Boston Celtics hold players-only meeting in wake of Marcus Smart’s comments, collapse vs. Bulls

The Boston Celtics had a players-only meeting ahead of Wednesday’s 92-79 win in Orlando over the Magic, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The meeting came in the wake of Boston’s fourth-quarter meltdown Monday against the Chicago Bulls, as Boston went from being up 14 at the start of the fourth to losing by 14 — and dropping to 2-5 on the season — thanks to Chicago outscoring Boston 39-11 on its home floor.

Celtics guard Marcus Smart then said during his postgame media session that the team’s two young All-Stars, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, need to pass the ball more.

The three players discussed both the collapse and Smart’s comments, sources told Wojnarowski, with sources also saying it was emotional at times.

“The last few days, we’ve just been focused on Orlando,” Brown said after scoring 28 points in Boston’s win. “That was the goal: come out, try to get a win. That was it. Team meeting — just an opportunity to talk as a group, get some communication going in, and move forward.

“At the end of the day, we’ve been playing basketball together for a long time, all of us, especially our core group. So when it comes down to it, it’s all about trying to find ways to win, and that’s what the conversation was about, et cetera. The last two days, we’ve just been focused on Orlando, and now we’re focused on Miami.”

After Monday’s loss, Smart unloaded in his postgame news conference, saying Brown and Tatum need to become better distributors and that the team has to have him do more than simply stand in the corner and wait for the ball to come.

Brown said after Wednesday’s game that Smart’s comments weren’t necessarily helpful.

“Obviously in the midst of trying to win games, it’s something that we probably didn’t need,” Brown said. “But we all communicate and talk to each other. So we’re always trying to find ways to win and I’m open to any and everything when guys bring it to me, coaching staff. I’m always watching film trying to better…