The Boston Celtics were the NBA’s top defense at the end of last season and came out of the gate one of the worst in the league to start their 2022-23 campaign. Thankfully, their offense was lethal enough to help them start 3-0, but soon their lack of effort and cohesion on the other end caught up to them in the form of a two-game losing streak.
The Celtics managed to keep it from sliding to three games with a trouncing of the Washington Wizards, with hot nights from Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Malcolm Brogdon capitalizing on a truly awful night for Wizards star Bradley Beal.
Let’s take a look at what was being said on Celtics and NBA Twitter as Boston cruised to a wire-wire 112-94 blowout.
First quarter
Celtics jump out to an 11-2 lead, as Wes Unseld Jr. grabs the early timeout.
The Celtics entered tis week having won 23 consecutive games when leading by 15+.
They've now lost two straight.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) October 30, 2022
Yeah, it might be. https://t.co/Xv4ZEAoKNk
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) October 30, 2022
Porzingis looks a lot better this year
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) October 30, 2022
Jaylen Brown (12 points) is being super-aggressive offensively. The #Celtics are looking to see that kind of effort, energy and focus on defense from him and others, which we all know hasn't been the case consistently this season for the Green Team.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) October 30, 2022
Grant Williams checks in after serving his one-game suspension. His first assignment? Check Brad Beal.
— Abby Chin (@tvabby) October 30, 2022
Payton Pritchard making his home debut this season with 2:11 remaining in the first quarter
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) October 30, 2022
Second quarter
Sam Hauser up to 8-of-15 from 3-point range to open the season.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) October 30, 2022
Someone needs to make a compilation video of the Kornet long-distance contests to music
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) October 30, 2022
We need to see that steal by @smart_MS3 a few more times. Great timing, and the end result – a Jayson Tatum 3-pointer – completed the sequence. Boston leads 51-27 now.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) October 30, 2022
And here come the Wizards…
What was once a 24-point lead is now down to ten (53-43) w/1:04 left in Q2. Washington hasn't led once in this game
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) October 30, 2022
Brad Beal still hasn't hit a shot yet and the Wiz are back within 10 points after forcing a few turnovers. Their pick-and-pop against the Celtics' drop coverage is starting to show some results.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) October 30, 2022
Celtics look a lot better when their shots go in. #analysis
— Mike Dynon ☘️🏀 (@MikeDynon) October 30, 2022
We need to see that steal by @smart_MS3 a few more times. Great timing, and the end result – a Jayson Tatum 3-pointer – completed the sequence. Boston leads 51-27 now.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) October 30, 2022
Third quarter
That steal by Marcus Smart just moved him past Antoine Walker for 5th on the Celtics all-time list.
Pierce 1583
Bird 1356
Rondo 990
Parish 873
SMART 829
Walker 828— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) October 30, 2022
Tatum getting back to contest that Kuzma breakaway without fouling was a pretty wild defensive play.
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) October 30, 2022
6-0 Celtics run out of Mazzulla's timeout triggered a timeout by the Wizards.
Celtics ahead 72-56 w/5:49 left in Q3
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) October 30, 2022
Brogdon not having to be the #1 option drawing fouls and getting teams into the penalty, but instead, being the guy capitalizing on defenses in the penalty is good.
— Bill Sy (@deliberatepix) October 30, 2022
Celtics with 21 assists on 26 makes tonight. Boston making the extra pass time and time again this season under Joe Mazzulla.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) October 30, 2022
Bradley Beal just made his 1st field goal of the game with 1:04 left in the 3Q. He's now 1-for-13.
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) October 30, 2022
Fourth quarter
It's the Wizards, but 68 points through three quarters and 90.7 points/100 possessions is quite a bit better by the Celtics' defense.
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) October 30, 2022
Malcolm Brogdon has been terrific this half, helping Celtics put the game away without needing Brown/Tatum.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) October 30, 2022
Luke Kornet is racking up the 3s – as in 3-second violations versus 3-pointers.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) October 30, 2022
K3RN3T
— kate (@smarttommypoint) October 30, 2022
Malcolm Brogdon with his first 20-point game as a Celtic.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) October 31, 2022
Taj Gibson is on the floor, wearing jersey No. 67. And no, that's not the year he was born…I think.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) October 31, 2022
After grinding out an OT loss Friday as Mitchell and LeVert torched the Celtics defense, Boston cruised to an easy 112-94 win over the Wiz as they kept Brad Beal from scoring until deep into the second half.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) October 31, 2022
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