Let’s delve into three exaggerated reactions stemming from the Boston Celtics’ recent loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

In a 106-103 defeat, the Boston Celtics were dethroned from their Eastern Conference standings’ top spot by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Despite the margin of loss being merely three points, Philly maintained significant control over the game until the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. The Celtics attempted a late comeback, but their efforts proved too little, too late, with center Kristaps Porzingis narrowly missing a potentially game-tying three-pointer with only six seconds left.

After stringing together five consecutive wins, Boston has now suffered two consecutive losses on the road. While it’s important to remember that the season is still in its early stages, let’s explore three exaggerated reactions to the Celtics’ narrow defeat.

Payton Pritchard isn’t getting it done

This offseason, Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard secured a lucrative deal, which should have alleviated any concerns about his future with the team. However, despite the financial security, his performance early in the season has been lackluster.

In the game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Pritchard failed to score a single point, going 0-for-4 from the field in just 16 minutes of play. While it’s fair to note that several bench players have struggled, Pritchard’s performance has been particularly disappointing.

Leading up to the loss against Philadelphia, Pritchard had a significant opportunity to earn more playing time, as guard Derrick White was absent for two games due to personal reasons. Regrettably, the 25-year-old guard did not capitalize on this chance, scoring zero points and going a combined 0-for-7 in a victory against the Brooklyn Nets and an overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Despite his ability to contribute on the boards despite his size, Pritchard has not fulfilled the role of a scoring spark off the bench, which the Celtics have been seeking.

Luke Kornet is tough to play versus real contenders

Bench struggles have not been limited to Payton Pritchard, as center Luke Kornet has also faced challenges with his performance. While he has received fewer minutes than Pritchard, his issues have still been noticeable, particularly when he subbed in against the Philadelphia 76ers.

During his brief three-minute stint in the second quarter, Kornet appeared to be overmatched. As soon as he entered the game with the Celtics holding a two-point lead, Sixers center Paul Reed seized control of the boards, securing an offensive rebound and a dunk right in Kornet’s vicinity. Additionally, Sixers forwards Kelly Oubre Jr. and Nicolas Batum grabbed offensive rebounds while Kornet was on the floor, despite their smaller stature compared to him. When Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla decided to make a change, Kornet left the game with the Celtics trailing by one.

While this brief sequence did not singlehandedly decide the outcome of the game, it serves as a small illustration of Kornet’s struggles to hold his own during significant stretches of play.

To his credit, Kornet played a crucial role in helping the Celtics secure a victory against the undermanned Brooklyn Nets by contributing 11 points in 15 minutes during a game last Saturday. However, Kornet’s overall performance has not been convincing enough to warrant additional minutes, particularly against more formidable opponents.

Boston’s turnover problems still linger

If there is a single, straightforward reason to account for the Boston Celtics’ loss in the 2022 NBA Finals, it can be attributed to turnovers.

During their game in South Philly against the Sixers, the Celtics committed 14 turnovers compared to the Sixers’ 13, which may not seem overly problematic. However, the Celtics have shown a tendency for inopportune turnovers, a pattern that was evident in their previous loss to the Timberwolves.

Star player Jaylen Brown was responsible for a number of these turnovers, recording four in a challenging 4-for-13 shooting performance. Additionally, co-star Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White each contributed two turnovers apiece.

The source of these errors, whether stemming from an offense still in the process of finding its rhythm or from other factors, remains to be determined. Nevertheless, it is a significant issue that warrants close attention. Tatum and Brown, in particular, often hurry up the court and become susceptible to defensive traps. Correcting these turnover issues and minimizing avoidable errors will largely fall on their shoulders.