It’s often close when these two meet.
It’s not time to be concerned, but it is time to be a bit perplexed.
After starting the season 21-5, the Celtics have now lost three of their last four and are in danger of dropping three straight for the first time since the 2023 playoffs.
Here are three things to look for as Boston hosts the plucky Pacers – a team that rarely makes it easy – tonight at 7:30 p.m.
It’s often close when these two meet.
If it feels like the Pacers typically give the Celtics a close game, that’s because they do (except for that one outlier when the Celtics scored 155 points, of course).
Five of the last six games (regular season and playoffs) have been decided by five points or fewer.
This pic of Jaylen Brown’s three to force OT in front of the Pacers bench pic.twitter.com/hMRTa7A7NA
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2024
Indiana won, 135-132, when the teams met in late October. In the regular season last year, the Pacers won the penultimate meeting by two, then the Celtics won the final one by five. In the playoffs, Boston prevailed by 5, 17, 3 and 3 points in a series that was much closer than the 4-0 result indicates.
It’s probably the level right below an official rivalry, but it’s almost always competitive and intense when Boston and Indiana go head-to-head. You can tell it means a little extra to both sides.
How much do the Celtics rely on the 3?
One thing is abundantly clear. Whether 3-point shots are falling or not, the Celtics are not going to be afraid to keep letting them fly.
Against the Bulls, Boston shot 25 percent (14 of 56) in a 117-108 loss. Against the Magic, that number dipped slightly to 24.2 percent (8 of 33) in a 108-104 defeat. Against the 76ers, they ended up shooting 40.8 percent (20 for 49), but cold stretches shifted the momentum and ultimately haunted them.
If the Celtics go frigid against Indiana, can they find other ways to score? Or will the law of averages, and a commitment to the bit, eventually pull them out of the slump? A bit more versatility, and less predictability, could bode well long term.
Everything looks ugly when u missin. When Boston hittin 25 3s in a game, everybody seems happy and excited about the growth of the game
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) December 26, 2024
Can they win the assist battle?
Opponents have registered more assists than the Celtics in each of the three recent losses – 23-21 against the Bulls, 26-13 against the Magic and 28-24 against the 76ers.
The Celtics are at their best when the ball is flying around the floor and they’re cutting and passing at a high level. At times during this stretch, they’ve become too isolation-heavy.
The current debate about whether 3-pointers are good for the game is silly. If the shots come off great action, of course they’re fun to watch. If they’re contested step-backs off no movement, of course they’re not.
The Celtics need to get back to their roots and lean on what’s gotten them here. They’re down to 19th in the NBA with 25.4 assists per game, which is obviously not ideal.
So no, it’s not time to panic, but it is time to respond.