The Celtics were ‘rattled’ during their loss to the Knicks

The Celtics were up by as many as 25 points Thursday night, and led by 10 points late in the third quarter before falling to the New York Knicks 108-105. This has become somewhat of a theme for the team, which ranks towards the bottom of the league in most fourth-quarter metrics.

What does a first-year coach tell a team that just can’t find a way to get over the hump? “Repetitive result that’s happening. Either we’re going to make some adjustments and get tired of it or it’s going to keep happening,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said after the game, when asked about his post-game message to the team. “Message was short and sweet. Wasn’t about the last play, again. It was everything leading up to it.”

“We need some leadership. Somebody that can calm us down and not get rattled when everything starts to go a little south and I think it snowballs between our guys,” Udoka added, seemingly calling out the roster, or citing a need for external help. “Step up, or do I have to stop all of our momentum and pace and call a play?”

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  Asked about Udoka saying the team get's rattled, Robert Williams agreed. "I feel Ime's 100 percent right to be honest. We get rattled a lot, especially when we're facing adversity," Williams said. "I feel like we've just got to find it in ourselves, the grit and the fight to just come together. Even when stuff's not going our way."
  
  These comments are similar to those made by Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens Thursday morning on Toucher & Rich. “I think that obviously when you’re talking about winning a 48 minute game, you’ve got to be good throughout the whole thing and you’ve got to find a consistent way of doing things well throughout the whole game,” Stevens said.
  
  As for what kind of changes the team can make to be more consistent, that answer is vague right now. With their full roster finally available to them after a month of mounting COVID cases and injuries, Udoka has more flexibility with the rotations. There's also the upcoming NBA trade deadline on Feb. 10 if Stevens does think adding externally could be the key - assuming he sees the team as buyers and not sellers at that point.

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