The Celtics’ ugly loss to the Mavericks was a tough pill to swallow, and it’s hard to sugarcoat the reality of what transpired on the court. At its core, the defeat was due to a painfully obvious problem that has plagued the team all season: their lack of consistent defensive effort. Despite boasting an impressive array of talented players, the Celtics have struggled to find cohesion and chemistry on the defensive end, and it was on full display against the Mavericks.

As the game got underway, it was clear that the Celtics were in for a long night. The Mavericks came out firing on all cylinders, with Luka Doncic and company exploiting the Celtics’ porous defense with ease. Time and time again, the Mavericks were able to drive to the basket or find open shooters, and the Celtics seemed powerless to stop them. The lack of communication, slow rotations, and general lethargy on defense were staggering, and it allowed the Mavericks to build a substantial lead that they would never relinquish.

One of the most glaring issues was the Celtics’ inability to contain Doncic, who absolutely torched them for a season-high 43 points. The Celtics’ defenders seemed to be a step slow all night, and Doncic took full advantage, scoring from everywhere on the court and dishing out 8 assists to boot. It was a masterclass performance from the young phenom, and the Celtics had no answer for him.

But while Doncic’s dominance was certainly a major factor in the Celtics’ loss, it was far from the only issue. The team’s overall defense was a sieve, allowing the Mavericks to shoot a scorching 55% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc. The Celtics’ big men were consistently beat off the dribble, and their perimeter defenders were unable to stay in front of the Mavericks’ speedy guards. It was a defensive breakdown of epic proportions, and it’s a wonder the Celtics were even able to keep the game as close as they did.

As the final buzzer sounded, the Celtics were left to pick up the pieces and try to make sense of what had just transpired. The loss was a painful reminder of the team’s ongoing struggles on defense, and it’s clear that something needs to change if the Celtics are going to make a deep run in the playoffs. Whether it’s a schematic tweak, a personnel change, or simply a renewed commitment to defensive fundamentals, the Celtics need to find a way to shore up their defense and start playing with the kind of consistency and urgency that their talent dictates. Until then, nights like this will continue to be all too familiar.