BSJ Game Report: Clippers 113, Celtics 93 - Offense disappears again in second-straight stinker

Everything you need to know about the Celtics' worst loss of the season to the LA Clippers, with BSJ insight and analysis

IN A NUTSHELL

The Celtics were still pretty messy to start this game, turning the ball over too much, missing a lot of shots they’ve made in the past, and allowing too many offensive rebounds. Still, they were able to keep it close until a Clippers run pushed the lead to 18 in the third. That lead grew to 24 in the fourth and the Celtics have lost two straight for just the second time this season. 20 points in the biggest loss of the season for Boston.

Box Score

HEADLINES

A rough patch: No one’s season goes perfectly, and this is really Boston’s first mini-crisis of the season. I don’t want to overblow it, because they still have the league’s best record, but they’ve now basically had two full bad games in a row. They have to find their way out of this now. 

Tired legs?: Every miss seemed short in this game. That's a telltale sign that the legs just aren’t there. Maybe the letdown of the loss to Golden State carried over, maybe they're just worn out from a long road trip, but all the front-rimmed shots aren’t just a coincidence. 

Missing Al Horford: More on this in a bit, but it’s pretty clear how important Al Horford is to the team. He’s miles ahead of Blake Griffin defensively, and he’s been such a bail out on offense. 

TURNING POINT

The Celtics cut the lead down to 10 with 2:21 to go in the third quarter, but the Clippers answered with an 11-3 run to make it an 18-point game. The Celtics never truly threatened after that.

SECOND GUESS

Joe Mazzulla has no idea how to navigate these late-game blowout situations. Jayson Tatum playing 36 minutes in this game when the result was obvious is outrageous. This was not Boston’s night and it was clear. 

“I felt like it was important to let them kind of just get their rhythm and keep their spirit heading into tomorrow's game,” Mazzulla explained after the game. 

I disagree. It’s more important to sit them down, let them rest as much as possible, and hopefully have fresh legs going into a very winnable game to close the trip. 

TWO UP 

Malcolm Brogdon: While the rest of the team has been mostly struggling, or at least not living up to their best basketball, Brogdon has been a constant. He kept the Celtics close enough in both games to have a chance. It’s not his fault guys couldn't come through. 

Grant Williams: I’ll get this out of the way: Him giving up on a play to argue an uncalled backcourt violation only to watch his man come down and drill a 3 is incredibly, egregiously, bad judgment. Outside of that, though, he was great and a massive reason why the Celtics even had a chance in the third quarter. 

FIVE DOWN

Jayson Tatum: He’s simply not playing anywhere near that MVP level right now. He’s settling for some shots, and flat out missing others. He’s not attacking in the way that helped him climb the  MVP ladder in the first place. 

Marcus Smart: These are games where a point guard has to take charge and make sure the offense is running properly. We saw him come out in the third quarter and start to do that, but then everything went away again. He has to be a bigger part of getting the guys organized on nights like this. 

Blake Griffin: This is hardly his fault. He shouldn't be playing this much. They attacked him hard early on in drop coverage and the Celtics adjusted to switch, and they picked on him after that, too. He played well enough offensively, but attacking him helped some of the Clippers get going.

Sam Hauser: 1-6 from 3, and he’s slumping hard. He’s down to 25.9% shooting from deep over his last 7 games. 

Derrick White: Add him to the slumping group. He only played five minutes in the second half.

TOP PLAYS

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- Al Horford is super important and they miss him a lot

Teams can’t attack Horford the way they’ve gone after Griffin. Horford can play higher up on screens, he can contest more shots with his length, and he can read things a lot better and faster as they develop. 

Again, this isn’t a knock on Griffin, necessarily, who can’t be expected to do much more than he’s been doing. But even offensively, where Griffin has been fine, Horford just adds a different dimension with his shooting and passing. 

Robert Williams is coming back soon and that's great, but right now getting Horford back will be important. 

- For the love of sweet baby Jesus will you guys stop it with the refs?

This is a bad no-call. This should have been a backcourt violation:

I get thinking it was going to be a back court, but when there was no whistle, get back and play defense until the next whistle is blown and at least wait until then to complain. 

Instead Williams and Smart both thought it was better to complain first and then remember to play basketball. 

It might not have mattered anyway the way the game was going, but they were trying for one last push there and they let Luke Kennard walk into an easy 3-pointer.

I don’t know how many times I’m going to say it this season, but I’ll say it every time it happens. It’s never, ever alright to complain about a call while the play is happening, no matter how bad the call is. Get the stop, get the ball, and then say something if you have to. That play is embarrassing. 

UP NEXT: The Celtics can keep their stuff in their lockers tonight because they’ll be back in this same arena for a back-to-back against the LA Lakers tomorrow at 10 p.m.