Did the struggling Boston Celtics peak too early in 2022-23 season?

The Boston Celtics are struggling, and the vibes are not great, with the injuries piling up as quickly as the losses are of late. After losing three of their last four, including two games to the New York Knicks, the Cs now sit in an uncomfortable position. The Celtics are now once again facing adversity, and there’s a looming, unsettling question linger as to whether or not they peaked too early.

After starting the season 20-5, most people thought that the Celtics would easily cakewalk to the NBA Finals and the championship. They had the number one offense in the league, and they were on pace for a historic offense. Although they lost some of their defensive identity under Joe Mazzulla, the improved offense was a welcoming site.

Now, after losing three out of four and blowing their lead on the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, it’s fair to question if the Celtics peaked too early and are now in danger of not making the NBA Finals.

Did the Boston Celtics peak too early in 2022-23 season?

The Boston Celtics offensive philosophy has been overused to the point where they are no longer balanced. At the beginning of the season, the Celtics were one of the top driving teams, which created wide-open looks. Now, they just are settling for poor shots and it ruins the rhythm of their offense. The Cs need to go back to a more balanced attack where they get to the rim and utilize the paint.

Posting up Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown more and opening up open lanes for them to attack the basket would be welcomed because they are settling for too many jump shots.

Tatum, in the last two months, has reverted to bad habits as he is settling for too many 3-pointers . In February, Tatum regressed to just 25 points per game. This was a result of poor decision-making and settling for bad shots.

Tatum needs to set the tone for the Celtics, and he needs to look to get to the hoop. Look at his recent shot chart below.

Another big problem the Cs have is the loss of their defensive identity. The poor defense has become a problem now that the Celtics are losing as they are unable to get stops against the New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics need to rely on their defensive habits from a year ago because you don’t win championships with a strategy of looking to outscore people.

Moving forward, the Celtics need to get back to their overall identity, or it might be too late. With the way the other Eastern Conference threats are playing, it’s hard not to wonder if the Cs peaked too early.