The Boston Celtics have started this season off with zero wins and three losses.
2014 was the last time they did that, which is also the last time the Celtics did not make the playoffs.
There is a clear issue for this team when Jayson Tatum doesn’t play.
In Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons, Jaylen Brown scored 41 points on efficient shooting, but it wasn’t enough to take down the injured Pistons.
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla took a different approach to their game, starting 19-year-old rookie Hugo González to pressure Cade Cunningham full court.
In the first half, it seemed to be working, but by the time the second half rolled around, Cade and the Pistons had managed to make this tactic utterly useless.
Mazzulla called an audible and turned to Josh Minott, a 6-foot-8 wing whom the Celtics signed this offseason.
Again, this looked effective at first, but the Pistons soon combated the game plan of mastermind Mazzulla.
This wasn’t even the biggest issue for the Celtics.
What really cost them the game was the number of offensive rebounds they allowed late in the fourth quarter.
In Sunday’s loss, the Celtics allowed 19 offensive rebounds, which led to 32 second-chance points.
Boston currently averages 39 rebounds per game, putting them at 27th in the league.
Through three games, they have allowed 50 offensive rebounds, the most in the entire league.
They have been able to grab just 58.4% of available rebounds, which also puts them at last in the league.
Without guys like Al Horford, Luke Kornet and Kristaps Porziņģis, these struggles may continue.
Their offense looks more stagnant without the gravitational effect Tatum has, which has led to Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser struggling.
If the Celtics want to remain competitive, figuring out their rebounding issue should be their first concern.
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