Celtics’ Starting Lineup Struggles Amid Shooting Slump

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics‘ starting lineup, once a powerhouse in the NBA, is facing unexpected struggles this season. Despite a 120-119 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night, the team’s first unit has been underperforming, particularly in shooting efficiency.

In a telling sequence during the game, the Celtics missed four shots in just 16 seconds, including three open 3-point attempts. Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Derrick White all failed to convert, highlighting a recurring issue for the team. The Pelicans capitalized on the Celtics’ misfires, with Trey Murphy scoring a difficult layup over Porziņģis.

“I think just the more minutes we play together, the more comfortable we’ll be,” said Derrick White. “Teams had a whole summer trying to figure out how to stop what we were doing. So, obviously, they made adjustments, and it’s on us to make adjustments back.”

Since Porziņģis made his season debut on Nov. 25, the Celtics’ starting lineup has been outscored by 8.9 points per 100 possessions over 138 minutes. Their offensive efficiency would rank 28th in the league, while their defensive efficiency would rank 25th. This stark contrast to last season’s performance has raised concerns.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged the issues, citing statistics that show the team’s expected points per possession versus their actual output. “It’s essentially in a training camp form with this particular group,” Mazzulla said. “We have to continue to work towards that.”

The Celtics’ starting lineup shot just 4 of 21 on 3-point attempts against the Pelicans, while allowing New Orleans to shoot 9 of 18 from beyond the arc. Despite these struggles, the unit managed to outscore the Pelicans by one point over 22 minutes.

Porziņģis, who has been in and out of the lineup due to injuries, took responsibility for the team’s performance. “I’m not playing my best basketball, not being as efficient,” he said. “That adds up a little bit to the team. But now, I look forward to having a good, long stretch of being healthy and getting in a good rhythm.”

Mazzulla emphasized the need for the team to rebuild trust and execution. “Just because we were this last year, you can’t take for granted the details, habit, execution, togetherness, trust,” he said. “All that stuff has to be rebuilt.”

With Al Horford in the lineup instead of Porziņģis, the Celtics have dominated opponents by 21.9 points per 100 possessions. However, the adjustment to Porziņģis has been challenging. The team is also facing more varied defensive strategies from opponents, adding to their difficulties.

Despite the current slump, both players and coaches remain optimistic. “With this kind of talent in this locker room, it’s impossible that we don’t start playing better basketball,” Porziņģis said.