Boston Is Surging & They Got Better Thursday

[flranger]

Good player, but the most important piece in the trade is never discussed...

That 2028 1st round pick swap (only top 1 protected) is a huge get for San Antonio. White is a nice player, but damn it seems like a hell of an offer and risk to me.

LeGM approves though...

[amcoolio]

Giving up 2028 first unprotected is irresponsible, the NBA will be completely different in 6 years. 6 years ago the Sixers and Lakers were by far the worst teams and the Spurs and Thunder were two of the best; Detroit was a playoff team and Charlotte tied for 3rd in the East. Really surprised ownership signed off on that one

[Celts17Pride]

Giving up 2028 first unprotected is irresponsible

It's a right to swap picks, not giving up a first round pick.

[Vampirate]

White looks like he's gonna be a nice addition.

Long term I'd see what him, Smart & RW + some picks could net ie/ a 3rd star maybe?!?

Williams is looking like the 3rd star.
Dudes a monster.

I think Timelord is more of an elite role player, he's just too limited offensively to be a star.

[amcoolio]

Giving up 2028 first unprotected is irresponsible

It's a right to swap picks, not giving up a first round pick.

I know, it's essentially an unprotected first, isn't that how you got Tatum?

[bisme37]

White looks like he's gonna be a nice addition.

Long term I'd see what him, Smart & RW + some picks could net ie/ a 3rd star maybe?!?

Williams is looking like the 3rd star.
Dudes a monster.

I think Timelord is more of an elite role player, he's just too limited offensively to be a star.

I think he can certainly be a star in the mold of Allstars Gobert or Jarrett Allen.

[Triple M]

The thing that sticks out is their defence. Nobody has come close to them over to them on that end for the last month or two. I'm sure the softer schedule is a factor, but I don't think it's everything. It's not like the teams they were blowing out were getting blown out by everyone else.

Their half-court defence has been excellent, and I am looking forward to seeing if they can continue to play at that level defensively because it might suit them in the playoffs, where teams play at a slower pace.

As good as the defence has been, it will still be tough to go against the Giannis, Embiid, Durant level players. If the Celtics could get one more wing defender, they could have a dangerous formula.

[Triple M]

White looks like he's gonna be a nice addition.

Long term I'd see what him, Smart & RW + some picks could net ie/ a 3rd star maybe?!?

Williams is looking like the 3rd star.
Dudes a monster.

I think Timelord is more of an elite role player, he's just too limited offensively to be a star.

He has been more involved in the offense and ball movement the last 2 months which has resulted in the Celtics offense performingg at a higher rate. At the same time this was during the period where the defence around the league has regressed. It will be interesting to see how they continue to use him post all star break.

On defence, I love that they are using him in a roamer role. His fluidity and instincts is what makes him special

[Feed Your Head]

It’s kind of gone under the radar because he’s still shooting 33% from deep in the season, but since December 1st, Tatum is basically averaging 27/8/5 on a 59% TS. That, and health is why the team has turned the corner. Rob Williams being healthy is huge, and Smart has been brilliant since January 1st.

Tatum is 8th in the league in LEBRON, 3rd in their wins added stat. He’s 15th in overall EPM, and 5th in wins added. Last I saw he was 12th in DPM, 7th in RAPTOR, and 3rd in 538’s wins added.

I posted this on the Celtics board, but just to give an idea of the impact Tatum has on the game. Per cleaning the glass, when they have Jaylen in, and Tatum out, the team has a -0.9 net rating. When they have Smart+Jaylen in, without Tatum, the team has a very good +7 net rating. Now, when Tatum is on the court without Smart AND Jaylen, their net rating is still +9.6. If you expand it to without Smart, Jaylen, and Schroder, they’ve had a +18.7 net rating with Tatum in there. Over the last 15 games, this is the team’s net rating when the following players are sitting.

Jaylen +19.3
Horford 12.3
Rob Williams +11.5
Smart +5.9
Tatum -0.5

Efficiency is obviously important, but you can still have top tier impact even with a struggling shot. He’s had a really unique season, if you look at it that way. Having that level of impact on the game while his best weapon has abandoned him? That’s big time stuff. I was going to start a thread about it, but there’d be way too many lazy “he’s Melo/etc” takes.

[BostonCouchGM]

getting White was a lateral move that slightly improves them. The schedule being filled with tanking teams and teams missing key starters is THE reason for their (and Tatum's) surge. Turns out when you play teams not trying to win or with multiple G-League talents getting major minutes you tend to do better against them. Who knew? They're still the same team I and many predicted would finish anywhere from 6-10 and won't make the finals let alone a championship. This is seemingly okay with Celtics fans now. Who wants the chance to draft a special difference maker when we can be pretenders? It's not like Ime would play the 1st rounder anyway so might as well right?

[Triple M]

getting White was a lateral move that slightly improves them. The schedule being filled with tanking teams and teams missing key starters is THE reason for their (and Tatum's) surge. Turns out when you play teams not trying to win or with multiple G-League talents getting major minutes you tend to do better against them. Who knew? They're still the same team I and many predicted would finish anywhere from 6-10 and won't make the finals let alone a championship. This is seemingly okay with Celtics fans now. Who wants the chance to draft a special difference maker when we can be pretenders? It's not like Ime would play the 1st rounder anyway so might as well right?

Im not saying that the Celtics are a great team but you are acting like they were just scrapping by their schedule. They were playing like a great team because they were beating these teams like 20-30 points, and it is not like these teams were getting blown out by other teams before or after playing the Celtics. For example they beat;

vs. Den who beat @ Toronto on a 2nd half of a B2B
vs. Atl beat a good Cle team
@ Phi beat Cle b4 and Mil after

Why cant we just say the Celtics are playing great, it doesn't mean they are great but in the snapshot of time they are playing like one of the better teams in the league. We will have to see if they can maintain what they are doing.

[Floody100]

getting White was a lateral move that slightly improves them. The schedule being filled with tanking teams and teams missing key starters is THE reason for their (and Tatum's) surge. Turns out when you play teams not trying to win or with multiple G-League talents getting major minutes you tend to do better against them. Who knew? They're still the same team I and many predicted would finish anywhere from 6-10 and won't make the finals let alone a championship. This is seemingly okay with Celtics fans now. Who wants the chance to draft a special difference maker when we can be pretenders? It's not like Ime would play the 1st rounder anyway so might as well right?

Im not saying that the Celtics are a great team but you are acting like they were just scrapping by their schedule. They were playing like a great team because they were beating these teams like 20-30 points, and it is not like these teams were getting blown out by other teams before or after playing the Celtics. For example they beat;

vs. Den who beat @ Toronto on a 2nd half of a B2B
vs. Atl beat a good Cle team
@ Phi beat Cle b4 and Mil after

Why cant we just say the Celtics are playing great, it doesn't mean they are great but in the snapshot of time they are playing like one of the better teams in the league. We will have to see if they can maintain what they are doing.

He’s never said a positive thing about the Celtics in his life. He’s not going to start now lol

[BostonCouchGM]

getting White was a lateral move that slightly improves them. The schedule being filled with tanking teams and teams missing key starters is THE reason for their (and Tatum's) surge. Turns out when you play teams not trying to win or with multiple G-League talents getting major minutes you tend to do better against them. Who knew? They're still the same team I and many predicted would finish anywhere from 6-10 and won't make the finals let alone a championship. This is seemingly okay with Celtics fans now. Who wants the chance to draft a special difference maker when we can be pretenders? It's not like Ime would play the 1st rounder anyway so might as well right?

Im not saying that the Celtics are a great team but you are acting like they were just scrapping by their schedule. They were playing like a great team because they were beating these teams like 20-30 points, and it is not like these teams were getting blown out by other teams before or after playing the Celtics. For example they beat;

vs. Den who beat @ Toronto on a 2nd half of a B2B
vs. Atl beat a good Cle team
@ Phi beat Cle b4 and Mil after

Why cant we just say the Celtics are playing great, it doesn't mean they are great but in the snapshot of time they are playing like one of the better teams in the league. We will have to see if they can maintain what they are doing.

He’s never said a positive thing about the Celtics in his life. He’s not going to start now lol

Rent free lmao. Imagine being this triggered and wrong. Not wearing green goggles makes anyone with an opinion contrary to those that do, a troll and hater. Grow up kid

I guess I’m just not impressed with wins against tanking teams and/or with major injuries. It’s akin to watching Duke beating up on Charleston. It’s boring. I couldn’t care less that we beat them by more than other teams have or that they might have happened to beat some other team that themselves likely had injuries. Why should that matter?

Sorry I can’t be more positive about it. I haven’t had fun watching a Celtics team since before IT got injured. We aren’t very likable. Neither going by style of play or personalities. I prefer ball movement, high BBIQ and defense and we struggle with that. That said, White has high BBIQ, plays defense and moves the ball so since his addition it’s been more fun to watch despite the schedule.

Knowing we have zero chance at winning a championship with this roster, head coach and GM plus no avenue to get there given our lack of cap space, draft picks and cheap owner, I can’t get too positive or be excited. We’re pretenders and imho there’s no worse place to be as a sports franchise.

[Joshyjess]

Im not saying that the Celtics are a great team but you are acting like they were just scrapping by their schedule. They were playing like a great team because they were beating these teams like 20-30 points, and it is not like these teams were getting blown out by other teams before or after playing the Celtics. For example they beat;

vs. Den who beat @ Toronto on a 2nd half of a B2B
vs. Atl beat a good Cle team
@ Phi beat Cle b4 and Mil after

Why cant we just say the Celtics are playing great, it doesn't mean they are great but in the snapshot of time they are playing like one of the better teams in the league. We will have to see if they can maintain what they are doing.

He’s never said a positive thing about the Celtics in his life. He’s not going to start now lol

Rent free lmao. Imagine being this triggered and wrong. Not wearing green goggles makes anyone with an opinion contrary to those that do, a troll and hater. Grow up kid

I guess I’m just not impressed with wins against tanking teams and/or with major injuries. It’s akin to watching Duke beating up on Charleston. It’s boring. I couldn’t care less that we beat them by more than other teams have or that they might have happened to beat some other team that themselves likely had injuries. Why should that matter?

Sorry I can’t be more positive about it. I haven’t had fun watching a Celtics team since before IT got injured. We aren’t very likable. Neither going by style of play or personalities. I prefer ball movement, high BBIQ and defense and we struggle with that. That said, White has high BBIQ, plays defense and moves the ball so since his addition it’s been more fun to watch despite the schedule.

Knowing we have zero chance at winning a championship with this roster, head coach and GM plus no avenue to get there given our lack of cap space, draft picks and cheap owner, I can’t get too positive or be excited. We’re pretenders and imho there’s no worse place to be as a sports franchise.

suggetion - Try watching Badminton. Sounds like it might be more your speed.
Seriously, as much as you obviously hate the Celtics (and please don't bother saying that you don't), why do you watch them? They bring you no joy, no fun, no fulfilment. The only thing the Celtics seem to do is make you miserable. You say that they have ZERO chance of winning (even though they are only a few games out of first) - so why watch them?
Is making negative comments about them the only thing that makes you happy?

[AussieCeltic]

The team finally got used to Ime’s switching scheme. Also one little change which made a huge difference was putting Horford/G.Williams as primary defender on the centre and TimeLord as the weak side help defender. He’s so long and nimble, he can cover amazing ground.

*Sidenote: BostonCouchGM is not a Celtics supporter. He’s a troll.

[Gary Cokeman]

He’s never said a positive thing about the Celtics in his life. He’s not going to start now lol

Rent free lmao. Imagine being this triggered and wrong. Not wearing green goggles makes anyone with an opinion contrary to those that do, a troll and hater. Grow up kid

I guess I’m just not impressed with wins against tanking teams and/or with major injuries. It’s akin to watching Duke beating up on Charleston. It’s boring. I couldn’t care less that we beat them by more than other teams have or that they might have happened to beat some other team that themselves likely had injuries. Why should that matter?

Sorry I can’t be more positive about it. I haven’t had fun watching a Celtics team since before IT got injured. We aren’t very likable. Neither going by style of play or personalities. I prefer ball movement, high BBIQ and defense and we struggle with that. That said, White has high BBIQ, plays defense and moves the ball so since his addition it’s been more fun to watch despite the schedule.

Knowing we have zero chance at winning a championship with this roster, head coach and GM plus no avenue to get there given our lack of cap space, draft picks and cheap owner, I can’t get too positive or be excited. We’re pretenders and imho there’s no worse place to be as a sports franchise.

suggetion - Try watching Badminton. Sounds like it might be more your speed.
Seriously, as much as you obviously hate the Celtics (and please don't bother saying that you don't), why do you watch them? They bring you no joy, no fun, no fulfilment. The only thing the Celtics seem to do is make you miserable. You say that they have ZERO chance of winning (even though they are only a few games out of first) - so why watch them?
Is making negative comments about them the only thing that makes you happy?

Is he wrong though?

[Joshyjess]

Rent free lmao. Imagine being this triggered and wrong. Not wearing green goggles makes anyone with an opinion contrary to those that do, a troll and hater. Grow up kid

I guess I’m just not impressed with wins against tanking teams and/or with major injuries. It’s akin to watching Duke beating up on Charleston. It’s boring. I couldn’t care less that we beat them by more than other teams have or that they might have happened to beat some other team that themselves likely had injuries. Why should that matter?

Sorry I can’t be more positive about it. I haven’t had fun watching a Celtics team since before IT got injured. We aren’t very likable. Neither going by style of play or personalities. I prefer ball movement, high BBIQ and defense and we struggle with that. That said, White has high BBIQ, plays defense and moves the ball so since his addition it’s been more fun to watch despite the schedule.

Knowing we have zero chance at winning a championship with this roster, head coach and GM plus no avenue to get there given our lack of cap space, draft picks and cheap owner, I can’t get too positive or be excited. We’re pretenders and imho there’s no worse place to be as a sports franchise.

suggetion - Try watching Badminton. Sounds like it might be more your speed.
Seriously, as much as you obviously hate the Celtics (and please don't bother saying that you don't), why do you watch them? They bring you no joy, no fun, no fulfilment. The only thing the Celtics seem to do is make you miserable. You say that they have ZERO chance of winning (even though they are only a few games out of first) - so why watch them?
Is making negative comments about them the only thing that makes you happy?

Is he wrong though?

What, to watch a team that you hate and makes you miserable? To not have any fun or joy - yet still keep watching? To be the most negative poster on the boards? To give up hope, when your team has been one of the best teams in the league for the last 6 weeks? To say that your team has no chance when they are only a few games back?
Uhhh... Yeah. he is wrong.

[Gary Cokeman]

suggetion - Try watching Badminton. Sounds like it might be more your speed.
Seriously, as much as you obviously hate the Celtics (and please don't bother saying that you don't), why do you watch them? They bring you no joy, no fun, no fulfilment. The only thing the Celtics seem to do is make you miserable. You say that they have ZERO chance of winning (even though they are only a few games out of first) - so why watch them?
Is making negative comments about them the only thing that makes you happy?

Is he wrong though?

What, to watch a team that you hate and makes you miserable? To not have any fun or joy - yet still keep watching? To be the most negative poster on the boards? To give up hope, when your team has been one of the best teams in the league for the last 6 weeks? To say that your team has no chance when they are only a few games back?
Uhhh... Yeah. he is wrong.

Idk anything about what that dude is like personally, but I don't think the Celtics have any chance at winning a title with that roster either, and I'm not even a negative poster like that.

[Joshyjess]

Is he wrong though?

What, to watch a team that you hate and makes you miserable? To not have any fun or joy - yet still keep watching? To be the most negative poster on the boards? To give up hope, when your team has been one of the best teams in the league for the last 6 weeks? To say that your team has no chance when they are only a few games back?
Uhhh... Yeah. he is wrong.

Idk anything about what that dude is like personally, but I don't think the Celtics have any chance at winning a title with that roster either, and I'm not even a negative poster like that.

There's nothing wrong with thinking a team has a chance or not (I'm 100% convinced that most of the teams in the league have no chance of winning the finals this year), but when all you do is post negative comments non-stop about "your team". And all you can do is talk about how much the team makes you miserable. Why on earth would you keep watching them? If something makes me miserable, typically I try to avoid whatever that thing is.
Obviously this poster is most likely just a troll, calling himself a Celtic's fan, when he really just hates the team (probably a Laker's fan or something). But in the small chance that he really is (or maybe was) a fan of the team, who got discouraged by the team (perhaps like he says when IT left), and now all he can do is find happiness by posting negative comments, then that's pretty sad.

[Triple M]

The Raps were on a 8 game win streak and were playing great. i can say they were playing great but at the same time not expect them to win the East

Same thing with Atlanta which won 7 in a row and won 10 of 15. Again they are playing well but saying that isn;t the same as the Hawks are going to the ECF

nobody here is saying that the Celtics are assured of some deep run because of playing well for a month or two but in the context of a wideopen east i think anyone from 1-10 can sneak into a 2nd round depending on who they play. maybe not Charlotte but i think Atlanta can beat Cleveland and maybe Chi if they matched up