Pistons vs. Celtics: Notes, quotes, and reactions (Feb. 12)

The Boston Celtics seem to have settled into an infuriating pattern of “win one, lose one” no matter the caliber of opponent facing them in the midst of their 2020-21 season.

Dropping another game to the Detroit Pistons 108 – 102 Friday night at TD Garden with virtually no ball movement a night after beating the Toronto Raptors 120 – 106 with some of the best passing of the season, the Celtics are clearly stuck in a bit of a funk. Whether health, improved focus and energy, or securing some reliable depth on the trade market is the answer, for now fans and players alike are left feeling irked, to put things mildly.

Notes

• We could see this loss coming from a mile away between the injuries, the walking wounded, the hectic schedule and the apparent desire for Detroit's rookies to punish Boston for not drafting them.

• This team needs help, rest, and increased effort in that order.

• The outstanding passing against the Raptors was a thing of beauty, but if it tapped them out in that regard for the next night. Against the Pistons, let's not speak of ball movement again.

• Why is it that when Boston blinks near the head of another player, they get a flagrant review, but when Jaylen Brown gets his nose bloodied, nothing at all? We're not opposed to letting players play on in many cases, but at least be consistent.

https://twitter.com/TheCelticsWire/status/1360649438436425731?s=20

Quotes

Coach Brad Stevens: "We thought very much about Saddiq Bey -- he was 7 of 11 against us in the first two games [Boston played Detroit]. He was a huge emphasis, we just didn't guard him well." Jaylen Brown: "I don't know how many times I hit the floor today, but I felt like I might as well have brought a mop to mop the floor. Detroit was a physical team, but at this point, it's getting ridiculous. I don't understand that, but I don't want to comment too much on it. I don't want to get fined, but I thought I got hit in the face -- pretty hard, too." Jayson Tatum: " I think this is such a unique season with everything going on, in our league and around the world. But with everything going on, I feel like health is a big thing -- getting everyone healthy, playing with everyone. And honestly, I think who peaks at the right time this season is going to be very, very important."

First quarter reactions

FastPP earned his first career start: https://twitter.com/celtics_stats/status/1360396133789483011?s=20 And Semi started hot again: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360396248688308234?s=20 Theis had trouble at the rim: https://twitter.com/ByJayKing/status/1360396629841485824?s=20 And things looked good to start. https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1360396966564364295?s=20 Then Detroit began to attack: https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1360399949943422976?s=20 And Thompson struggled again... https://twitter.com/JaredWeissNBA/status/1360400242886123522?s=20 As did Teague: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360400820823547910?s=20 And ball movement was nowhere to be found. https://twitter.com/Murf56/status/1360401275578445827?s=20 Letting the Pistons jump out to an early lead. https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360402636994977800?s=20

Second quarter reactions

Then Detroit began to falter: https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1360404350850523136?s=20 And GWill turned an ankle: https://twitter.com/Murf56/status/1360404676479496197?s=20 While Bey began to get hot: https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1360406182570172423?s=20 And Boston...not. https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360407186011226112?s=20 Sings of life from the Celtics were to be seen: https://twitter.com/AdamHimmelsbach/status/1360409450746699779?s=20 Keeping the Cs close going into the break. https://twitter.com/celtics_stats/status/1360409629994463232?s=20

Third quarter reactions

It looked like Boston might make a game of it: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360414763155619842?s=20 And Blake became a human wall: https://twitter.com/Murf56/status/1360415163543863299?s=20 https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360413432206528514?s=20 Though Ojeleye appeared to hurt his leg: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360416394328817666?s=20 Brown had some issues with Griffin as well: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360417063458766852?s=20 While Saddiq Bey was on fire: https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1360417956791017478?s=20 Why Nesmith hasn't played is a mystery: https://twitter.com/JaredWeissNBA/status/1360419439951421442?s=20 And this pretty much sums up the quarter, if not game: https://twitter.com/ByJayKing/status/1360419547329814530?s=20 The lead ballooned to ten. https://twitter.com/celtics_stats/status/1360419991770783747?s=20

Fourth quarter reactions

Bad habits were on display: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360421115500322818?s=20 And the news just kept getting worse: https://twitter.com/Max_Lederman/status/1360421470757871616?s=20 So many bad habits: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360421997314998273?s=20 And then Brown got his nose bloodied: https://twitter.com/justinquinnn/status/1360423186945482752?s=20 With no review: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360423346580590593?s=20 And with Bey on the bench, a glimmer of hope: https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1360423866552754178?s=20 That didn't amount to much: https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1360424589495595009?s=20 And the Pritchuation didn't have the best start: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360425230821449729?s=20 Bey was on a mission: https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1360428189047259138?s=20 And this summed things up well: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1360429618281517057?s=20 On to the next one. https://twitter.com/celtics_stats/status/1360432187263303680?s=20 https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=rP7WothnFf-1152828-8380&autoplay=on&V=2&format=json [lawrence-related id=46573,46570,46565,46561] [listicle id=46532]

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