

We got that from Jayson Tatum. I'm not so sure we can say that from Jaylen. In Game 3 sure, but this was about showing up for BOTH games. And on a night where Tatum gave you THAT, the team needed their other franchise player to do…..something. Don't let the final line (20/7) fool you. The box score might not look as awful as the Game 7 vs MIA in the 2023 ECF, but if you watched this performance, it was essentially the same thing at a time when you absolutely could not have that type of performance.

Another high pressure game where Jaylen's ball security was a fatal issue. Another 4 TOs, in the last two losses of this series, he has a combined 10 TOs. 4 last night and then 6 in Game 2. For the series, he has 2x the TOs (14) as 3PM (7). He's shooting 37/22% from the floor, 70% from the line, and pretty much from the opening tip in this loss, it felt like Jaylen was trying to do WAY too much. His decision making was poor, his execution was poor, it was as if he fell into every bad habit we saw in 2023. Bad turnovers, bad fouls, bad decisions, it was the exact opposite of the type of performance this team needed from their second best player.

On one hand, it's obvious he's battling through injuries which you obviously factor in, but it's also true that if you're on the court, you have to produce. There's a standard you have to hit, and unfortunately Jaylen through 4 games has not met it.

- What else is there to say about the blown leads. When you fuck around in the playoffs like the Celtics have done in this series, you deserve everything that happens to you. What we saw unfold last night is exactly why you cannot blow two separate 20 point leads at home. Nobody does that shit and wins a series.

Last night? The Celts came out of the half and punched first, building a 14 point lead with 9 minutes to go. From that moment on, they made 6 shots the rest of the quarter. The Knicks closed that frame on a 30-13 run with the Celtics collectively shooting 37/22%, and it was as ugly as you think

With 5:37 to go in the quarter, the Celts still had a 7 point lead. They went those final 5:37 without making a single shot, allowing the Knicks to close 12-2. The lead gone, the momentum gone, again. Another brutal drought with a lack of offensive execution on one end, and even worse defensive execution on the other. 

He was on such a heater it's hard to be mad at him, but there's no denying that Tatum's offensive approach during this stretch changed for the worse. He kept going for the homeruns, the ball wasn't moving, and this is where both the coach and the players are equally responsible. You HAVE to play with better situational awareness, but you also have to execute.

For me, that's the biggest storyline of this game outside of the Tatum injury. This was a game in which the Knicks simply out-executed the Celts on both ends of the floor. Offensively, they did not miss for an entire half. They finished with 66/41% splits and 70 points over the final 24 minutes, shot 65% in that huge 3rd quarter where Jalen Brunson nearly outscored the Celts by himself (18 vs 23), and the same problem areas that hurt the Celts all series showed up at the worst possible time.

The Celts did not put themselves in this position because of their approach or their 3pt shooting. They were in this position because they were HORRENDOUS on the defensive glass. 13 OREB for 15 2nd chance points was the story of the game. The Knicks were quicker to the ball, they played with more energy, and when that happens the Baskeball Gods reward you. I mean on what planet is any of this acceptable?

Every single time the Celts allowed an extra possession, the Knicks made them pay. It's exactly what you cannot do in a game in which your season is effectively on the line. Once again, the margins absolutely killed this team. 

Al Horford, only 5 rebounds in 37 minutes. KP finished with 4 rebounds in 24 minutes. Kornet did not have a single rebound in his 7 minutes. All in all, the Celts lost the rebounding battle 43-31.

Why does that matter? Shot margin. The Knicks through their energy and effort were able to generate 13 more FGA (92-79). Guess how many more FGM they had? 12 (50-38). That's exactly how you negate a game in which the Celts made 18 3PM and shot 37% as a team. Turnovers and OREBs. Every playoff loss follows the same formula.

- 19-26 (73%) at the FT line. It's no surprise that these types of games always include this team missing 6-7 FTs. It's their tell that something just isn't right. KP missing 2 huge ones in the 4th, Derrick White missing 2, Jaylen missing 2, you simply cannot leave that many points at the FT line in a game like this. Again, margins.

- The same way you have to understand Jaylen is playing hurt, you have to understand KP is playing through what appears to be a debilitating illness. It's legitimately shocking how futile he's been in a series and a matchup that should have been tailored for him.

What if I told you that in 4 games, KP has made 5 shots. 

KP is a total 5-18 (1-5) in this series while shooting 9-13 from the FT line.

He's made 1 shot outside of the restricted area 

4-9 in the restricted area 

0-3 in the paint 

0-1 midrange 

1-5 above the break 3PA

I mean look at this shit. This HAS to be a dunk in this moment

The degree of nothingness that KP has provided in this series is beyond comprehension. Everything he was brought in for, he has failed to do any of it. Rebounding, rim protection, paint scoring, FTs, offensive diversification, spacing, all of it has been a disaster. Given what took place last playoff run and everything that happened during the year, this had to be a massive playoffs for KP, and he's given them nothing. Was a non-factor against ORL and has virtually been unplayable in this series. Sure that's probably his illness, but we're seeing why that's been such a huge deal.

It puts way more on Al's plate, and it's clear his tank is running on empty. It puts more pressure on the shooting variance because you lost your cheat code when things go stale offensively. It puts more pressure on the Jays to pick up the slack, which can lead to forced offense and bad shots. 

I know we don't want to make it seem like KP is important, given what happened last playoffs, but that's not true at all. He's very important. It's all a domino effect, and getting zero from him in this series has been too much to overcome. 

HE'S SHOOTING 27/20/69% FOR THE SERIES.

- Outside of the defensive rebounding, the defense was easily the biggest issue in this loss. Where was it? During that 4th quarter run, the Knicks started 10-13 from inside the arc. Derrick White could not stay with Mikal Bridges to save his life…again. Just like in Game 2. Offense and shooting is going to come and go in a playoff series, so you have to be able to lock in defensively, especially in the 4th quarter.

How has the Celtics 4th quarter performance looked in this series? It's why their season is basically over

Look at that DRTG.

LOOK AT IT.

So much is made about the Celts offensive approach late, well the real issue has been their inability to get stops. Missing every shot you take while also not stopping your opponent from making every shot they take is most definitely not a recipe for success. We saw this issue ALL SEASON, so it's fitting this showed up at the worst possible time. Their lack of defense is what allowed these games to get into the Knicks comfort zone, and they stepped up and made the plays to win.

This isn't a case of the fake Miami Heat shooting of 2023. The Knicks beat you with their bread and butter. They got to the shots they wanted, they got the matchups they wanted, and they converted. In all 3 comebacks, they earned their win.

- This wasn't a great Joe performance by any stretch, and really, overall as a series it was certainly not his best. I just don't know how much is truly on the coaching and how much it comes down to player execution. He can't make them rebound, he can't make them hit FTs or play with pace. He can't get the stops.

But he is partially responsible for what has transpired. Call it a 60/40 split. For example, is this coaching, or a player making a decision?

To me, it's both, and neither were good enough.

- In Game 3, the Celts made all their big momentum/punch back 3PA. It's what prevented the comeback. Last night?

On the other end, Brunson and OG made theirs. Sometimes, that's just how things go.

- I'm sure there's more, but I'm emotionally exhausted. Let's just call it here.

Heading into Game 5, you could tell me the Hospital Celtics pull off a prayer and keep this series going, or the Celts are so mentally deflated right now they lose by 40. Either way, what very well could have been a historic playoff run has come to a crashing halt in the worst way possible. All that's left to do is pray for the Tatum news and then try and wrap our heads around what the hell Brad Stevens can do this summer.

Unfuckingbelievable.