Why Celtics' Game 2 loss was an 'identity check'

In the opening minute of the fourth quarter of Game 2, Donovan Mitchell received a dribble handoff from Tristan Thompson at the top of the key and jacked up a three.

The shot was off-balance, but it didn’t matter. It bounced off the backboard and through the net.

As he backpedaled down the court, Mitchell shrugged, just like Michael Jordan did in Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals.

Though the tone and feeling were drastically different, Mitchell’s shrug mirrored almost everybody at the TD Garden’s reaction – who were stunned watching their team get embarrassed on their home floor.

With just under five minutes left in the game, Joe Mazzulla waved the white flag, pulling his starters and prompting an early exit for the disappointed fans – a scene becoming all too familiar during recent postseason runs.

In their post-game press conferences, Mazzulla, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum were notably terse in their responses. There was an underlying frustration, perhaps even self-disappointment, for making things more complicated than necessary.

Brown frequently used the word “unacceptable” to describe the loss. “This was an unacceptable performance,” Brown said. “We need to be ready to respond.”

Although Cleveland shot 54.7% from the field and 46.4% from deep, this wasn’t a carbon copy from Game 2 – that was a hot shooting night. This was poor defense and simply being outplayed.

“Defensively, it was an unacceptable performance. I think that’s where - we look at that - I’m the most upset. Defensively,” Brown said. “We gave up 118 points. Then, on top of that, we lost the rebound battle. So we didn’t help ourselves tonight.”

Every Cavalier shot 50% or better. It marked the first time since May 31, 2018, that Cleveland had scored more than 107 points in a playoff game. LeBron James scored 51 for them that night.

“A lot of easy buckets for them,” Al Horford said on the defense. “We have to be better in that regard.”

The Celtics missed Kristaps Porzingis’s rim protection. Cleveland scored 60 points in the paint, with 46 in the restricted area. Of the 60 points Cleveland scored in the paint overall, 36 came in the first half, which kept them afloat until Donovan Mitchell and a three-point parade arrived.

Mitchell, who scored just six points in the first half, exploded for 23 in the second half, matching the output of Boston’s starters. As Mitchell got going, so did the long ball, as Cleveland knocked down 10-of-18 (55.6%) from distance in the second half, while Boston shot an atrocious 2-of-18 (11.1%), turning what was a tie game at the half into a 24-point blowout.

“Some of our communication was a little off in that second half, something we got to be better at – limit them to one shot,” Tatum said after the game. “they hit some tough shots. That’s part of it. They’re a good basketball team. Good players. They’re going to make some shots.”

The Celtics often talk about how interconnected the game is. They emphasize that a strong offense relies on a solid defense, and conversely, a strong defense supports a potent offense.

This theory has been validated this postseason. The only games the Celtics have allowed more than 100 points are the two games they have lost. Additionally, Boston recorded its lowest point totals in each of those games.

This Game 2 loss felt eerily reminiscent of past postseason defeats, which should prompt some introspection and soul-searching within the Celtics camp. There was a noticeable breakdown in defense, leading to a reliance on isolation plays, forced shots, and even fans leaving TD Garden early — a story in itself.

During the regular season, the Celtics only lost four out of 41 home games. Yet, in just five postseason games, they’re already halfway there. It’s a puzzle no one seems to have the answer to.

“I’m not sure. It’s one of those things that you want to take care of at home, but unfortunately, we just couldn’t do it,” Horford said on being unable to close out at home. “I really don’t have an answer for that.”

The playoffs are hard. It’s a whole different ball game. However, as Mazzulla has repeatedly stressed, the recipe for winning remains the same. And for the Celtics, those ingredients are mindset, defense, and margins – all areas they failed in Game 2.

The phrase “wake-up call” doesn’t sit well with Boston sports fans, particularly those of the Celtics. It often sounds like a tired excuse for every loss. And really, how many wake-up calls does this team need?

So, we’ll go with “identity check.”

Game 2 served as a stark reminder that if the Celtics are going to get to where they want to be, it starts with the principles they identified back in training camp – defense and mindset. If they don’t adhere to those, things will be much more complicated than they need to be -- see Game 2 for exhibit A.

“You learn from it. Take it on the chin. You learn from it and come out and put your best foot forward for the next game,” Brown said. “This was an unacceptable performance, and we need to be ready to respond.”

The Celtics have the blueprint and the talent; it’s a matter of sticking with it, not getting bored with the little things, and being the more desperate team.