Bedard: This can't be it for Boston winter sports - time to find it fast, Celtics

Some random thoughts on the state of Boston sports, which stunningly has turned on its head in the span of 10 days ...

• I refuse to believe that a Boston winter/spring sports season that not long ago had us all dreaming about double Duck Boat parades is going to be over before Mother's Day. That is just not possible. So I expect the Celtics to channel the lessons learned from last year's 3-2 deficit to the Bucks, and apply them going forward. Boston is the much better team. It's time to them start effing around, put aside their petty BS and get the job done.

• I do expect that to happen, but the biggest worry I have is that Joe Mazzulla is not strong enough yet to demand that. Ime Udoka would tell these guys what they needed to hear — not what they want to hear — and would challenge them, pushing the right buttons to get the very best from Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart when it mattered most. Mazzulla needs to step up every bit as much as players in this scenario, and that's not even talking about his rotations, timeout strategies and play calling. That he's been outcoached by Doc Rivers ... that's just been a huge disappointment. But the Celtics have enough talent to overcome that ... if they are one the same page.

• To me, this backs-against-the-wall scenario is when the Celtics are at their best because it forces them to drop their individual agendas and desires, and forces them to go forward as a team. They can't handle success because they drift into their own lanes when presented with breathing room. 

• I was worried the Celtics were in trouble when I saw Tatum's reaction to James Harden's game-winning 3 in Game 4. 

The play itself ... it happens. Brown made a mistake, which he admitted. At least it was an aggressive mistake, trying to make a play. Even though it's not great, you can live with those. It happens. 

The more egregious part of this was Tatum spinning and looking directly at Brown. Brown saw it. Tatum might as well have pulled a LeBron James and pointed both arms, shining a light on JR Smith's egregious mistake in the 2018 Finals.

That's OK if one player is clearly the star and the other a role player. But when Brown, at the very least, views himself as Tatum's equal and seems to desire more of the spotlight, that can instantly foster resentment and the players retreating to their own corners to serve their own agendas.

Are we really that surprised the Celtics looked broken in the next game?

That's why a 3-2 series deficit might be their only hope. The players have no choice but to trust in each other and can put aside any sidecar garbage, or so we hope.

• The Bruins didn't succumb to any of that, they were just beaten because two aging stars (Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci) weren't the same physically and were soundly beaten by their Panthers counterparts, and the coach was overmatched, panicked in regards to line changes, and waited way too long to get Jeremy Swayman into the mix when Linus Ullmark was clearly not right.

• I can't believe Jim Montgomery said this yesterday in regards to Bergeron and his health: "After Game 3, I called Patrice. We were in Florida, and I was talking to him, and I said, ‘I know you’re doing better, I’ve seen the video of your rehab skates. If we win Game 4, is it prudent for us to give you more time?’ And he goes, ‘What do you mean?’ I go, ‘Do we not play you Game 5?’ And he said, ‘Monty, I’m playing Game 5.’ That was enough for me to know. You don’t keep Hall of Fame players out of the lineup."

Is he serious? Who's the coach? Who's looking out for what's best for the team? When Bergeron and Krejci were reinserted, the series went the other way.

• Don't even get me started on Brad Marchand's weak stick check on the series winner for the Panthers.

Put it right next to his line change against the Blues. Not acceptable.

• Montgomery better watch his back with the Jacobs' — and Don Sweeney and Cam Neely. They already threw Bruce Cassidy under the bus. By the way, he's up 2-1 against Edmonton after winning his first-round series with Vegas. I heard a lot of support for the brass of the Bruins, but not much for the coach. We all know who the scapegoats are with Delaware North.

• I'm enjoying the Red Sox right now, but I am not ready for them to be the only game in town. Not by a long stretch. It's hard to take this team all that seriously when Rafael Devers is being protected by Jarren Duran in the lineup. Duran is having a resurgent series, but they can't be serious with that. 

• Man, Nick Pivetta came off as sensitive and entitled when it came to his spot in the rotation after getting shelled last night. Part of the deal, bud. Deal with it.

•  Who's coming to Germany?! 

The New England Patriots today announced that they will play their Week 10 regular season home game in Frankfurt, Germany on November 12, 2023, against the Indianapolis Colts. The game will be the Patriots’ first in Germany as part of the 2023 National Football League’s (NFL) International Games. The game will be played at 3:30 p.m. in Frankfurt (9:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time). The Patriots’ visit to Germany will mark the team’s first time playing a home international game.

• The NFL schedule release is Thursday at 8 p.m. How many prime-time games for the Patriots to start? Going with three. The opponents:

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Buffalo Bills
Indianapolis Colts
Washington Commanders
Los Angeles Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs
Miami Dolphins
Philadelphia Eagles
New Orleans Saints
New York Jets

AWAY

Buffalo Bills
Denver Broncos
Dallas Cowboys
Miami Dolphins
New York Giants
New York Jets
Las Vegas Raiders
Pittsburgh Steelers

Prime-time picks: Chiefs, Eagles, Jets. Dallas ... possible Thanksgiving game?