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Boston Celtics continue to struggle with Kyrie Irving on the bench

By Nicholas Frazier

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 23: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics calls a play during the second half of the game against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden on December 23, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 23: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics calls a play during the second half of the game against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden on December 23, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics continue to struggle when Kyrie Irving is off the floor

At long last, the Boston Celtics are in the midst of an ugly slump. The Celtics have dropped their last four contests, their last game a 108-107 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers.

There are a few reasons as to why the Celtics are slumping, but the most noticeable cause has to be the lack of scoring with Kyrie Irving on the bench. The point guard put up 33 points in the Staples Center on Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough. In the nine minutes that Irving sat on the bench, the Celtics were outscored by 17.

This comes after the Magic outscored Boston by 12 with Irving off the court in a Celtics loss on Sunday. In the game before that, when Irving sat out with a shoulder injury, the Celtics could only muster 80 points against the 76ers.

Needless to say, the Celtics’ issues without the All-Star Irving are finally catching up to them. Rookie sensation Jayson Tatum is suddenly struggling to find the hoop after over performing all season. Terry Rozier has cooled off considerably as well, shooting 7-for-23 in his last three games. And Marcus Smart did score 22 off the bench against the Lakers on Tuesday, but if the Celtics are consistently relying on him for offense, they’re in trouble.

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The second-unit’s tendency to chuck up threes instead of moving the ball has also been an issue. Sometimes it works, like when the Celtics hit 15 of 44 deep balls against the Lakers. In the three losses before that, however, the Celtics shot a combined 32 percent from behind the arc, including a pitiful 24.1 percent against the 76ers.

Oftentimes, Rozier, Smart and Marcus Morris will man the bench unit, with a Celtics big man and Tatum also on the floor. Instead of moving the ball and finding open looks, Rozier, Smart and Morris will jack up threes and long twos if they believe they have enough space. Again, this works now and then, but is far from reliable.

The disappointing truth is that with Tatum stumbling, there is no pure scoring option the Celtics have besides Irving. Thanks to their premier defense, the team has been able to get by for the first three months of the season. Now, it’s become apparent that the streaky shooting of Marcus Morris and the physical post play of Jaylen Brown just won’t cut it.

Brad Stevens and co. recently signed sharpshooter Jarrell Eddie from the G-League to possibly provide some outside scoring, but that remains to be seen. Perhaps the Celtics will make a move for a true scorer before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, someone like Tyreke Evans or Lou Williams.

Either way, this offensive lull from the Celtics highlights how much they miss the scoring ability of Gordon Hayward. Once Hayward is available, either later this year or at the start of next season, Stevens will be able to stagger Irving and Hayward so there’s almost always at least one of them on the floor. That will go a long way in getting the Celtics’ offense humming again.

Unfortunately, we don’t know when Hayward will be back in uniform, although he is starting to shoot without a chair. If the Celtics know Hayward isn’t returning this season, then expect a move in early February to bolster the second-unit scoring.

Next: An Ugly Night in LA Raises More Questions for Boston

Either way, the entire Celtics team needs to regroup and find a way to put points on the board while their All-Star point guard gets a much-needed breather.

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