Locked On Celtics Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Boston Celtics DERAILED by bad shooting, late mistakes | Jordan Walsh a BRIGHT SPOT
Host: John Karalis
Date: November 12, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, John Karalis dives deep into the Boston Celtics' latest loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, highlighting the team's struggles with poor shooting and untimely late-game mistakes. He analyzes how execution in crucial moments continues to haunt the Celtics, details missed opportunities, and gives praise to Jordan Walsh for his standout performance. The discussion is analytical but retains John’s conversational and pragmatic tone, focusing on how the Celtics can learn and improve as the season unfolds.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celtics’ Shooting Woes and the “Make or Miss” League

• First Half Struggles:

  • The Celtics shot just 28% in the first quarter but trailed by only one, thanks largely to the bench keeping the game close.
  • The second quarter was disastrous, with the team going 1-of-11 from three. “I think this is the worst shooting quarter that we've seen in the NBA overall, with a 1 for 11 from three. Whatever it was. 19 points.” — John Karalis (03:04)
  • Celtics went into halftime down by 10.

• Second Half Surge:

  • Shots began falling in the third quarter led by Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, with White going 3-of-3 from deep as the Celtics won the quarter by 16.

• Fourth Quarter Collapse:

  • Anthony Simons delivered a spark (3-of-4, 10 points in the fourth), but was subbed out during his hot streak for returning starters, causing a noticeable stall in the offense.
  • Question raised about substitution patterns and whether Simons should have played the full 12 minutes given his momentum.

2. Late-Game Execution & Defensive Lapses

• Critical Mistakes:

  • In crunch time, Justin Edwards torched the Celtics (3-of-4 from three), and a lack of focus on the defensive glass cost Boston dearly.
  • Notable Sequence: Jalen Brown abandoned his man to seek a steal, leaving Edwards open. After missing the steal, he “got caught ball watching,” allowing Kelly Oubre a crucial offensive rebound and put-back.
    • “He admitted it. I got caught ball watching. And as he's ball watching, Oubre slides right in. Boom. Offensive rebound. Game over.” (08:13)

• Execution Over Blame:

  • Brown took accountability postgame: “This is on me. You got to make shots, you got to make plays.”
  • Celtics’ offensive sets were good; shots just didn’t fall. But the team's tendency to lose focus or hang their heads after missed shots led to the Sixers' momentum runs.

• Learning Moments:

  • The recurring late-game execution issues remain a concern.
  • “The Celtics execution is not great. It's the one thing the Celtics need to do. These missed opportunities are killing them in these games.” (11:07)
  • Scalabrine’s observation: finishing the opportunities the Celtics are actually creating is crucial.

3. Missed Opportunities & Decision-Making

• The Celtics are generating more transition chances than last season but are failing to finish them at a high rate.
• Examples include:
  • Jordan Walsh slowing up in transition, allowing himself to be blocked instead of taking a quick layup.
  • Missed reads leading to turnovers or missed open teammates, particularly with Namias Queta wide open on rolls.
  • John explained: “The team that can make the quickest, best decisions are the teams that are going to win... The Celtics are routinely on the wrong side of that.” (16:49)
• Quick decisions and execution are areas that must develop if the Celtics want to avoid a mediocre season.

4. Standout Individual Performances

Jordan Walsh – A Bright Spot

• Career-high 29 minutes; started second half; excellent defense on Tyrese Maxey (“gave the Celtics a chance to win with his defense”).
• “Good for Jordan Walsh for, for, you know, growing into this guy super quickly... Josh Minot is what we thought Jordan Walsh could be, and now here comes Jordan Walsh going like, oh, okay, I got you.” (25:19)
• May have earned a steady place in the rotation; potential to start in future games.

Others

• Jaylen Brown: 8-of-18 FG, 7-of-8 FT, 5 assists, 6 rebounds; struggled late but contributed outside of shooting.
• Derrick White: 7-of-20 FG, 4-of-11 3P; hot in the third, cold otherwise, impactful through assists (7) and blocks.
• Anthony Simons: Provided crucial scoring in the fourth (17 points overall), but subbed out amid his hot streak.
• Namias Queta: 8 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks; active defensively, still developing on offense.
• Peyton Pritchard: Underwhelming game (-9), not effective in the fourth quarter—rotational change ahead?
• Sam Hauser: Just 1-of-4 from three; needs to be more reliable.

5. Rotations, Adjustments, and Looking Ahead

• Discussion about potentially shifting Simons into the starting lineup and Pritchard to the bench for better comfort and effectiveness.
• Walsh’s rise and Josh Minot’s sudden decrease in minutes is noted as a storyline to monitor.
• Celtics are 5-7 through 12 games; upcoming games vs. Memphis and Brooklyn highlighted as opportunities to regain momentum.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Defensive Awareness:

  • “You can't turn around and be like, oh, man, this guy that's been killing us from three the entire quarter gets the shot. Oh, boohoo. You have to understand, if you're not getting out there, if you're not the one getting back out to your man, somebody else is.” — John Karalis (10:03)

• On Execution:

  • “The difference between a successful play and a play being broken up are not even inches. It's a half inch. It's millimeters. It's whatever measurement you want... and the Celtics are routinely on the wrong side of that.” (16:49)

• On Jordan Walsh’s Emergence:

  • “Shout out to Jordan Walsh, man. He's stepping up, and I appreciate that. He's taking advantage of the opportunity... right now he’s flying high and looks like he’s earning a spot in the rotation.” (32:00)

Segment Timestamps

• 01:11 – Main show begins; shooting issues overview
• 03:04 – Celtics’ shooting breakdown by quarter
• 06:30 – Anthony Simons’ hot streak and substitution discussion
• 08:00 – Fourth quarter breakdown; Jalen Brown’s mistake on defense
• 10:03 – Detailed analysis of the late-game defensive lapse
• 11:07 – General problems with late-game execution
• 16:49 – Missed opportunities and decision-making speed
• 23:54 – Breakdown of individual performances
• 25:19 – Jordan Walsh’s growth and impact
• 28:00-32:00 – Further player analyses, rotation speculation
• 34:00 – Closing thoughts and look ahead to next games

Tone & Atmosphere

• Analytical, honest, and pragmatic.
• Emphasizes accountability but is fair to both players and coaching decisions.
• Positive but realistic about the team's potential and current shortcomings.

Conclusion

John Karalis provides Celtics fans with an honest post-mortem of a winnable game lost to the Sixers. The shooting droughts, critical defensive mistakes, and recurring late-game execution failures are dissected in detail. Amidst the frustration, Jordan Walsh’s emergence offers hope for the future. The episode wraps up with considerations about potential lineup changes and a call for improved execution as the Celtics aim to get their season back on track.

For more analysis, fan discussion, and to stay updated on all things Celtics, tune in to the Locked On Celtics podcast, available Monday through Friday.