The Boston Celtics are in serious trouble. Brad Stevens, Isaiah Thomas and company fell flat in a 111-97 home loss against the Chicago Bulls in Game 2, and with that, the No. 1 seed is left with the tall task of needing four wins over the next six games in order to advance. As you might expect in an instance such as this, the reactions to Boston’s ugly two-game performance have been swift and biting.
It's it too late to change it? pic.twitter.com/eNfInuLZtS
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) April 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/highkin/status/854520520330665984
The Bulls had just 16 road wins during the regular season.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) April 19, 2017
While general hilarity and pointed criticism are warranted in this case, the great majority of wrath has come in the direction of Celtics general manager Danny Ainge. After all, Boston chose to sit on their war chest of assets instead of “cashing in” on a godfather offer for either Jimmy Butler and Paul George. That decision is looking less than ideal at this point.
https://twitter.com/IamHarshDave/status/854522660386201600
Jimmy Butler: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists
Nets draft picks: 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists
— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) April 19, 2017
Nets pick hasn't boxed out a single damn possession in this series smfh
— FearTheSword (@FearTheSword) April 19, 2017
Hurry up & put the Nets pick in, Brad Stevens. Damn.
— Darius Soriano (@forumbluegold) April 19, 2017
Who couldn't help the Celtics tonight: Nets pick, Kelly O, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Amir Johnson, Crowder
Who could've: PG13, Jimmy B
— Adam Kudeimati (@adamkudeimati) April 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/854520258220220422
https://twitter.com/bansky/status/854519007038263297
Tom Izzo's Boston Celtics are going to be dangerous with Paul George next year.
— Ken Carman (@KenCarman) April 19, 2017
A lot of people will scream about Brad Stevens. You should be yelling at Ainge. At a certain point you have to stop hoarding and cash in
— Jorge Sedano (@Sedano) April 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/Adam_Jacobi/status/854522413186523136
Imagine not wanting to trade for Jimmy Buttler because you covet Terry Rozier
— Ry (@JustRyCole) April 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/CTowersCBS/status/854515508925923330
— Bo Churñey 🇨🇦 (@bochurney) April 19, 2017
While Ainge took the brunt of the jokes, Stevens isn’t immune from a few jabs here and there.
Congratulations to Fred Hoiberg for tying Brad Stevens in career playoff wins.
— Scoops (@ejmaroun) April 19, 2017
For good measure, Boston’s highest-paid player, Al Horford, is taking some heat after a performance in which he contributed only seven points in 32 minutes.
Al Horford has 7 points in Game 2.
He'll be paid 27.7M in 2017/18, 28.9M in 2018/19 and a player option for 30.1M in 2019/20
— nevaRWilliams (@nevaRWilliams) April 19, 2017
While Horford wasn’t supposed to be a big-time scorer when Boston acquired him, the fact remains that the Celtics are (very) short on offensive firepower outside of Thomas. When the All-Star guard leaves the floor, things go sideways in a hurry and, on this night, the ball began rolling downhill in a way that the Celtics just could not stop.
This series isn’t over but, judging by the Twitter eruption, it might as well be.
