James Harden dropped 45 points on the Boston Celtics’ heads in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Green Team’s defense lacked effort.

On Wednesday’s Toucher & Rich program, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston joined the show to explain what the Celtics need to do Wednesday night to win Game 2.

Parts of conversation are abbreviated for clarity.

• 

  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 10: Jaylen Brown #7 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics talk over a play in the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 10, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

• Rich: What happened with the Celtics in Game 1? 

  Chris Forsberg: For 48 hours, they talked about not playing down to their competition, especially with Embiid out. And yet this is what they do. 

  I don’t even think they’re trying. It’s hard to downshift like they’re doing. I mean, there was no defense in that game. They made a bunch of brain farts to keep the trend going. I just don’t know. I can’t tap into why this is happening. 

• 

  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 18: Boston Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on from the bench before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on October 18, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

• Chris Forsberg: You hear people say this is Joe Mazzulla’s fault, or they should bring back Ime Udoka, or the team just can’t focus in on certain moments. This is three coaches in a row where this core has been unable to catch itself when it goes sideways. 

  For me, it comes down to the players. They’ve got to be sharper. They know it as much as anybody. Why they can’t do it, though, is beyond me. But I’m sick of listening to them say they’ll be better. Actions speak louder than words. 

• "They had a great game and we had a mediocre game."
  
  Jaylen Brown on if there was any let up from the C's because Joel Embiid was out pic.twitter.com/K2LrmOHTw9

  — Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 2, 2023

• Chris Forsberg: The only good thing is that they’ve typically responded well. In the first-round series against the Hawks, they bounced back after Game 3. So, I’m eager to see the response tonight. 

  I get so mad because last year they played with their food. They made things difficult, and then it would bite them in the ass at the worst possible moment. I just fear something similar could happen this year if they don’t take care of business. 

• Full Segment

• Ryan Beaton is a producer for 985thesportshub.com. You can follow Ryan at @ry_beaton on Twitter.

  Follow @Toucherandrich on Twitter, @Toucherandrichofficial and @fredtoucher on Instagram to keep up with the show!

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