The Boston Celtics have gotten off to some pretty slow starts recently. But they took their early struggles to a whole new level Tuesday.
One game after scoring just 19 points in the first quarter in an eventual loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics set a record for futility, tallying seven points in the first quarter of Tuesday’s Game 2 at Philips Arena.
Boston’s seven points are the fewest scored by any team in the first quarter of an NBA playoff game since the shot clock was instituted in 1954, according to ESPN. In short: That’s really bad.
The C’s couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, shooting an atrocious 13 percent (3 for 23) from the field and going 0 for 6 from 3-point range. Atlanta managed just 24 points of its own in the quarter, but four 3-pointers from a resurgent Kyle Korver helped it storm out to a huge early lead.
The only way to go was up for Boston in the second quarter, which it did — barely. The Celtics managed 21 points in the second frame but still had just 28 points at the half, bringing them close to another dubious distinction.
Head coach Brad Stevens’ bunch has shown a penchant for huge comebacks recently, but if the Celtics want any chance of winning this best-of-seven series, we’d recommend they not start like they did in Tuesday night’s 89-72 loss.
Thumbnail photo via Jason Getz/USA TODAY Sports Images
