Celtics @ Suns Tuesday Game Thread, 2-24-2026

[Mainstreet]

It's the Brooks factor they need him Grayson is still hurt but he is a gamer

The Celtics don't offer excuses when Tatum and Brown are out.

 

[Mainstreet]

Jordan Ott said it all:

"You've got to want to go get wins in the NBA cause that other team does too, especially a really good team and I thought they came out with more force there in the 3rd quarter."

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[SactownSunsFan]

The Celtics don't offer excuses when Tatum and Brown are out.

Tatum has been out all year and the Celtics knew that heading into the season, so they had all year to adjust and gameplan around that.

Also, they weren't picked to finish near the bottom of the league like we were, so there's an obvious talent gap that they can overcome that we can't when our two best players are out. We have overachieved in the eyes of those who know basketball best.

 

[Mainstreet]

Tatum has been out all year and the Celtics knew that heading into the season, so they had all year to adjust and gameplan around that.

Also, they weren't picked to finish near the bottom of the league like we were, so there's an obvious talent gap that they can overcome that we can't when our two best players are out. We have overachieved in the eyes of those who know basketball best.

I'm not seeing a Suns team emphasizing hard-work, grit, toughness, and accountability.

That's what I want to see every night, win or lose. Look at the Celtics roster last night and tell me how much more talented they are than the Suns.

Celtics 97-81 Suns (Feb 24, 2026) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns NBA game from February 24, 2026 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.

www.espn.com

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns have lost 7 out of their last 10 games and 6 of those losses were at home.

And beating the Magic at home was nothing short of magic in the 2 overtime win.

 

[Covert Rain]

This game is just another example of how razor thin this team really is. When they are healthy, I love this team. I love the heart. At full strength they have enough to be a playoff team IMO. You start to see cracks when just one guy is missing. The cracks become the Grand Canyon when it's more than one.

I love love love the new culture on the team but sooner or later this team has to get much deeper.

 

[Superbone]

We just have to remember where we were going into last offseason. We started out this season as a very pleasant surprise. Now, the injury bug has hit us hard. No matter how we end the season, things are much better than they were. But like @Covert Rain says, we are razor thin without three of our top players. Let's hope we can get healthy to end the season and at least play to our potential in the playoffs but even if not, make some small improvements going into next season. We really need an inside presence. We can't just stay a perimeter team.

 

[Chaplin]

I'm not seeing a Suns team emphasizing hard-work, grit, toughness, and accountability.

That's what I want to see every night, win or lose. Look at the Celtics roster last night and tell me how much more talented they are than the Suns.

Celtics 97-81 Suns (Feb 24, 2026) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns NBA game from February 24, 2026 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.

www.espn.com

Then you must be blind. The accountability is there.

The talent isn't. And that's not anyone's fault with the injury situation.

 

[Mainstreet]

Then you must be blind. The accountability is there.

The talent isn't. And that's not anyone's fault with the injury situation.

Says the avatar wearing dark glasses.

 

[Chaplin]

Says the avatar wearing dark glasses.

Um, ok. Not the response I expected, but fine.

You do know I'm not really Charlie Chaplin, right? And we may be in the Matrix, but we probably aren't.

 

[Mainstreet]

Um, ok. Not the response I expected, but fine.

You do know I'm not really Charlie Chaplin, right? And we may be in the Matrix, but we probably aren't.

There was no need for your first sentence.

 

[Chaplin]

There was no need for your first sentence.

You've completely attacked the team for not having any heart or will to win, and that just ain't true. It's a talent problem, just like it is with any team when your best 2 players are out, and your 3rd and 4th best players are barely back from injury layoffs.

You're treating them like they are the worst team in the league, and for no reason other than they've lost a few games in a row.

 

[Superbone]

Are we having fun yet?

 

[Cheesebeef]

The Celtics don't offer excuses when Tatum and Brown are out.

Not sure that’s a fair comparison. The Celtics have built themselves into a year in year out title contender for almost a decade, with a system and foundation ingrained into the team. This franchise has just barely found its footing after a previous course correction gone really wrong.

 

[Chaplin]

Not sure that’s a fair comparison. The Celtics have built themselves into a year in year out title contender for almost a decade, with a system and foundation ingrained into the team. This franchise has just barely found its footing after a previous course correction gone really wrong.

Yeah the Suns and Celtics were in two different worlds going into this season.

 

[Adrian]

Breathe. If you are getting upset with someone's post. Take a step back from the keyboard. #coolerheadsprevail

 

[Mainstreet]

You've completely attacked the team for not having any heart or will to win, and that just ain't true. It's a talent problem, just like it is with any team when your best 2 players are out, and your 3rd and 4th best players are barely back from injury layoffs.

You're treating them like they are the worst team in the league, and for no reason other than they've lost a few games in a row.

I express my views on both the positive and the negative.

When the Suns don't play with the effort I expect, I don't believe in making excuses.

Suns fans were promised a team built on hard-work, grit and toughness with accountability. I'm not seeing that right now.

Listen to Jordan Ott talk about the game.

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[clyde2tw]

The talent issue was calculated with the picks of all those potential guys the last 2 years. Dunn regressed or at least stagnated, Richards and Hayes-Davis were bad fits, Livers and Bouyea regressed after injuries. Only consistent positive subs are Oso and Goodwin. And Gillespie and MW also showed their limits lately, though they were positive surprises earlier. Together with injuries, the team's been overperforming. For rest of season, hope Book and Brooks and Allen can be back to form soon, and Ott may unfold Coffey and Highsmith in his system.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I think both things can be true, that the Suns are severely lacking in firepower and that there some fundamental effort issues.

This last game in particular the lack of effort was noticeable, particularly with rebounding. I can't fault them on the offense; they're missing so many weapons that we're asking 3rd and 4th tier scorers to be 1st and 2nd tier.

But watching the Celtics grab so many offensive rebounds was frustrating. Boston had nearly double the total rebounds, 22 off their misses. That's just not great.

Williams has also been underwhelming of late. He was outplayed by quite thoroughly by Queta and it wasn't particularly close.

 

[Mainstreet]

Neemias Queta, now 26, who played two seasons with the Kings starting at age 22, gives hope Khaman Maluach can be much more and sooner.

 

[leclerc]

Feed the big man early. Don't run ISO sets for Green.

 

[Superbone]

Feed the big man early. Don't run ISO sets for Green.

Yes, that is clearly not working. Run him off the ball.