The Boston Celtics were handed a blowout loss at home on Sunday at the Garden by LeBron James and the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers.

Sunday’s blowout was drowned out by Paul Pierce‘s #34 being raised into the rafters post-game, but even 24 hours later the loss’s long-term impact is still very unclear. Reason for the lack of clarity is that the Cavaliers showcased their brand new lineup on Sunday with no real gameplan other than playing basketball and running the ball through James. For the Celtics, they had no idea how to prepare for this Cavs team with no video available to prepare for the game.

With no video, Brad Stevens and company was delegated to shooting off the hip and having his squad ill-prepared for a highly important Sunday game. Of course, the team’s lack of preparation is troubling from a big picture perspective. But in the moment it is hard to blame though.

Boston’s lack of competitiveness in this particular game can be attributed to seeing essentially a new team for the first time. There play over the last couple of weeks has been highly troubling. Boston had a barn burner of a month in December but since then they have looked out of sync and seem to be playing less than 100%.

The best Boston has looked in 2018 came when the team as a whole stepped up in the absence of Kyrie Irving for a few games in January. But the team hasn’t played a full game which is something that Al Horford admitted after Sunday’s loss.

Coach Stevens made a comment earlier in the season about not stepping off the gas at this particular point in the season. But it appears the team hasn’t heeded his warning as they look at rebound and get back on the right track.

Ahead of the NBA trade deadline the Boston Celtics have remained relatively quiet from all accounts. Of course Danny Ainge is doing his due diligence by looking into every possible avenue, but for now, Boston is staying put according to a report by Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.

Just because the Celtics are being quiet doesn’t mean players with connections to the team aren’t moving around.

Earlier on Thursday Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder who were traded this offseason were both traded out of Cleveland to the Los Angeles Lakers. Another name connected to Boston is former Celtics big man Kendrick Perkins who is now a favorite to land into one of Clevland’s open roster spots according to reports.

In the Eastern Conference, the only team with playoff hopes to really shake up their rosters was Cleveland. Washington, Milwaukee, and Toronto all stayed relatively quiet.

Boston’s deal with Greg Monroe is expected to be official shortly with the team also expected to be “highly” active in the buyout market.

This past offseason the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to a mega-deal swapping superstars Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas. Other playrs where included in the deal like role player Jae Crowder but this deal was all about the two guards.

Just months after this trade the Cavaliers are washing their hands of the two players by sending Thomas, a first-round pick, and Channing Frye out to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance according to Adrain Wojnarowski.

As for Jae Crowder Cleveland traded him shortly after Thomas with a deal sending the wing and Derrick Rose to the Utah Jazz in a three-team trade involving Joe Johnson, Rodney Hood, George Hill, and Iman Shumpert.

Trade #1:

Cleveland-Lakers

Cleveland Gets:

Jordan Clarkson

Larry Nance

LA Gets:

Isaiah Thomas

Channing Frye

Protected First Round Pick

Trade #2:

Cleveland-Utah-Sacramento

Cleveland Gets:

Rodney Hood

George Hill

Utah Gets:

Jae Crowder

Derrick Rose

Sacremento Gets:

Iman Shumpert

Joe Johnson

Boston Celtics Perspective

For Boston, this is showing that the Irving trade was a great deal for them with Cleveland completely failing to build a championship caliber roster this past offseason. But on the flipside, this move should make Cleveland an actual threat to Boston this season if all the pieces fit correctly.

It is hard to imagine that these moves won’t be seen as Cleveland selling off. In addition to the two moves illustrated above, they have sent Dwyane Wade back to the Miami Heat for a protected second-round pick. If chatter is any indicator Cleveland is not likely done.

Some have them pegged in discussions for Kemba Walker, a player Michael Jordan doesn’t want to trade, but who knows since this is the NBA.

Either way, it will be interesting to see how Danny Ainge responds.