After watching this clip, a couple of thoughts come to mind when comparing the Celtics to us. We have superior scorers, but they have superior defenders. The same is true for the Mavs, but their defense with Kyrie and Luka, combined with Washington and Derrick Jones’ shooting, is just too much to overcome.
I'm wondering about the best strategies to score against the Celtics' defense, aside from Embiid exploiting their guards and George or Maxey targeting their bigs. While I expect them to hunt Maxey the entire game just like how it seemed they hunted Doncic and Kyrie the entire game.
The IQ and experience of players like Jrue Holiday and Al Horford are significant advantages for the Celtics. This is why the addition of Lowry is highly valued; the little tricks the veterans use to create extra separation and generate extra possessions make a big difference.
Lastly, the clip highlighted the value of Tatum and Brown, not just for their individual performances but for their sustained excellence across different squad iterations—from playing with Hayward, Kyrie, and Kemba to Marcus Smart and their current roster. The Celtics likely recognized Tatum and Brown's limitations and surrounded them with talent that allows them to win a championship without having to be superstars.
This approach could also apply to our team, with Embiid and George surrounded by versatile two-way players who can alleviate their defensive and offensive burdens.
There’s never been a time in history when we look back and say that the people who were censoring free speech were the good guys.
