At 0-3, the Celtics have entered unfamiliar territory after their 119-113 loss to the Pistons on Sunday.
In some ways, it’s a nod to how successful the C’s have been, where deep playoff runs were the norm.
Regardless, it’s the first time the Celtics have opened with three straight losses since 2013-14, which is also the last time the organization missed the playoffs. No need to ring the warning bells with 79 games left to play, but it’s still a notable start after years of winning.
“Still three games in,” Payton Pritchard told reporters in Detroit, via the NBC Sports Boston broadcast. “I think this is my first time really going on a three-game losing streak. So it’s unfamiliar. It’s a little adversity. So you look at this and you use it to make us better. But we’ll look at it. Do offensive things, defensive things that we can add to make us better.”
To put the Mazzulla era also into perspective, the three-game losing streak also matches their longest under the fourth-year coach. The Celtics had a few three-game losing streaks in his first season, 2022-23. But the C’s also had no such stretches over the past two seasons, which included the 2023-24 title year.
The schedule hasn’t exactly been easy so far either. They’ve faced two teams on the road that made the playoffs last season in the Knicks and Pistons. Plus, a one-point loss to the 76ers at home is also no reason to doom the Celtics. But it’s an unfamiliar feeling after what the organization has accomplished in the past several years.
It’s clear the Celtics’ margin for error is slimmer this season after all the offseason changes. The C’s weren’t expected to compete for a title, plus their best player is indefinitely sidelined as Jayson Tatum rehabs his Achilles injury.
The issues have been evident as the Celtics have been hit hard on the defensive glass. The Knicks and Pistons both dominated the offensive rebounding as they put up a lot of second-chance points. The C’s are smaller than past years, and while part of rebounding has an effort component, it’s also a personnel issue.
Some parts will likely get better. The shooting hasn’t been crisp as guys like Payton Pritchard (18.2% on 3s) and Derrick White (28.6%) will heat up eventually. The defense is getting misses. They also lost two close games, so it’s not like they’re getting blown out. Even in the Knicks loss, they showed life in the second half. But the Celtics haven’t gotten the all-important win yet, which is always the end goal.
“What matters is making sure we continue to stick to the process of trying to win,” Mazzulla said. “We had a 17-point lead today. We gotta close the second quarter better. Obviously, the fouls and the rebounds. I thought we played a complete game with the effort, and now we gotta play a complete game with effort and execution.”
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