Call the Celtics 21 Savage Because They Had No Heart in Game 5

I know the DOL readers will be devastated but they’ll be no pregame blog for Game 5. I will write about the game regardless of what happens but rn I need a nap in the worst way

— Doz #HireDozo (@DozonLife) May 9, 2023

Final pic.twitter.com/BUAizr3jrG

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 10, 2023

I had been looking forward to Game 5 pretty much since Game 4 ended. Losing sucked. But at least you could srta take something positive away from the C's effort for fighting back and retaking the lead before letting it slip away (lead by terrible execution late). It felt extra painful because the C's started like shit, so had they just come out ready to play, who knows what would've happened? At least the series was tied and heading home....not that the C's play well at home in the playoffs. It's almost impossible to believe, but they're 7-9 in their last 16 at the Garden. **multiple puke emojis**

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Tonight's loss with just a heartless effort and frustrating to watch as a green bleeder. We fucking sucked in all phases of the game. Philly getting literally every bounce did us no favors. From the game's first shot, the Sixers had shit bouncing off the rim 2 to 8 times that still found a way to go down. But PLEASE, do not get it twisted. This loss is on the Boston Celtics for once again not coming out ready to play. Their offense had no flow, and when they were getting good looks, they weren't falling. This theme is getting old fast.

You're coming home in a swing game, and you lay a fucking egg while Al Horford misses everything. Not ideal! He couldn't bury a fucking tequila shot with how awful he played tonight. Jaylen had a decent 1st quarter, then missed enough free throws to look like a URI Ram. Yo Ben Wallace, 3/8 is unfuckingacceptable. Maybe pull the mask up when you're on the line? The bench gave us nothing until it was too late; Payton Pritchard hit a couple of threes when the game was already out of reach. Did Brogdon even score? It didn't feel like it. The second/third unit did get to a place where, had they made one more three, it could've gotten interesting late, but as a team, this was a piss poor performance.

Doc still found a way to make things way closer than they need to be, and honestly, our old friend Doc Rivers is the one thing still giving me hope after the Celtics played with no heart tonight after being the dominant team through the first four games.

How happy should the Sixers be to have it at 2-2?

The Celtics are a +41 in the series.

A +10.25 scoring differential.

That equates historically to an .838 win percentage...meaning the Celtics should be leading the series 3.35 to 0.65.

And why math remains overrated.

— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) May 8, 2023

Well, there's that and being in this exact spot last year against a Bucks team that, IMO is better than this Philly squad, but we were seemingly hungrier last year...which blows my mind. The 2022 ECSF Game 5 loss was fucking devastating because of how the Celtics threw the game away late. Tonight they never really got to a spot where it felt like they would make it competitive. The lead got down to like five at one point (which could've been in like the 2nd quarter), but Philly always answered. I don't know when Tyrese Maxery turned into 2016 Steph Curry, but that shit was lame as fuck. What I'm about to say isn't exactly the most hashtag good guy swag, but Embiid has a banged-up knee. Can we please attack that??? Put a little pressure on him. There was no intensity tonight.

Now the Boston Celtics have their backs against the wall, and a promising season (where you didn't even have to play Milwaukee) is on the brink. They find themselves in an elimination game on Thursday night in Philly, and the vibes are below sea level. This tweet perfectly sums up the problem with this team and how they're in this spot much sooner than anybody expected.​

Lack of urgency has plagued Celtics. Now season is on brink.

Could have got this series started early, lost at home to Hawks. Let Harden get hot, fumbled away Game 1. Crumbled at end of Game 4.

No energy at start of Game 5 just inexcusable.

Will they fight for their season?

— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) May 10, 2023

I don't know what it is. Part of me thinks Mazzulla just isn't the man for the job. I really want to like him, but he gets on my fucking nerves with the lack of coaching and accountability. I love Tatum and know he's a star, but he needs to be more consistent to be considered a top-tier guy, even though most consider him one. He did lead this team to the Finals and finished 4th in MVP voting this season, but he needs to take that next step. I wanna see nights where he's shooting like 55% instead of 37%.

For my own mental health and the fun-ness of this summer, I hope the C's can bounce back and win in 7 like they did last year vs. the Bucks. You were 8-point favorites tonight and lost by 12 (and it wasn't even that close) AT HOME. It's fucking embarrassing, but the season is not over despite this weak, heartless, disgusting, disheartening, unacceptable, and any other bummer-adjective you can think of performance by the defending Eastern Conference champs. We've won in Philly before. We're gonna have to do it again. Time to smoke the sadness and back pain away (lol jk I need a tolerance break). Hopefully, tonight's Ted Lasso doesn't suck because I need a pick-me-up. Oh, and I lost a 1.5U chasing C's money line.

Let's end on a positive note: Doc Rivers' teams have blown 3-1 or 3-2 series leads in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2020. He also coached teams that blew 2-0 leads in 2013 and 2016. Hopefully, history can repeat itself.