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Alex Brandon / Associated Press
Brad Stevens thinks his Celtics do not engage in defense but instead take shortcuts.
Kyrie Irving believes that the responsibility for solving this problem lies with her coach.
"This is Brad", Irving told reporters following Tuesday's loss to the Toronto Raptors.
The Celtics allowed the Raptors to overturn 17 players in a 118-95 loss. Toronto scored 18-0 in the second quarter and led to double digits throughout the second half, scoring 33 of 46 goals.
Boston has lost three straight games and five of its last seven. The Philadelphia 76ers have a two-game lead over the Celtics for the fourth-seeded East, and it's becoming more and more likely that Boston, a team chosen as the No. 1 seed in the meadow -season, will not even have the land at home 1.
Trying to be an expert in body language is always a bit tricky when it comes to professionals, but the Celtics have not found their pace all season and they are running out of time. They looked like a team barely interested in playing together in a crucial conference match on Tuesday.
"For whatever reason, we are not fighting as we did in the past," said striker Al Horford. told reporters.
Irving was limited to seven points and five assists in one of his worst performances as Celtic. It was his first single-digit performance since the Oct. 27 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Much of the long-term uncertainty in the locker room goes to Irving, who may deny his player the option of becoming a free agent this summer. Kyrie has long been tied to the New York Knicks, who have passed their deadline to Kristaps Porzingis to earn up to two slots, presumably to pursue Irving and his friend Kevin Durant.
Irving did nothing to dispel any potential interest, backing off from his verbal commitment that he had given to the Celtics in October and arriving at almost all post-match press conferences with a stormy layout .
Something must give for the Celtics. It is unclear what changes can be made at this stage.
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