Bulpett: Marcus Smart holds himself accountable for Celtics’ defensive trouble

Credit: Matt WestAs travel companions go, giving up a season-high 121 points to Cleveland Sunday and wiping that off the top of the board by allowing the Clippers 129 Wednesday are the equivalent of a child kicking at the back of your seat on a long flight.

The Celtics departed for All-Star break Thursday and won’t meet as a team again until next Wednesday’s practice. Their last moments together have not been pleasant, a pair of double-figure losses featuring defensive lapses and an embarrassing lack of grit.

Among the factors easiest to pinpoint for the slide is the absence of Marcus Smart, whose anger would be helpful now but most certainly wasn’t when he punched a picture in his hotel room…