Celtics Not Fretting Over Recent Downturn: ‘There is No Fear’

The Boston Celtics were once again left shaking their heads after a tough 119-115 overtime home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.

It was a game full of missed opportunities, mental mistakes, and late-game execution failures that continue to haunt the Celtics in their recent struggles.

But for head coach Joe Mazzulla, despite the frustration of the loss, he found a silver lining in the heated moments that preceded the game’s final buzzer, as written by Jay King of The Athletic.

Jayson Tatum squared off with Onyeka Okongwu, and Jaylen Brown quickly joined the fray to support his teammate. As referees and security tried to separate the two teams, Mazzulla was seen clapping his hands, urging his squad to stay engaged.

“I was just excited to have some conflict and controversy,” Mazzulla said, via King. “I think that builds us together.”

But even with that spirit, the Celtics couldn’t overcome their own mistakes. Jrue Holiday took responsibility for a couple of costly turnovers late in regulation, but Tatum and Brown also missed their share of key plays that could have swung the game in Boston’s favor.

Tatum missed a free throw with 7.9 seconds left in regulation, failed to convert on a potential game-winning jumper, and missed a critical rebound with the game on the line.

Brown also had a chance late in overtime but was blocked on a floater, then committed a turnover after grabbing the rebound. It was a game the Celtics should have won, but mental errors and missed opportunities added to a troubling pattern for the team.

Mazzulla, however, seems to be embracing the adversity. Despite the Celtics’ 8-8 record over their last 16 games, the head coach remains steadfast in his belief in the team’s character. He’s not shying away from the struggle.

“There is no fear,” Mazzulla said. “I’m actually more excited at this juncture of the season than I was at the beginning.”

It’s clear he believes this rough patch is a necessary part of the journey.

But as the losses pile up, the Celtics need to fix their execution if they’re going to snap out of this slump. Missed fast breaks, poor spacing, and the inability to close games were all on display against the Hawks, but Mazzulla clearly believes in his players.

The road ahead might be rocky, but the Celtics know what they need to do to turn it around — it’s just a matter of executing when it counts most. Tatum is optimistic, though, understanding that the struggles now could pay off later.

“If we stick together,” he said, “we’ll figure it out together.”

It’s a mindset that has served the Celtics well in the past. But the clock is ticking, and they’ll need to learn from these mistakes fast if they want to get back on track.