The Boston Celtics boast a 15-17 record through 32 games and are presently ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference.
Given that this team came into the year with championship-level aspirations, clearly nobody within the organization is happy with how things have turned out. Team owner Wyc Grousbeck blames a former player for his squad’s woes; general manager Danny Ainge has his own theories.
Because of how bad Boston has been thus far, many have wondered whether the acrimony has spilled over into the locker room. Are the players turning on each other? This week, we got an answer.
According to Keith Smith of SB Nation, for now at least, the answer appears to be no.
“Tatum said the team hasn’t lost faith in each other or in the organization, despite some scuttle to the contrary,” he reported.
Above all else, Jayson Tatum maintains that everyone on the roster is unified in their goal to turn this season around. He said:
“Everyone in that locker room and organization cares.
“We want to figure it out. It’s not a chemistry thing. It’s not that we don’t enjoy being around each other and playing with each other. We do. We’re all frustrated with ourselves and how we’re playing as a team. We want to figure it out. That we care is a positive I’m taking away from right now.”
The Celtics still have plenty of time to right the ship. They could use Gordon Hayward’s $28.5 million trade exception on any one of three great players. They’re also one of three serious suitors for J.J. Redick, and they could make a play for for Hassan Whiteside’s services.
If the players haven’t turned on one another yet, everything can still be fixed. But moves need to be made. If they’re not, things will ultimately get much worse before they get better.
