{"id":1559273,"date":"2023-04-26T10:32:57","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T14:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1559273"},"modified":"2023-04-26T10:32:58","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T14:32:58","slug":"whos-responsible-for-the-ugly-boston-celtics-meltdown-in-game-5-against-the-atlanta-hawks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/whos-responsible-for-the-ugly-boston-celtics-meltdown-in-game-5-against-the-atlanta-hawks\/","title":{"rendered":"Who's Responsible for the Ugly Boston Celtics Meltdown in Game 5 Against the Atlanta Hawks?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It may not be the most devastating loss in Boston Celtics<\/a> history, but it was a complete meltdown when the Celtics had plenty of incentive to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking to wrap up their first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks<\/a> on Tuesday, the Celtics had plenty to play for. A win gets them a few days of rest before taking on the Philadelphia 76ers and an injured Joel Embiid.<\/a> A victory also saves them another trip to Atlanta, where a loss sets up an anything-can-happen Game 7 this weekend. To be blunt, Boston blew it Tuesday. They choked in a 119-117 loss, and there's plenty of blame to go around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three should be held accountable for the Boston Celtics letting this one get away<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Who's
Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics reacts to a call against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at TD Garden on April 25, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts. | Maddie Meyer\/Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You win as a team, and you lose as a team, right? No. Not when you have players making foolish plays or being careless with the ball, especially in crunch time. Three members of the Boston Celtics should have an extra finger pointed at them for letting victory slip away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marcus Smart was anything but smart down the stretch. Smart brings plenty of energy<\/a> to the team, but he tried desperately to play hero ball in the final seconds, and it hurt them. Leading by one in the final 20 seconds, Smart dove and tried to steal the ball from Atlanta's Trae Young, fouling him in the process. Young hit two free throws to give the Hawks the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This came after Atlanta's Onyeka Okongwu was called for a personal foul after a hard screen on Smart. Instead of capitalizing on the possession, Smart returned the favor with a pay-back hard screen of his own down the other end of the court, giving the ball back to the Hawks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jayson Tatum also deserves his share of the blame. The supposed leader of the team<\/a> plays like anything but one, especially come playoff time. Tatum is careless with the ball, struggles to finish at the rim, and gets paid by the complaint. Not to mention, he shot 1-for-10 from three-point land. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tatum, hit with an unnecessary technical foul after slapping the ball away from the referee late in the game, is an extremely talented player. He's expanded his game this year by driving to the basket more, opening the way to more free-throw attempts. He just struggles when trying to finish those drives to the hoop. Tatum's always looking for the foul and spends more time complaining about non-calls than he does getting back on defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joe Mazzulla deserves plenty of blame as well<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Joe Mazzulla reacts to the Celtics tough loss in Game 5 vs. the Hawks pic.twitter.com\/IytMM3kjKE<\/a><\/p>— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 26, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>