Which concerns are real for Celtics amid their first losing streak?

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Which concerns are real for Celtics amid their first losing streak? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics have so rarely lost consecutive games over the past 14 months that the first losing streak of the 2024-25 season probably registers higher on the concern meter than it should. Still, there’s no denying that the Celtics, losers of four of their last seven, are in a bit of a rare funk.

A wonky schedule, injury woes, and that championship target on their backs have all contributed to Boston’s first uneven stretch of basketball of the season. No one is slamming panic buttons, but with a fierce, road-heavy schedule looming in January, it is fair to ponder which areas the Celtics need to clean up quicker than others.

The Celtics looked like a wrecking ball with a 16-3 record through the first five weeks of the season. They got Kristaps Porzingis back at the end of that stretch and seemed to find another gear in a lopsided win over the Clippers.

But Boston has sputtered a bit since. The C’s stumbled against East-leading Cleveland in an early-season rematch after Boston ended the Cavs’ season-opening win streak in November. Losses to Chicago, Orlando, and Philadelphia over the past week will leave the team taking inventory of its missteps.

So what is truly reason for concern and what is just a blip on the radar? Let’s tackle some of the more notable issues and assign a “concern grade” (1 being the lowest, 10 being the highest):

Porzingis’ health and production

When the Celtics hammered the Clippers on November 25 in Porzingis’ season debut, it felt like a glimpse of their full potential with their 7-foot-2 big man back on the floor.

Boston’s offensive rating over its first 23 games was 120.6, second-best in the NBA. Over the last seven tilts, that number is down to 113.1. Boston’s net rating in Porzingis’ 299 minutes of court time is just +3.1 and spikes to +12.6 in his 325 minutes off the floor.

Some starts and stops haven’t helped anyone find consistency. Porzingis has tweaked one of his feet on three different occasions since returning, including leaving the Christmas Day game with…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/concerns-real-celtics-amid-first-165618723.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2024-12-26 17:05:00

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