Inside The Celtics

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Rockets: Boston Pays for Not Sticking with What Works

Fatigue undermines the Celtics in loss to a Rockets team tied for the NBA's fewest wins this season.

Bobby Krivitsky

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
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Fatigue got the best of the Celtics Monday night. That applies to the slow tempo they often played with, an ice-cold 12/42 (28.6 percent) performance from beyond the arc, and their lack of focus.

Boston didn't attack the basket consistently enough in the first half, but the visitors amended that in the second, which was at the root of making this game competitive.

That started with Jaylen Brown throwing down a thunderous dunk in the third quarter. Brown finished with 43 points, leading all scorers. He inflicted most of his damage at the rim.

After his emphatic flush in the third frame, Jayson Tatum quickly followed suit, generating eight of his 13 points in the period at the cylinder. Two more came at the line.

But on a night where he went 8/22, including 2/10 on threes, he finished with 22 points. Tatum left more on the table with multiple missed layups, including with a chance to force overtime on the game's final possession.

Perhaps Boston could've avoided being in that position if it stayed aggressive in crucial moments during the last 12 minutes, but deviating from that approach did more to fuel the hosts' offense than the Celtics'.

Houston turning 15 offensive rebounds into a 17-10 advantage in second-chance points didn't help either. The same goes for Boston's transition defense yielding 22 points on the heels of 14 turnovers.

Now for a deep dive into what stood out in each quarter of the Celtics' 111-109 loss to the Rockets.

Slow Tempo at the Root of Boston's Low-Scoring First Frame

The Celtics generated a lot of good looks that didn't go down in the first frame, especially in the first six minutes. The concern is how that impacts their play as the game unfolds.

While Boston's energy was good at the start, the Celtics' fatigue became evident in a low-scoring quarter where they shot 43.5 percent from the field and 5/15 (33.3 percent) from beyond the arc. They scored 29 points in the first 12 minutes.

The Rockets didn't fare much better for most of the period, evidenced by the score being 19-17 with 4:14 left.

But with the game close and the Celtics struggling fueled Houston's confidence. Exemplifying that was Jalen Green scoring 16 points in the first 12 minutes. Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in eight.

Jaylen Brown manufactured nine points in the first frame. Jayson Tatum, who struggled to find his rhythm, scored five on 1/4 shooting.

Malcolm Brogdon led Boston with ten points, including burying a buzzer-beater three at the left wing off a swing pass from Tatum, bringing the visitors within two, 31-29, entering the second quarter.

Whether it's the Celtics' point guards pushing the pace or their All-Star wings attacking downhill in the half-court, they need to play faster and with more aggression moving forward.

Fatigue and Cold-Shooting Plague Celtics in the Second Frame

Boston's defense early in the second quarter was excellent. That included Sam Hauser staying in front of Kevin Porter Jr. when he got targeted in isolation. The visitors' cutting off a transition opportunity, and Derrick White, in particular, flying around in the half-court, helping Blake Griffin against Jae'Sean Tate in the low post, then sprinting diagonally to the opposite-side wing to contest a missed three by Kenyon Martin Jr.

With the tempo slowing, Brown manufactured multiple mid-range baskets in the half-court, including getting the ball in the low post, then knocking down a turnaround fadeaway jump shot while getting fouled. Brown turned it into an old-school three-point play at the free-throw line, pulling Boston within three, 39-36, with 7:44 left in the first half.

After not playing in Saturday's win against the Hawks, Grant Williams entered Monday's matchup at the 9:03 mark in the second frame. Three minutes later, he thwarted Jalen Green, going off two feet to block his shot seven feet from the rim.

The former Tennessee Volunteer played most of the period (8:11) but didn't make much of an impact. He kept a possession alive by battling on the boards, but he also had two turnovers.

That included trying to make a play off the dribble, in which he put himself in a difficult situation as he got near the basket, then became indecisive and softly threw the ball to the hosts.

When Williams doesn't force the issue, he's more impactful.

The fatigued and cold-shooting visitors entered the break trailing 62-55 to a young Rockets team whose confidence and energy increased as the first half unfolded the way it did. Exemplifying that was Smith's drilling a left-corner three with 33.5 seconds left in the second quarter, then pumping his fists and letting out a scream as he got back on defense.

While Brown entered halftime with 21 points, a game-high and his second-most this season, Boston was 8/25 (32 percent) from three.

Tatum had nine points on 3/12 shooting, committed three turnovers, and missed a dunk. He dished out four assists and grabbed four rebounds, but it's evident his gas tank is low, and he has a plus-minus rating of minus-nine after 24 minutes.

It wasn't just an inability to find their rhythm from behind the arc that plagued the Celtics in the first half. They had eight giveaways, leading to a 16-8 Houston advantage in points off turnovers.

It also helped the hosts generate nine fast-break points to Boston's three. The Rockets going 13/18 at the free-throw line while the visitors were 5/5 didn't help the latter, either.

And with Houston active on the offensive glass and often winning the race to long rebounds, the Rockets converted seven second-chance opportunities into 13 points, seven more than the Celtics produced with their four offensive rebounds.

Green and Smith led Houston with 17 points apiece at halftime.

Attacking the Basket Gets the Celtics Back in the Game in the Third Quarter

Boston's struggles bled into the start of the third frame as the Rockets opened the second half on a 9-3 run, growing their lead to 71-58.

While the Celtics typically went slowly and settled for low-quality threes, not attacking the defense, playing inside-out, or moving the ball effectively, Brown provided a spark, getting downhill for a thunderous finish above the cylinder.

Tatum followed suit, producing eight points in the period by the 4:45 mark, exclusively from attacking the rim.

With Tatum and White flanked by second-unit members, Brogdon, Hauser, and Luke Kornet, Boston, playing with energy, staged a 7-0 run, featuring five points by Brogdon and a block by Kornet, helping the visitors cut the deficit to 78-75.

They were within five entering the final frame, trailing 85-80.

Eight of Tatum's 13 points in the quarter were at the rim. Two more came at the line. His and the team's more aggressive approach woke the Celtics up.

Celtics' Rally Falls Short in the Final Frame

Boston, playing with a spike in energy, trimmed the gap to 87-85 on a sequence where Brogdon stonewalled Tate in the low post, then knocked the ball free, leading to Brown finding Hauser for a transition layup just over three minutes into the period.

But the Rockets burying three-straight shots from beyond the arc, including two by Usman Garuba, quickly pushed Houston's lead to 98-89 with slightly less than 7:30 remaining.

But, like the third quarter, it was getting downhill that kept the Celtics close, as Brown's rim attacks earned four-consecutive points, including two at the free-throw line, bringing Boston back within five, 98-93, with a layup with 6:40 left.

And with the Rockets going from up nine to clinging to a five-point lead, Brogdon, stationed at the nail, swiped at the rock as Green drove to the basket, helping Al Horford stay in front of the second-year guard. Horford then denied Green at the rim.

And at the other end, Brogdon attacked from the baseline, got to the cup, and finished through contact. He tacked on the free throw, bringing the Celtics within two, 106-104, with 1:44 to play.

Brown got fouled shooting a three with the visitors down 108-105 with 52.3 seconds remaining, a sign of Houston's inexperience. But the two-time All-Star left one on the table, going 2/3.

Boston nearly got a turnover that would've led to a transition opportunity, but with Tatum's momentum taking him toward the visiting bench, he didn't have much choice but to try to save it with a behind-the-back pass.

That sailed past Brown, and the Rockets retained possession. With two timeouts left, using one would've been safer, but it's far easier for someone not trying to make the play to suggest that.

The Celtics let more time run off the clock than they should've but did foul Green, sending him to the line, where he gave Houston a 110-107 edge with ten seconds left.

With Boston down 111-109 with 7.8 seconds remaining, Mazzulla went to old faithful on a sideline inbound, having Tatum set up shop in the backcourt. He got the pitch from White, and went to the basket, but on a night where he missed a few layups, his attempt to force overtime was off the mark, and the Rockets survived.

Up Next

The Celtics travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves on Wednesday night; the matchup tips off at 8 pm EST. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the game before, during, and afterward.

Further Reading

Damon Stoudamire Named Head Coach of Georgia Tech

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Hawks: Boston Benefits from Ball Movement

The Celtics' Identity Has Changed for the Worst, But There's Time to Recalibrate

Celtics Address Losing 14-Point Fourth-Quarter Lead in Loss to the Cavaliers: 'We Just Have to Have a Fighter's Mentality'

Malcolm Brogdon Shares His Message to the Celtics After Overtime Loss to Cavaliers

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Cavaliers: Boston Pays for Second-Chance Points Surrendered and Grant Williams' Missed FTs

Should the Celtics Prioritize Rest Over Their Pursuit of the One Seed? Joe Mazzulla Weighs in

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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