Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways as the C’s fall to the Hawks 108-92
![Jan 28, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives past Boston Celtics guard Josh Richardson (8) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Jan 28, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives past Boston Celtics guard Josh Richardson (8) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d400857fbf7f2004659c49e6f6a2190ffd7dd52d2c867c1f12099473b0d10354.jpg)
Boston Celtics takeaway No. 1) The Jays had no control
Turnovers were a major issue for the Boston Celtics on the evening, totaling 16 for the game. It just so happens that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had a combined 12 of their own.
This display of carelessness led to more possessions for the Hawks and killed any momentum the Celtics had to make this a competitive affair.
It would have been more tolerable if it was a situation of a messy first half where they cleaned it up in the second.
This was not the case at all.
What was on the menu on the night, folks? Bitter apple turnovers.
Tough digestion for Celtics fans.
Every time, the Celtics take two steps forward they have a clunker like this, and it’s three steps back.
The story of the game in one word was “turnovers”. We started the game not valuing the possession of the basketball and ended it in a similar fashion.
Should we give the C’s a hand for keeping with a consistent theme? We seem to be allergic to being anything but an average .500 ball club.
At this pace, we may be in the dreaded stages of NBA purgatory — not good enough to make a deep playoff run, but not bad enough to get a good draft pick.
Is this the Boston Celtics or the Indiana Pacers? I cannot tell anymore.
The reality is coughing up the ball was a major hiccup for the C’s, and Jayson and Jaylen led the forefronts of that collapse.
Also notable is that our starting point guard, Marcus Smart only had two assists. The problem on this team seems to be the Jays assuming the de-facto point forward role too much.
We need a real point guard to bring a sense of calmness to this ball club.
Bob Cousy was one hundred percent right with his observations.
An army without a general is doomed in battle.