Celtics

Last yr, the Celtics felt like a juggernaut that had the NBA's most effective offense and second-most efficient defense.

They secured the No. 1 seed within the Eastern Conference in late March and the ultimate few weeks of the regular season felt like a formality. The Celtics had an excessive amount of depth, too many shots and were well behind the remaining of the league.

This yr is different. Offensive efficiency has dropped to 3rd, defensive efficiency has dropped to sixth, and the Celtics' 3-point shooting percentage has declined from elite to middle of the pack. They have fallen to second place within the standings and are in peril of being overtaken by the third-place Knicks in the event that they proceed to play like this.

Other teams are catching up. Boston has lost seven of its last 14 games, and Wednesday's loss to the Raptors showed that opponents aren’t any longer afraid of the Celtics, based on NBC Sports Boston Brian Scalabrine said.

“I think the first half was phenomenal,” Scalabrine said of the Raptors game on Celtics Postgame Live. “I thought we were shot for shot, good basketball. I don't know the second half. I don't know what they were thinking.

“Did they think the Raptors would give up?” Scalabrine added. “It's just that we're not playing what I describe as the hard-nosed Celtic basketball that we saw last year, where you could see fear in our opponent's eyes. I'm sorry, man. This fear has disappeared. That’s just not the case anymore.”

It's not only essential that the Celtics lose. It's also about who they lose to and the way it happens. Chicago, Philadelphia and Toronto are sub-.500 teams. Sacramento was also there, but improved its record to 20-20 after defeating the Celtics. Orlando didn't have Paolo Banchero or any of the Wagner brothers after they beat Boston in December.

The Celtics lose to bad teams, partially due to shooting strikes, but in addition because they struggle to consistently generate the proper level of defensive intensity.

“The guys are excited to play against us and when they come out here they show it,” Scalabrine said. “You see Scotty Barnes slapping Jayson Tatum right in the face. Right there.”

“If you remember 2008 and 2009, it’s really interesting that the guys were afraid of us,” he continued. “That's exactly how it was. I'm sorry, I just don't see that with this group. I don’t see other teams saying, ‘Man, we have to get to the point today or the Celtics are going to beat us by 50 points.’ I don’t know if those days are over, but we don’t see that happening.”

Celts

There appears to be no sympathy between former Celtics teammates Brian Scalabrine and Kendrick Perkins.

Perkins, who was an outspoken critic of the Celtics for several years during his time as an on-air host at ESPN, could also be considered persona non grata in Boston as of late.

At least that's what Scalabrine said on his SiriusXM radio show when asked why Perkins was not a part of the Celtics who won the previous NBA title in 2008 and took part within the parade through Boston on Friday to have a good time their team's 18th title.

While the 2023-24 Celtics headlined Friday's festivities, former 2007-08 champions Paul Pierce, Eddie House, Scalabrine and Leon Powe were also featured on an amphibious vehicle.

“No, no, no, no, no, no,” Scalabrine said when asked if Perkins was invited to the Celtics' recent championship celebrations. “Big scarlet letter. … Kendrick Perkins is not exactly a welcoming place with open arms.”

It didn’t take long for Perkins to react. The former Celtics center asked Scalabrine to during an appearance on “Felger & Mazz” on 98.5 The Sports Hub on Monday afternoon.

“Right now, I feel like Scal is a coward,” Perkins said. “Was I the only member of 2008 missing from the amphibious vehicle? No, I wasn't. (Eddie) House, my friend, was there. Leon Powe, a good friend of mine, was there too.”

“Scal was there and Paul (Pierce) was there. There were 11 other guys missing. And to be honest, if I had gotten an invitation, which I didn't – I didn't know we were supposed to get one – but still, nine times out of 10 I would have turned it down. … This is not our moment. This is the moment of 2024. Let these guys have their moment.”

Perkins has modified his mind concerning the Celtics periodically over the past few months, especially each time Boston encountered one among the few obstacles it faced in the course of the 2023-24 season.

His harsh comment about Joe Mazzulla's coaching IQ in January prompted the Celtics coach to take a subtle jab at Perkins during a press conference – calling himself a “bird brain.”

Given Perkins' history of criticizing the Celtics, Scalabrine's comments about Boston's lack of an “open arms policy” toward Perkins can have some merit. However, Perkins stressed Monday that his recent efforts to succeed in Scalabrine have been fruitless.

“Right now I feel like you're avoiding me,” Perkins said of Scalabrine. “I have a problem with that. Can't we have a conversation between grown men?”