Boston Celtics: Time to be concerned about Ime Udoka’s coaching decisions

Poor decisions by Ime Udoka are causing issues for the Boston Celtics

It’s fair to say some of Udoka’s coaching decisions are starting to tear the team apart. After Monday’s home loss to the Chicago Bulls, Marcus Smart was very honest and straightforward with the words he had to say.

"“Every team knows we’re going to Jayson and Jaylen, and every team is programmed and studies to stop Jayson and Jaylen. I think everybody’s scouting report is to make those guys try and pass the ball. They don’t want to pass the ball and that’s something that they’re going to learn. They’re still learning and we’re proud of the progress they are making, but they are going to have to make another step and find ways to not only create for themselves but create for others on this team.” – Marcus Smart, per Tom Westerholm of Boston.com"

In the above quote, Smart called out Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for playing hero ball while not creating plays for the team. However, in the quote below, Smart questions the role he’s been given by Udoka. Smart says that he is unable to help the offense when the ball isn’t in his hands and he’s simply standing in the corner.

"“There’s only so much I can do without the ball in my hands, I just stand in the corner. When we’re running plays for your best players, every team knows that and they do a good job of shutting that down. We can’t allow that, when they shut that down we can’t keep trying to go to those guys, we gotta abort that and find them another way to get them the ball in spots that they need the ball. And like I said for me, I can only do so much standing in the corner, or when I come up and give the ball away.” – Marcus Smart, per Tom Westerholm of Boston.com"

Smart is allegedly the starting point guard, however, he finished with zero assists against the Bulls on Monday night. If a point guard is finishing with zero assists, it’s assumed that there aren’t many plays being run.

Udoka needs to do a better job of running plays and making necessary adjustments throughout the course of a game. Unfortunately, through seven games, he’s failed to do that.

All in all, as much as the Boston Celtics players need to do a better job, the coach also needs to improve just as much (if not more).