5 topics on how the Boston Celtics fall for the Detroit Pistons

For 48 hours, the Boston Celtics made positive headlines about their victory by bursting over the Memphis Grizzlies and their young superstar wings.

Then the Celtics scored just 12 points in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons on Friday and, after fighting back, failed again when the Pistons won the 96-93 victory – the first of the season.

Five conclusions from a game that the Celtics will want to place in the rear view mirror as soon as possible.

The starting lineup for the big two is really fighting on both ends.

With the obvious caveat that five games are not very representative, the Celtics’ starting lineup – Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Daniel Theis and Tristan Thompson – have really fought so far. According to NBA statistics, they have an offensive rating of 94.4 (extremely low) and a defensive rating of 113.7 (alarmingly high).

On Friday, that unit was destroyed again. The Celtics were very stable in the first quarter, posting a net rating of -61.8 thanks to catastrophic offensive numbers. The NBA had not calculated the new totals on Friday night, but that grouping has certainly not improved its ranking.

Offensively, Daniel Theis just doesn’t seem to offer the necessary spacing to punish defenses for slipping and obstructing the painting.

Defensively, as Tatum noted after the game, two big ones should offer some rim and rebound protection. But again, the problem seems to be in shape – Theis is a versatile defender, but he is more versatile as a center that can move his feet around the pick-and-roll and help protect the rim. Tweener fours like Jerami Grant are a more difficult cover.

Brad Stevens was asked about the double lineup after the Celtics lost to Indiana.

“I was hopeful that the lineup would be very good defensively,” said Stevens. “I am still hopeful of that. That said, we have to have everything on the table because we are playing a very difficult schedule and that does not stop. “

Marcus Smart’s 3-point delay had some logic behind it (but still).

At first glance, Smart launched a wild 3-point attempt at the end of the fourth period. With the Celtics losing by one, 30.1 seconds remaining and 17 seconds on the kick clock, Smart came running after Jaylen Brown and fired a difficult triple that hit the back of the rim and the table. The Pistons secured the rebound, and while Mason Plumlee missed one of his two free throws, Smart’s attempt seemed costly.

The shot may not be as bad as it looked. Taking a shot upwards gave the Celtics another possession before the time ran out, which is valuable. Smart also comfortably hit more than 40% of his “running jump shots” and “running jump shots” last season, which is how the NBA rates the appearance he won. In addition, he hit 3 out of 6 on Friday.

Apart from all that, Smart hit 5 to 14 overall and 0 to 3 on the free-throw line. The Celtics also had a break when Mason Plumlee (a 56.2% free-throw shooter) grabbed the rebound and was knocked out. A better free-throw shooter could have done both and forced the Celtics to try three first.

So, although there was logic, Smart – who made countless good decisions as a starter / passer this season – probably could have chosen his place better.

The Celtics closed the game with one of Brad Stevens’ favorite sets.

To attentive fans, the final play of the game may have seemed familiar – a lob over the defense to the opposite side of the court, where the player who catches it passes to a 3-point pitcher. It is a move that the Celtics have displayed so often that there is a supercut of their attempts on YouTube in 2016.

The design of the piece is totally misdirected. On Friday, Tatum went to the corner to fend off the defense of Grant Williams, who was on the opposite side of the court from Smart – the passer. Smart took over the difficult part of the set – a clear pass over the defense to Williams, who in turn passed Jaylen Brown writhing around the perimeter. Brown looked very open, but like many of the Celtics’ wide-open looks in the final stretch, he bounced off the edge.

Stevens said the Celtics’ goalless four minutes to the end of the game were less worrying than the effort and execution at the start.

“That may have been the way the basketball gods said we didn’t deserve to win the game,” said Brad Stevens. “The looks at the last minute were all very good overall.”

Saddiq Bey started and scored 17 points, while Aaron Nesmith did not play.

On the one hand, Bey looked great on both ends. On and off the ball, he was productive defensively and burned the Celtics with kicks 5 in 8 deep. Nesmith, however, has not yet entered the rotation, despite the pre-draft projections of a plug-and-play shooter. He did not play on Friday.

But that framework is not particularly fair for Nesmith, who is hired by a much better team with different rotations. As Stevens noted before Memphis’ victory, the Celtics often play with a real nine-player rotation (players like Semi Ojeleye and Javonte Green sometimes fill in the 4-5 minute gap). The other members of the rotation are large and wielding, while in Nesmith’s position, the players are all top players. The Pistons also have reason to play Bey because of their mistakes in their development, while the Celtics need players to help them win now.

So while Nesmith’s DNP-CD looks tough, especially since he and Bey always seemed to be grouped together in mock drafts as equally talented players, there are mitigating factors.

“It’s a unique situation now, from the point of view,” said Stevens earlier this week. “(Nesmith) is doing everything he needs to do. He’s working really hard. “

At least Marcus Smart has his … karaoke machine?

At the Celtics show on Friday afternoon, Smart revealed that he received a bottle of 12-year-old Bulleit whiskey in the team’s secret Santa gift offer before someone stole it from him and replaced it with a karaoke machine. Smart may have to deal with the worst loss of the season for the Celtics with a little music instead of strong drink – a much healthier option. Whoever stole it could have a good night, however.