It’s time for the Boston Celtics to snap out of it.
When the Celtics host the Chicago Bulls in the first game of ESPN’s Friday doubleheader, they will be trying to avoid a third straight home loss, something they have not done since the tail end of the 2009-10 season, when they were beaten by San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Houston.
Optimists in Celtics Nation will point out that Gang Green managed to regroup that season and ended up within a stop or two of winning the NBA championship. However, realists will note that was the last time the Celtics were truly relevant as title contenders.
Boston was outclassed by Miami in last year’s conference semifinals, which began blurring the distinction between experienced and old. This season, the Celtics are a pedestrian 4-5, and these are their victims: Detroit, Washington twice and New Jersey.
Not exactly giant killers. And visiting the Gaah-den is a giant in the Bulls, who share the NBA’s best record with Oklahoma City at 10-2.
Here’s how bad things are right now. If the playoffs started today, the Celtics would be in the draft 
lottery. And things may get worse before they get better, with Saturday’s game at Indiana, which already has won at Boston, and Monday’s visit to Oklahoma City, which has won the last three meetings between the clubs.
A saving grace for the Celtics may be the unavailability of MVP Derrick Rose, who sat out Chicago’s win over Washington on Wednesday with a toe injury and is a game-time decision. Remember, Rose’s coming-out party was as a rookie in the thrilling first round of the 2009 playoffs vs. Boston. Last season, he averaged 26.0 points and 6.8 assists in four games, which the teams split.
There’s also some bad blood from last season, when Bulls center Joakim Noah called Celtics forward Kevin Garnett “ugly” and “a mean guy.” Garnett responded with 20 points and 17 boards in a win.
The Celtics need some of that mean as soon as possible. During their run of four-plus years with the “Big Three,” this has always been the type of game where they grit their teeth, man up and figure out a way to win. And they need a win badly right now.