How To Fix The Celtics Collapse

 Written By Matt Ferreira

Picture via Mark J. Terrill/ Associated Press

 Last year the Boston Celtics had a disappointing ending losing to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Final in the bubble. Coming into the 2020-21 season the Celtics expectations to make another title run with keeping their star players such as Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown on the roster. 32 games into the season the Celtics are 15-17, and ninth in the Eastern Conference. 

 Lately Celtics fans have called for some roster changes such as trading Kemba Walker, firing coach Brad Stevens, or just signing former Celtic Isaiah Thomas. While I do feel a roster change could help, this roster is built to win.

 First off comparing stats from NBA.com the 2020-21 Celtics are matched up pretty evenly offensive wise compared to the 2019-20 Celtics. Only a three point difference in points per game, and 0.1% difference in field goal percentage the Celtics are fine offensively. Many are saying Kemba is not performing, but we do not need the old Charlotte Kemba to put up 35 a night to win, we have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to score 25-30 a night each, Kemba needs to be there as someone to be a playmaker and team player like he said when he signed in July of 2019. In my personal opinion the only thing that Kemba needs to do more is drive to the hoop. 

 What the Celtics need to do is perform defensively. Over the last three games against the Pelicans, Mavericks, and Hawks the Celtics have allowed over 110 points in all of those games. While fixing defense may not seem that easy, there are a lot of things that could drastically improve the defense. Firstly, first team all defensive player Marcus Smart, needs to come back from his calf injury. He still has his defense, has improved on his offense, and always finds a way to get the team going with a hustle play. Smart coming back would be a huge addition to every aspect of the game. 

 

 Jaylen Brown who was also known as a great defensive player needs to step up. With Jayson Tatum on the floor, Brown needs to matchup against the more dangerous scorer. I am still not sold on Tatum’s defense and I would much rather Brown take on the matchup. 

 

 Finally, Brad needs to make adjustments to his coaching. To improve defensively give Robert Williams more minutes, move Tristan Thompson to power forward. Both those bigs can play defense and still score, especially when Tatum, Brown, or Walker are on the floor Thompson and Williams just need to be ready for open buckets and defend the paint. Brad needs to shorten the rotation of players that are coming in as well, having two “lines” could be more beneficial for this offense when Smart comes back have Kemba, Pritchard, Brown, Tatum, Williams start and have Teague, Smart, Nesmith, Thompson, and Theis help and burn minutes. Obviously Smart and Thompson get more minutes than the rest of the bench players but Brad needs to spread out the scoring within the team.

 

  The Celtics need to go back to the defensive team they were in IT and early Kyrie days that helped them lead to wins such as defeating the 73-9 Golden State Warriors and bringing the LeBron led Cavs to Game 7.