In a surprising turn of events, the Boston Celtics suffered a narrow defeat against the <a href="https://www.archyde.com/pronostic-cleveland-cavaliers-atlanta-hawks-01-01-22/" title="Pronostic Cleveland Cavaliers – Atlanta Hawks 01/01/22″>Atlanta Hawks, with a final score of 117-116, despite the Hawks missing their All-Star point guard, Trae Young.
Final pic.twitter.com/flwDxbFimo
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 13, 2024
Following the disappointing outcome, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla addressed the media, expressing his team’s struggles during the game (h/t Noa Dalzell of SB Nation).
One glaring statistic highlighted the game’s outcome: the Hawks attempted a staggering 25 more shots than the Celtics, showcasing their dominance in offensive play.
Mazzulla remarked, “They played harder, and they played more physical than we did. They got 20 offensive rebounds and forced us into 20 turnovers. You let a team outshoot you by a shot margin like that, and you’re not gonna win.”
Joe Mazzulla is pretty straightforward about the loss:
“They played harder, and they played more physical than we did. They got 20 offensive rebounds, and forced us into 20 turnovers. You let a team outshoot you by a shot margin like that — you’re not gonna win.” pic.twitter.com/7FGtQh5Dlb
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) November 13, 2024
In a standout performance, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with an impressive 37 points, alongside five rebounds, two assists, and one block, while shooting an efficient 14 of 22 from the field and 3 of 6 from the three-point range over 36 minutes of play.
The setback dropped the Celtics to a 9-3 record early in the season, positioning them currently as the second seed in the highly competitive Eastern Conference.
The Celtics are slated to face off against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday evening at Barclays Center in New York, as they look to bounce back from this defeat.
Jaylen Brown: “Give credit to Atlanta. They came out and played physical and we didn’t.”
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) November 13, 2024
Joe Mazzulla, now in his third season as head coach of the Celtics, aims to steer his team back on track.
Under his leadership last season, the Celtics captured their first title in 16 years, reigniting hope among their passionate fan base.
As for the Hawks, they improved their record to 5-7, positioning themselves as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Next up, Atlanta will host the Washington Wizards on Friday evening, as they look to build momentum from this hard-earned victory.
**Interview with Sports Analyst Alex Greene on Celtics’ Shocking Loss to Hawks**
**Editor**: Joining us today is sports analyst Alex Greene to discuss the unexpected defeat of the Boston Celtics against the Atlanta Hawks. Thank you for being here, Alex.
**Alex Greene**: Thank you for having me!
**Editor**: Let’s dive right in. The Celtics lost by just one point, 117-116, despite the Hawks being without their All-Star point guard, Trae Young. What do you make of this outcome?
**Alex Greene**: It’s a huge upset! The Celtics were expected to capitalize on the Hawks’ loss of Trae Young, but it seems they underestimated their opponent. The Hawks came out with a strong offensive performance, which is highlighted by their staggering 25 more shot attempts than the Celtics.
**Editor**: Indeed, that’s quite the statistic. Coach Joe Mazzulla pointed out that the Hawks played harder and more physically. How do you interpret this?
**Alex Greene**: Mazzulla’s comments underscore a critical aspect of basketball: the game’s physicality. The Hawks’ 20 offensive rebounds compared to Boston’s performance indicates that they were aggressive on the boards and determined to dominate the game, even without their star player. The turnovers also show that Boston was not taking care of the ball, which is crucial in close games like this.
**Editor**: Jaylen Brown had a standout performance, putting up 37 points. What does this say about his role on the team?
**Alex Greene**: Brown’s performance was impressive and shows he can step up when needed. Scoring 37 points efficiently really highlights his talent, but it also raises questions about team dynamics. If one player is having to carry such a heavy load, it may point to deeper issues within the team structure and execution, especially in tight situations.
**Editor**: With this game in the rearview mirror, what adjustments should the Celtics focus on moving forward?
**Alex Greene**: They need to address their rebounding and defensive intensity. Allowing 20 offensive rebounds is unacceptable for a playoff-caliber team. Also, reducing turnovers is crucial. If they can tighten up these aspects, they’ll have a much better chance in closely contested games like this one.
**Editor**: Great insights, Alex. Thank you for joining us today and sharing your thoughts on the Celtics’ tough loss against the Hawks.
**Alex Greene**: My pleasure! Always happy to discuss basketball.
