Boston Celtics: 7 Things We've Learned from Their Struggles

The Boston Celtics lost 89-73 to the Dallas Mavericks, extending their losing streak to four games and making them losers of five of their last six games. These recent struggles have come in the wake of a hot streak for the Celtics in which they won nine of ten games, making it that much more frustrating. However, this four-game losing streak has shown us more about the Celtics than any of their wins this season ever could. 

Their Only Consistency Is Inconsistency

This season, the Celtics have made themselves as hard to understand as any team in the NBA with their inconsistency. Currently the Celtics stand at 15-16, and the bulk of the wind has come from win streaks of four, four and five. Meanwhile, the majority of the losses have come from losing streaks of three, five and currently four. If the Celtics can't find any sort of consistency this season, they will have a hard time contending. 

Offense Is Lacking

Since Kevin Garnett came to the Boston Celtics, the team has relied on defense first, and this Celtics team is no different. However, the one major difference between this year's Celtics and those of late is that the latter teams could score and this year's team simply can't (at least, they can't score with the ease necessary to contend).

Over the past four games, the Celtics have averaged 80.5 points per game. To put that in perspective, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook alone outscored that average by over ten points the other night. For the season, the Celtics are averaging under 90 points a game, the first time a Celtics team has averaged less than 90 points per game in the shot clock era.

All things considered, the Celtics need to find a way to score if they want to win games because if they can score at least an average amount of points per game, the defense will be able to carry them to victory.

Defense Still Has It

Although the Celtics' offense has been about as weak as possible, the defense has still been able to keep the team in games. Through the past four games, they have allowed an average of 93 points per game, which by Celtics standards may not be great but by normal standards is very good. The offense, as was aforementioned, has been terrible and really isn't looking up. However, if the defense can continue to perform, the Celtics will find some wins. 

Wilcox Can Contribute off the Bench

With all of the injuries lately, Wilcox has been getting more minutes and a few starting lineup nods. In the four games prior to the last loss to the Mavs, Wilcox has averaged around 13 points and seven rebounds per game. This is one of the few bright spots for the Celtics during this losing streak because front-court depth is something that the Celtics have desperately been seeking. If Wilcox can continue to perform well off the bench, he will lessen the burden on the older starters and help the team come playoff time. Unfortunately though, Wilcox left the Mavs game injured and did not return.

Defenses Are Keying on Ray Allen

One of the Celtics' best forms of offense is Ray Allen and his legendary shooting ability. Unfortunately though, opposing defenses also know this and have been focusing a lot of attention on him. Defenders are always on him when he is running of his screens and are staying attached to his hip at all times.

He has failed to score over 15 points in any game during this losing streak and has not shot well during that period either. Ray's struggles aren't necessarily his fault, it's just that defenses are paying more attention to him, and it's working. Assuming the Celtics can get healthier and their offense can improve, the attention will hopefully be taken off of Ray a little bit and he will again be able to run off screens and hit shots like he always seems to do. 

Rajon Rondo Is Still Inconsistent and Immature

Rajon Rondo's has been about as inconsistent as the Celtics themselves and especially as of late. One night he has a 32 point, 15 assist, 10-rebound game, then he has another 30-points game, but then a couple games later, he scores just five points. Not only that, but his immaturity was also on full display when he threw the ball at a referee, earning him a two-game suspension.

The Celtics need Rondo to be their leader and if he continues to be immature and inconsistent, there is no way that he can effectively lead the team.

Rebounding Still Needs Work

Throughout the season, the Celtics have been among the league's worst in rebounding, and these rebounding deficiencies have been on full display during the recent losing streak. In the past four games, the Celtics have been out-rebounded by an average of nine rebounds per game. This rebounding margin has led to second chance baskets for their opponents and very little second chance opportunities for the Celtics themselves. And this, without a doubt, has been a major factor in their losing. 

Obviously, the front-court injuries have played a role in the lack of rebounding. However, this is still no excuse, and if the Celtics want to win, they need to all crash the boards and cut down on the rebounding difference.