The Boston Celtics may have hit a bit of a wall.
Joe Mazzulla’s team looked like the most dominant and consistent force in the Eastern Conference just one month ago, but they’ve been mostly bad over the past week or so.
The Celtics can’t seem to hold on to big leads, and they’ve struggled to close their rivals out.
That’s why NBA analyst Skip Bayless is worried them, claiming that ‘something is amiss’ with the Celtics.
Bayless pointed out all the big leads they’ve blown as of late, which has been a point of emphasis among the players recently as well.
“A week ago, they almost blew a 25-point lead to this same Cavaliers,” Bayless started. “Then, they blew a 28-point lead [to the Brooklyn Nets] and lost by ten at home. Then they lost a 15-point lead to the Knicks and lost in double-overtime, and then last night a 14-point lead in the third quarter.”
"Something is amiss with Boston."@RealSkipBayless is concerned about the Celtics right now after 3rd-straight loss: pic.twitter.com/wF8D1bvatx
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) March 7, 2023
Derrick White and Jayson Tatum stated that they needed to get their swagger back, while Jaylen Brown cited their need to stop thinking about moral victories.
The Celtics are no longer the top-seed in the East, and home-court advantage could give the ultimate edge in a potential seven-game series vs. the Milwaukee Bucks.
Holding on to big leads will be key in the postseason.
Rival teams make better and more accurate in-game and in-series adjustments, and Mazzulla has looked over his head more often than not over the past couple of weeks.
They now trail the Milwaukee Bucks by nearly three games for the first seed, so they cannot afford to keep dropping any further in the standings, especially with the Philadephia 76ers breathing down their necks.
The Celtics have the talent, depth, and experience to turn things around, but they need to get their act together now.
NEXT: Jaylen Brown Has A Clear Message After Celtics Loss To Cavs
