All Celtics fan know what's going on. They are fully aware of a talented, championship driven team which is severely underachieving. We see three losses to the Bucks, badly blown leads, and an underlying sense of worry grows.
But Celtics fans, for the most part, are doing a fantastic job acting as if they don't care. Outside of the true NBA fanatics, it seems as if Boston's slow start has gone somewhat under the radar. Sure, there are problems, but many fans and pundits seem to take the "relax, it will be fine" approach.
After all, it happened last year. An aging Celtics squad in a lockout shortened season plodded through the first half of the year, only to ignite in the second half and captivate Boston, ending in a wild playoff run. Surely, this team will do it again, right? After all, it's not how you start, it's how you finish.
Hopefully, everyone relying on past success will be right, and the Celtics are going through the motions.
But this isn't the same situation.
This year's team, as many know, have new pieces still trying to find their way in this offense. The Celtics, schematically speaking, are not an easy team to join. It takes time offensively and defensively. But through 26 games, the Celtics define mediocrity. They are 13-13, and even worse, show little signs that some of the new pieces, who figure to be crucial role players, are "getting it."
The regular season for Boston is a touchy, somewhat inexact science. As a coach, Doc Rivers' largest responsibility is keeping Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce fresh, limiting their minutes. This puts more of an onus on the role players as well as Rajon Rondo. What's concerning is that players such as Jason Terry, Courtney Lee, and Jeff Green are playing significantly below their ability.
Let's Do Some Math
Jeff Green, in 26 games, plays 22.6 minutes a night off the bench. He's averaging 9.6 points per game, shooting just 42%, and has a Player Efficiency Rating of just 11.92. Even worse, Green fails to execute simple defensive rotations, and generally is a non-factor on the boards.
Jason Terry is playing almost 30 minutes a night. But he's averaging only 9 shots a game, significantly lower than his 13 last year. As a result, Terry is averaging only 11 PPG, and some may say is being used incorrectly in Boston's system.
And Courtney Lee? Lee plays 24 minutes a night, averages just 6.7 points a game, and is shooting just 28% from 3. He is a career 38% shooter. His defensive skills are obvious, but he maddeningly makes mistakes from time to time and doesn't seem to be comfortable in his role in Boston.
What's even more frustrating is that many fans believe the team is having the same problems as last year. The defense will come in due time, and the team will be fine. But the Celtics, at no point last year, were ever this bad defensively or on the glass.
Through 26 games last season, opposing teams were averaging 86 points per game against Boston. Teams shot 41.8%, turned the ball over 13.8 times per game, and were averaging 41 rebounds per game.
Through 26 games this year, the Celtics are allowing 97.9 PPG through the same number of possessions, 94. Teams are shooting 45% and are pulling in 43 rebounds per game. Not a terrible rebounding increase, until you realize the Celtics are the 27th best rebounding team in the league.
And fans can't ask for the offense to carry this team, mainly because the offense has already made improvements over last years team. The Celtics are currently shooting almost 47% from the field, are averaging 7 more points a game than last year, and have an eFG% of .502, which is better than last year's team which FINISHED with a .492. Heck, Paul Pierce is averaging his highest point total since 2006, with 21 a game.
Moving Forward
Now you could crunch numbers for days, but what does it really tell you? From an outsider's point of view, I see a team that simply cannot play championship-level basketball in the areas that count. This is not a strong defensive team. Despite Kevin Garnett's presence, the Celtics still struggle with rotations and allow too many easy baskets. Rebounding wise, the Celtics need to get better, but how?
Right now, the Celtics are predicated on their role players, and the role players are not performing. Brandon Bass, owner of a shiny 43.6% field goal %, is playing so far below his 2011 level it's sickening. If he's not going to score, and he's not a tremendous rebounder, what is his purpose? If Jeff Green can't play better defense, and continues to look timid offensively, why should he continue to get minutes?
The team needs a wake up. Whether that's cutting playing time for unde-rperformers, or finally trading for a center so Garnett can return to his customary power forward position, remains to be seen. Personally? I'm trading Courtney Lee and potentially Brandon Bass as soon as Avery Bradley comes back, in return acquiring a viable center. This paves the way for Jared Sullinger to get more playing time, who sneakily has a decent jumper and can provide more rebounding off the bench.
But let's not act like Avery Bradley is the savior to the defensive woes. His offense is limited, and would surprise me if he can play 30 minutes a night. But the Celtics need tenacity, they need rebounding, and they need someone willing to get into the paint and make things happen. And if that guy isn't Rajon Rondo, then they may need to go out and find someone.
Through 26 games, don't let last year's record fool you. This Celtics team isn't where they need to be. And if they don't turn up the intensity in the next few weeks, Danny Ainge may turn up the heat in the locker room.
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