On paper, the Boston Celtics had already made 17 3s, just one shy of their season average with nearly three-quarters of a quarter to go. By comparison, the Houston Rockets had converted only nine. But Friday night’s dismal showing — a lopsided 109-86 loss to the reigning champs — was yet another painful reminder of the offensive shortcomings augmented by a lack of bodies, a lack of cohesion and, ultimately, a lack of an efficient, modern system. “I’m going to be honest,” veteran Jeff Green said. “It’s tough with Jabari (Smith Jr.) going down. He’s a vital piece of what we do. It’s going to take some time for us to get used to the rotations, who’s out on the floor, because of what he brought to the team. So collectively, we need to do our part in making each other look good, but we have to do it as a committee. We have to go out there, share the ball and play more together. And that’s going to take some time, but with the personnel and coaches we have, we’ll figure out something.” -via New York Times / January 4, 2025
Jabari Smith Jr. to undergo surgery?
