Boston Celtics' offensive collapse in OKC: What went wrong?

[@brooklynfoster4862]

Boston has such pretty players. I could look at them all day. OKC looked strong on the court.

[@therealdarrell282]

OKC played with more physicality in the second half and it got to the Celtics. Yesterday was the first time PP looked shook in a long time.

[@KWAPT]

Pretty much the same thing we’ve seen in other losses; missing a ton of threes, (many of which today were good looks) getting out hustled, not matching the aggressiveness of our opponent and just getting flat out sloppy. Forget the exact number but OKC picked up around 20 points off of our turnovers I believe. This was a winnable game-they just caved in the second half when OKC brought the heat. And sure, Scott Foster made some bad calls and was inconsistent but you can’t blame him. Anyway a pretty miserable Sunday to be a NE sports fan. Let’s see if they bounce back in Denver. Thank you John. ☘️🔒

[@tylerriley2587]

Someone made a comment that the guys got the money and don't care any more

[@KWAPT]

@@FakeNews-y8iThey sure are…

[@terriw919fyi]

That just about sums it up.

[@francisco2525]

@@KWAPT I agree with you for most part; however, I find it unfair that refs allow other teams to play this way against the Celtics, but when the Celtics become aggressive and start fighting back, the refs start calling tiki tak fouls against the Celtics.

[@SkullEZClap]

Jaylen Browns bad game stretches are other worldly… To say he had a bad 2nd half is an understatement so I’ve decided to say that he joined OKC in the 2nd half and Celtics were playing 4v6.

[@brightBoss]

which is funny considering how he dominated in the 1st half. sometimes i think jaylen gets into his own head

[@taiwooshodi1937]

Dude had 3 turnovers Tatum 2 and SGA 3 calm down with the hyperbole

[@francisco2525]

@@brightBoss I have not seen this game because I am out of the country, but this happens a lot with Brown when the team as a whole is playing terrible…he is passing it to the open guy, but at some point he gets frustrated because he sees his hard work being wasted and he goes into I am going to take over mode…but teams know this so they double team him, while at the same time hack the crap out of him, unfortunately He almost never gets those calls.

[@SkullEZClap]

@@taiwooshodi1937 tell us you didn't watch the game without telling us you didn't watch the game. Keep stat watching

[@judeshaw]

No Problem! Looking forward to OKC game March 12. Nearer playoff time.

[@rindgerider]

The problem is that the league adjusted the reffing to allow karate chops up to the elbows. The Js are not good enough ball handlers to keep their heads up and they get frustrated after they get karate chopped a couple times. This really showed up in the second half. Couldn't believe how few fouls OKC committed with such physical play! SGA gets away with same arm extension that Tatum gets called for every time. Totally surprised we were in the game in 4th quarter shooting 19%. Hoping for some better shooting soon. Go Celtics

[@ZA-co9vj]

What went wrong is the Celtics never have a plan B when they're not shooting the ball well. They just keep doing the same thing over and over and never learn. The 3-pointer will one day kill this team at the worst time.

[@44point5]

Misleading thumbnail. The Celtics did not collapse offensively. They were shutdown.

[@westbrooktheory2.098]

Thank you 👏🏿👏🏿 all the excuses from Celtics fans is just ridiculous 😤 give My OKC they props they deserves.

[@danaltonmartin]

Fatigue was mentioned but OKC is on the 3rd game in 4 days after play Clippers and Knicks on a b2b so both teams should be equally fatigued

[@jimmyjay689]

19% isnt even acceptable in baseball, let alone Basketball

[@peace7482]

Mazzulla ball

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

The three chucking is getting old and everything that is wrong with the modern nba.

[@richardj1319]

@@peace7482 the dude brought a championship to Boston. Mazzulla ball worked well.

[@peace7482]

@@richardj1319 naaah, he didn't, he is a part of a team, and it wasn't impressive last season. This season is the truth, the real one, it will expose everyone and everything.

[@mikeh2129]

​@CelticsRepeat2025 Players don't want to get hurt by driving to the basket especially with the game being as physical as it is so shooting threes is a less injury prone way to play that pretty much almost guarantees that you'll be available for the next game. It might not be the smartest way to play but It's safer

[@AndrewPolander]

IT's very hard to repeat!! Celts need to focus on health and take their chances...if they are not healthy at the end of the reg season...they won't repeat!

[@carolinadnm17]

They got 'out-toughed, out-hustled, out-played and out-coached'. This is why, I would've hoped, that Stevens had kept Lonnie Walker, because he's got good offensive skills(Springer is worthless, especially if Mazzulla, is not going to play him). Hauser and Pritchard(as were the starters) were out of their league yesterday by the depth of OKC. IMHO, and unfortunately, I don't see The Celts repeating. John, can spin all he wants about The Celts being the favorites, but The Cavs(if they stay healthy) most likely will represent The East in the finals!

[@tyriantaylor711]

You wouldn’t bet your house after they Statement

[@tylerriley2587]

@@tyriantaylor711right these are fair weather fans

[@QuietStormP]

Walker wouldn’t have gotten any minutes in yesterday’s game.

[@tylerriley2587]

@@QuietStormP because of matchups

[@QuietStormP]

@@tylerriley2587 if Walker was in the team, he’d get the same amount of minutes as Jordan. I like him but he wasn’t gonna crack the top 10 in the rotation.

[@CelticsGirlFlintWorld]

That second half from JB was absolutely painful. We have to address our bench and Hauser especially. How much of this is on coaching as well? Do they have nothing they can go to open things up when we are struggling? 12 points in the 4th?? Crazy.

[@mymiphone1841]

Stop critizing my man JB. Girl bye.....

[@CelticsGirlFlintWorld]

@mymiphone1841 I mean did you watch the game? If you don't like honesty maybe this isn't the place for you. I love JB just like all the other players but I'm not going to be delusional and act like he played well when he didn't. He is capable of much better and even he acknowledged that himself.

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

@@mymiphone1841 0/8 is pathetic. Cut it out meat rider. Being a fan means reserving the right to criticize poor performance. You are definitely made from glass and grew up in the everyone deserves a trophy era

[@francisco2525]

@@CelticsGirlFlintWorldBrown has his awful games, but I think it is because teams know that they can hack him and they know they can get away with it because refs wont call the fouls, yet if he plays physical, the refs have a very short leash on him..

[@CelticsGirlFlintWorld]

@@francisco2525 true! His handle really struggled this game and they took every opportunity to get into him. He was on fire first half I just knew he was gonna go for 40.

[@annettehenderson927]

Always luv your podcast John and the sweatshirt

[@tylerriley2587]

Someone said the players got the money and now they don't care

[@Hoodieharrison]

Am I the only one who thinks this would have been a great Neemy game over Konner? I love Luke but Neemy’s athleticism and activity would’ve really been interesting to see although he’s extremely raw. We could have used some of those fouls and hyperactive physicality he plays with

[@Piairom]

Centers like Neemy and Luke nowadays are just work horses to open the basket for superstars to get their stats...if they had exterior game skills, a mid range shot or a 3...they would get even more minutes but their role is this...team players to help the superstars in their game...that’s it!

[@arcyhicks8335]

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who watches the NBA in general. Thunder been doing this all season. With more than 10 minutes to go, no lead is safe against these guys.

[@QuietStormP]

Thunder played good defense in the 2nd half. But the C’s didn’t look connected either. Saw Tatum and Brown go back to forcing plays and turning the ball over or missing tough shots. I give the Thunder credit but that first half should’ve been a concern for the Thunder.

[@flyingvguy6833]

Of all the things you pointed out the one that stands out is - even though the thunder turned the ball over A LOT in the fourth quarter - they threw it out of bounds and could go setup the defense downcourt. I hadn't thought that way about it. Still you have got to capitalize on any opportunities given. This game reminds me of the "Rope a Dope" strategy, like KP said stupid is as stupid does. Pritchard needs to figure out how to be effective under very very adverse situations(he has not as of yet done this) and Sam Hauser must start hitting non square rushed semi open shots, which at the moment he barely ever does. Get on it Sam.

[@victorjackson1551]

I’m not mad at the threes we weren’t hitting our 3s What I’m upset about i think the real problem was JT not being aggressive we let them out hustle us on boards , JB keep dribbling too low causing mad turnovers , jrue n Payton couldn’t get going

[@Kingvon908]

I’ll tell you what happen the Cs was up 10 in the 3rd .. OKC changed to an all guard and small forward, small line up so they can switch everything.. and they shut down the 3s … even though our team had a fucking 7 ft 3 center in the game !! He should’ve been PUNISHING that small line up !! But they just kept jacking up shots .. not to mention JB with all these turnovers one after another tryna dribble too much

[@goatinaroun1944]

Was watching this as an okc fan and I did find it odd how they kinda went away from KP as the game went on

[@Jackson54321]

@@goatinaroun1944the thing is, the Celtics got and have Kristaps to beat anyone. If you watched game 1 of the finals, the Mavs threw out a very small and quick lineup at times, but we won because Porzingis was drawing fouls, hitting his post shots, and nailing threes. OKC did that same thing basically. We simply went away from that advantage.

[@Robin-xt7yo]

Sometimes when watching the Celtics, I yell at my tv screen, "Drive it in, drive it in!" Getting sick of the jacked threes.

[@peace7482]

Relax, they don't care. It's just an entertainment business.

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

Same

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

@@peace7482watching guys launch three after three and missing most of them isn’t entertaining.

[@peace7482]

@@CelticsRepeat2025 lol, exactly why views are down. But you know what I mean, players bank accounts and tummies are full so why try harder...

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

@@peace7482 pretty much. Wyc took his senile old dad’s check book. Gave everyone huge extensions now none of them care to go above and beyond. His old man found out, flipped out and put them up for sale. JB going 0/8 in the second half was disgraceful.

[@behtashbahador6588]

Not worried. Only thing I'd like to see different is a bit more wrinkles offensively when those threes aren't dropping. "Plays" are rare these days, but Cs do it every once once in a blue on half court in-bounds. At least have a different set to get a Jay in a more favorable position to work 1v1. (Did they put KP at the nail in this game??). This game shows you have have a decent chance to overcome shooting aberration. Tweak the strategyon a few possessions, give them a different look to keep them off balance, dont just keep "stubbornly" trying to same thing if its not working even though it is very sound strategy that usually works. Maybe asking too much, but think this team has shown it can be unreasonably great!

[@reneguardado5597]

Turning point of the game, when Tatum missed those free-throws, celtics just don't have the heart to win this year

[@Jackson54321]

look at the ft % for the team. Almost everyone is down. Seriously. Besides maybe KP, Holiday, and Horford, everyone else is below where they should be.

[@judgeonan4526]

Personally, not happy with the 2nd half. Weak is how I'd describe it. Having said that, I'm gonna use the "just one game" but we have to learn A LOT from this game, cos if we want to get another chip, we have to learn from this game and adjust. We're gonna be fine. Part of the test. Painful. But, big picture.

[@josephtopalis1743]

Still not worried, Boston will be fine!

[@NormanKabrick-r8g]

Full House is the name of the sitcom you were looking for John .

[@elaughebburg2523]

What happened? It's simple. They fell apart in the 2nd half because they never got close to matching the intensity that OKC brought to them. Also, Jaylen Brown skunked it up 2nd half. Started trying to dribble and put sauce moves on people. Failed miserably. We've seen that movie before

[@Bigglynch1]

Jaylen brown is receiving too much blame thank you for specifying to everyone it was an overall poor second half from the team and not just JB

[@NothingToSeeHereNope]

We say it was a bad matchup for Prichard, but I felt Pritchard could have taken over if his shots fell and he got some momentum and gets fired up, that would also change the dynamic of the game cuz it would cause them to change the defensive strategy. They don’t see these guys often, so it’s understandable. It will be different in the finals with game to game adjustments, I think Celtics strength is they having more options to adjust which is a nightmare in a 7 game series. I feel Prichard could crack the code by how he impacts the game by game 3 or 4.

[@ScottStrange-k8o]

The jacked up three's and Joe not calling a time out when he needed to. Brown Makin crazy money and he can't dribble or make a foul shot. Hauser can't guard anyone.

[@martinalbert29]

Tough loss but as long as they learn from this and use the game to get better it’s all good. The patriots win hurt more.

[@toddlieb718]

Jaylen Brown is a damn turnover machine! I love Jaylen but he has to know he's trying to do to much with his dribbling penetration a lot of times! Like Clint Eastwood said! A man has got to know his limitations!!!

[@westbrooktheory2.098]

Since okc is in the West i really don't have any hatred towards any east team , i reserves that more for gsw maverick just about all the west teams. I'm now seeing why Celtics are a team that most east teams hate all the excuses I'm hearing from boston fans is just fucking ridiculous. How about giving my okc they props instead of trying to making excuses 😤

[@judeshaw]

Everything said I agree with

[@lonzo9569]

Demoralizing loss. The Celtics were full strength and OKC was not. I feel like the Celtics aren’t up to beating the best of the NBA. Although I watch every, single, game, I’m not so sure I’m watching a repeat champion team. (And did the team play better without Jalen Brown? No knee jerk “you’re such an idiot for saying that” reactions please. The man has turnover-itis.) As I said, demoralizing loss, and now I’ll be watching every game with a small pit in my stomach.

[@tyriantaylor711]

They already beat beat Cleveland , Rockets, Bucks, Knicks , some of the better teams in the league

[@tylerriley2587]

@@tyriantaylor711 they just haven't been watching when we beat those teams

[@PapiJoJoe]

Karalis always finds away to twist a Celtics collapse. He should be car salesman 😅🤦🏾‍♂️

[@JamesToliver-ge4jb]

Turnover, bench points, and getting out hustle. PP and Hauser points extend leads or lose leads. Simple as that.

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

@@JamesToliver-ge4jb hauser has been very inconsistent this year. Unfortunately he is the most dependable wing on our bench.

[@tm25598]

I have a hard time believing that after a great 1st half they just collapsed in the 2nd half and no adjustments could be made?? Maybe no need to show them everything now in a regular season game. I will have to see how the C’s respond in March.

[@mercilessrebel]

The 3’s were a problem they shot 19%…

[@peace7482]

Oh really? You don't like Mazzulla ball?

[@peace7482]

RELAX ! It's just Mazzulla ball tactics

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

@@peace7482 launch a million threes and miss 4/5

[@williamjudy3197]

Celtics are the nicest guys in professional basketball. They don't have the killer mentality. Does it cost them any championships? Thats the billion dollar question.

[@adrianrodriguez6869]

Jb just decided to switch teams in the 4th

[@TheInnerQuality]

OKC turned up their defensive intensity and the Celtics didn't adjust to it. They stayed in too cool mode. The Celtics should have been much more intentional with the ball in their hands because the Thunder kinda punk'd Boston

[@TheGreenBoomer]

Doom prophets beware. The C's misses were mostly on wide open and uncontested threes. Obviously they weren't "rattled" by OKC's non-existent perimeter defense. It was, however their worst 3 point shooting night ever. IF, the Celtics have even a slightly below average 3 point shooting night, they would have won the game going away.

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

8/47 from three led to 38 empty possessions. Gross

[@timothymcgraw8404]

3-23 3PT in the second half

[@JamesToliver-ge4jb]

Celts JB,JT get use to it. U not getting Superstar calls. It's league cheat code for this year. Ice cold. 3 balls mostly good looks. They got speed up. Pritchard average 15. His time on the court and points are important. 3rd qtr we was bouncing 8-11 pt lead,PP and Hauser miss a series of open 3balls. It's make or miss league. We are taking Teams best which is good and expected. I thought Joe left White and Jrue on the bench to long once PP and Hauser want hitting. JB was lights out in the first half, I thought they did terrible job getting him back going. No excuses but the Celts has to be better. That's on the Jay's. Thats why They get the praise.

[@bassmaniatv978]

JB should've sat this one out too way to many turnovers from him

[@girlsgonewild6]

I think your wrong about this John When the Celtics play against a top 3 team in the league the refs do what ever they can to make us lose yes the Celtics made mistakes and front rimmed alot of shots at the end but Tatum and Brown get fouled driving to the hoop they never call the foul then SGA doesn't even get touched he goes to line a lot we could of won that game with free throws but what ever. Tatum is the best in the league yet barely hear anyone talk about him but SGA gets praised all game that's why he is the MVP the hell with MVP it's just a popularity contest now

[@jdh9676]

You shouldn't make up excuses for a Championship team. Celtics had 27 2nd half points.

[@edanluff2316]

Tatum isn't the best in the league, but he could be. He has the height, build, offensive bag and defensive skills to be that. But and a big but, he opts not to take advantage of that. He can bully the hell out of most SF and PF in the post but opts to take step back 3s. In tricky games like that he needs to find ways to get to the FT line and make the opposition fall into foul trouble, making it much easier for the rest of the team to play more aggressive.

[@jtlynch6761]

19% FROM 3S NOT THE 3 😂

[@LimaJayaSRC]

Delete those 2nd half..

[@laguyabaraka6263]

Joe mizz doesn’t know how to make adjustments during the game thanks god we don’t have to deal with teams from the west like okc or golden state, Denver that play physical defense the Celtics stop playing Celtics basketball no ball movement

[@brianreise2449]

☘️☘️👊

[@stevenwhiters8928]

Live or Die by 3. Media making bs excuses teams plays low iq and gets rattled by physicality. Good news is the only team with 5 guys can shoot.. pass.. drive shoot defend

[@jtlynch6761]

12 PTS IN THE 4TH LMAO TERRIBLE

[@tyriantaylor711]

This dweeb in our comments

[@tylerriley2587]

@@tyriantaylor711just someone hiding behind a burner account

[@peace7482]

Oh yeah, justifying that they have to work 5 days a week, lol, nice job nice job, JK... Some people work all 7 days of the week just to survive or do some serious job like saving lives 24/7...

[@ProblematicAraaB]

The Celtics don't have it this year. They'll lose to the Cavs, bucks or Orlando this year

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

They all got big contracts and don’t care anymore.

[@tylerriley2587]

Orlando is dealing with injuries

[@tylerriley2587]

@@CelticsRepeat2025dumb take claiming they get the bag and don't care 😡

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

@ usually people who resort to insulting someone else’s intelligence due to disagreement is a tell tale sign they aren’t very bright. You sound like a gen zer the slowest cohort to inherit the earth. Get a new hobby other than trolling and insulting people on the net. It’s embarrassing.

[@CelticsRepeat2025]

@@tylerriley2587 and slapped the crap out of the Celtics without 4/5 starters.

[@toddlieb718]

Jaylen Brown is a damn turnover machine! I love Jaylen but he has to know he's trying to do to much with his dribbling penetration a lot of times! Like Clint Eastwood said! A man has got to know his limitations!!!