Subscribe
Follow Us
The Boston Celtics have headed in an unexpected direction after winning 12 of their last 15 games heading into the All-Star break, unable to keep that winning consistency after coming back from the February festivities. Big man Al Horford thinks the lack of that consistency is what has hurt the team in this recent stretch, losing five of their last six games since coming back from the break.
“It is a commitment to winning, and being consistent with it,” said Horford, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. “That has been our biggest problem.”
“Right now, unfortunately, we are going through a really bad stretch. This is when our group, we need to make sure that we stay together and even closer because I know it's hard. We're the first ones that don't want to lose, but we just need to continue to work because we feel like we can be better than this.”
The Celtics are in little risk of sliding in the standings, still holding a six-game advantage over the Detroit Pistons, but also unable to climb up the ranks and beat out the Philadelphia 76ers (2.5 games ahead for fourth place) or the Indiana Pacers (three games ahead for third) in a quest for a top-three playoff spot.
Boston has had problems scoring the ball, mustering less than 100 points in three of the five losses, now 3-7 through their last 10 games.
As Horford urged, if the team can't rally around these struggles with 18 games left on the regular-season schedule, it's likely they will face issues going into the first few rounds of the playoffs, foregoing any potential home advantage during a trying stretch.
