The Boston Celtics were supposed to roar like a lion with their starting center Robert Williams III finally back in the fold in their Friday night home matchup with the Orlando Magic but went out like a lamb despite solid play from Timelord as bad habits crept back in.
Sloppy defense, rushed offense, and a generally poor overall effort that has been a staple of the Celtics’ recent play in road losses to teams like the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers (and very nearly, the Los Angeles Lakers as well) let one get away from Boston in what could have been a celebratory occasion had the Celtics taken a more dangerous Magic seriously.
Let’s take a look at what Celtics and NBA Twitter had to say about the loss.
These players are now available to be dealt if the need arises. https://t.co/2dvVqTXuRS
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 17, 2022
–oOo–
First quarter
On his first play back on the floor, Al Horford buries a corner 3.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) December 17, 2022
Ready for the New Dad +5 to all attributes bump for Al Horford
— Cousin DPOY (not notable) (@AndrewDoxy) December 17, 2022
Lost in the return of Rob excitement is the return of Al with even more dad hooper energy
— kate (@smarttommypoint) December 17, 2022
Robert Williams to the scorer's table. Massive ovation from the crowd at TD Garden.
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) December 17, 2022
Looking quite bouncy, too. https://t.co/W4P4cTxowc
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) December 17, 2022
Rob Williams was hinting for the lob before Marcus Smart made eye contact, threw it up to Rob & the crowd at TD Garden went off…
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) December 17, 2022
TD Garden goes NUTS after Robert Williams SLAMS Down an alley-oop ☘️ pic.twitter.com/EEBtArU7TH
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) December 17, 2022
🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/qxGJkuAU7Y
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 17, 2022
Robert Williams has 3 fouls in 4 minutes and probably should have been called for a 4th that went to Horford. Bit rusty.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) December 17, 2022
I'm not exactly sure what Tatum thought Kornet was going to do if he had caught that behind-the-back pass.
Celtics have been pretty sloppy on offense tonight.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 17, 2022
Magic allow the 5th lowest opponent 3P% in the NBA
Celtics just went 6-for-13 from three in Q1
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) December 17, 2022
Second quarter
— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) December 17, 2022
Robert Williams can still jump.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 17, 2022
Bill Russell, the Bostonian of the Year pic.twitter.com/KdwVcjDjri
— 𝕂𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕚 𝔸. 𝕃𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕤 (@KwaniALunis) December 17, 2022
Williams is moving well, which is what matters most, and he seems to be getting more comfortable as his minutes increase.
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) December 17, 2022
The Celtics' offense feels very rushed tonight, and not in the good, fastbreak kinda way
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) December 17, 2022
Jayson Tatum with 3 straight halves with 18+ points.
Sitting on 20 right now— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) December 17, 2022
Jaylen Brown's offense continues to be well above par. https://t.co/n2dp4vRMbd
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 17, 2022
Too fancy from Brown in transition.
— Rob Greene (@RobGreeneNBA) December 17, 2022
I really paid money to watch them chuck threes tonight pic.twitter.com/66Te0qmQyN
— Sam LaFrance (@SamLaFranceNBA) December 17, 2022
Seeing Daddy’s #Celtics6 in the paint touches my heart 💚💚💚🍀🍀🍀 https://t.co/L0e5TJA2Kl
— Karen Thee Russell (@Karen_Russell) December 17, 2022
Growing pains. New rotation. Develop chemistry
— Richard White (@RamblinWreck34) December 17, 2022
Joe Mazzulla went with mostly a nine-man rotation in the first half. That's sticking to his script. Luke Kornet saw some time when Rob Williams picked up his third foul.
Rob is up to 8:34. So, he's probably right around where the Celtics had him pegged for minutes tonight.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 17, 2022
looks like Al just elbowed Mo Wagner pretty hard. that didn't look great … being checked for a possible flagrant
— Souichi Terada | 寺田惣一 (@SouichiTerada) December 17, 2022
Al Horford has been ejected for hammering Mo Wagner in the junk, 16 minutes into his return.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) December 17, 2022
Jayson Tatum just got a technical foul. The Celtics are letting this one get out of hand. They're down 16 points to the Magic and are getting damaged by not one, but two Wagners.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 17, 2022
Win or lose, give Marcus Smart that Captain's C — he is doing everything he can to keep the Celtics from unraveling
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) December 17, 2022
Celtics hit a 3 pic.twitter.com/QoT7iWHf1H
— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) December 17, 2022
Celtics forced ANOTHER turnover.
They're in the midst of an 11-2 run…
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) December 17, 2022
Capped by this still … pic.twitter.com/Ek6gdbf27A
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) December 17, 2022
Boston's defense is uncharacteristically undisciplined tonight
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) December 17, 2022
Sam Hauser continues to be an underrated rebounder for the Celtics
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) December 17, 2022
I was so sure Grant was ending Bamba after that foul.
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) December 17, 2022
Eject him too
— kate (@smarttommypoint) December 17, 2022
Fourth quarter
This #Celtics #Magic game is a MESS
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) December 17, 2022
I was just thinking this game needed another review…
said no one. At all. Ever.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 17, 2022
This is the basketball version of chessboxing
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) December 17, 2022
Third Flagrant review of the game
This Celtics game has gone on for 5 years now
Jayson Tatum is still 19
Game has gone on so long that Ean Horford has checked in to replace his dad
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) December 17, 2022
Tatum doesn't have a field goal in this second half.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) December 17, 2022
Maybe time for Blake to get some rest … PLEASE
— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) December 17, 2022
#Celtics just can't make a run. Orlando lead head been between 7 and 14 the entire second half.
— John Zannis (@John_Zannis) December 17, 2022
C’s built the best offense on taking a ton of threes. Some nights that’s going to look bad. Just think if Brogdon had missed that; people would freak about Rob passing out of a dunk attempt. But it went in so it’s beautiful. Lots of misses tonight so everything looks trash.
— Ryan Bernardoni (@dangercart) December 17, 2022
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