Stay Ready Group/Crew

[Fierce1]

This time last year our deep backups were Dalano Banton, Svi Myhailuik, Oshae Brissett. Now those spots are filled by Jordan Walsh, Jaden Springer, and Baylor Scheierman.

Additionally, Xavier Tillman has fallen off a cliff on offense (29% TS) and has lost a step on defense. And, to top it off, Sam Hauser seems locked in a struggle with persistent back spasms.

Fundamentally, this is not good. If Sam is gonna be hobbled, we’re just looking rather topheavy, that there’s nothing behind the Jays.

I think for the next month, we need to give Peterson and Walsh more minutes, to see what we have there. Scheierman doesn’t look like he’ll contribute much this year and it seems like the verdict is in on the Jaden Springer acquisition.

I wouldn’t mind Shake Milton or Alec Burks on the trade market. Joe Ingles looked washed. Torrey Craig is like mythological at this point, the guy never plays. Don’t know who it is, but I think we need a depth piece.

Also hate to say it but Jaylen Wells, Jon Mogbo, and Ajay Mitchell have been really nice in their roles as 2nd round guys…

IMO, Toronto and Memphis have shown they have no problem playing everybody that wears a uniform. Memphis had no choice but to play GG ALOT last season because they were riddled with injuries. Toronto is terrible so minutes are available.

It also shows that those 3 weren't on anybody's 1st round radar. It just so happened that Rico was on Stevens 1st round board.

The Sam Spasm issue is going to be a season long thing. If anybody ever had persistent back spasms they know what's up. They suck. And I'm just a couch potato

What's Mazzulla doing with these 8-Man Rotations??? -- We've got 14 NBA Players, and 3 x Two-Ways.
Instead, he burns our Starters with 40+ mins; and keeps it short, even with In-Game Injuries.

Springer could have played some Defense on Maxey, especially when Pritchard was in Foul Trouble.
Other Reserves could have contributed. -- Even the Two-Ways were Available, these last 2 losses.


Celtics Roster, 2024-25:
Starters: Holiday - White - Brown - Tatum - Porzingis
Rotation: Pritchard - Hauser - Horford
Situational: - Queta/Kornet

Reserves: Springer - Scheierman - Walsh - Tillman
Two-Ways: Davison - Peterson - Watson

Affiliates: Enaruna, Harper, Ward
Returning: Scrubb, Schakel, Skapintsev

They will never admit it, but Joe only going with 8 players is about the star players getting their numbers for individual awards.

Can't blame them because better individual stats will lead to awards and endorsements.

[brackdan70]

Does anyone have Joes contact info?

[djFan71]

Does anyone have Joes contact info?

Only about 7.5-8 guys have it.

[He_Got_Game]

I'm still in the Springer fan club. I consider myself an arm chair scout but I'm usually pretty accurate with my assessments. It usually comes down to can a guy hoop or not? The answer on Springer is yes. This guy is an NBA caliber defender and needs to be getting minutes based on that alone. I'm not even kidding when I say Springer can be doing what Dyson Daniels is currently doing.

[djFan71]

I'm still in the Springer fan club. I consider myself an arm chair scout but I'm usually pretty accurate with my assessments. It usually comes down to can a guy hoop or not? The answer on Springer is yes. This guy is an NBA caliber defender and needs to be getting minutes based on that alone. I'm not even kidding when I say Springer can be doing what Dyson Daniels is currently doing.

I would have loved to see Joe sic him on Maxey last game, if nothing else. Just harass the quick guard on the other team for 5-8 minutes and make his live miserable Avery Bradley style. Pritchard does this, but Springer would be next level on it.

[He_Got_Game]

I'm still in the Springer fan club. I consider myself an arm chair scout but I'm usually pretty accurate with my assessments. It usually comes down to can a guy hoop or not? The answer on Springer is yes. This guy is an NBA caliber defender and needs to be getting minutes based on that alone. I'm not even kidding when I say Springer can be doing what Dyson Daniels is currently doing.

I would have loved to see Joe sic him on Maxey last game, if nothing else. Just harass the quick guard on the other team for 5-8 minutes and make his live miserable Avery Bradley style. Pritchard does this, but Springer would be next level on it.

Excellent comparison. I do in fact see Avery Bradley level defense with Springer.

[phincsfan]

I'm still in the Springer fan club. I consider myself an arm chair scout but I'm usually pretty accurate with my assessments. It usually comes down to can a guy hoop or not? The answer on Springer is yes. This guy is an NBA caliber defender and needs to be getting minutes based on that alone. I'm not even kidding when I say Springer can be doing what Dyson Daniels is currently doing.

I would have loved to see Joe sic him on Maxey last game, if nothing else. Just harass the quick guard on the other team for 5-8 minutes and make his live miserable Avery Bradley style. Pritchard does this, but Springer would be next level on it.

Excellent comparison. I do in fact see Avery Bradley level defense with Springer.

AB became a very good 3pt shooter which helped him last for 12 years and make a good chunk of change.

[Parliament10]

I would have loved to see Joe sic him on Maxey last game, if nothing else. Just harass the quick guard on the other team for 5-8 minutes and make his live miserable Avery Bradley style. Pritchard does this, but Springer would be next level on it.

Excellent comparison. I do in fact see Avery Bradley level defense with Springer.

AB became a very good 3pt shooter which helped him last for 12 years and make a good chunk of change.

Springer is an Elite Defender, no question.
He needs to learn to play within the Celtics Program on Offfense, though.

[Hal14]

FWIW, numbers including tonight's game:

Springer
24-25 reg season: 0/4 from 3, 10/13 FT
2024-2025 preseason: 3/6 from 3, 3/4 FT
2024 Summer League: 3/6 from 3, 4/4 FT
Total: 6/16 (37.5%) from 3, 16/21 (76.1%) FT

Peterson
24-25 reg season: 5/14 from 3, 6/7 FT
24-25 G league: 20/66 from 3, 20/22 FT
2024-2025 preseason: 6/11 from 3, 8/10 FT
2024 Summer League: 4/16 from 3, 2/3 FT
Total: 35/107 (32.7%) from 3, 36/42 (85.7%) FT

Walsh
24-25 reg season: 7/29 from 3, 4/8 FT
24-25 G league: 3/6 from 3, 1/1 FT
2024-2025 preseason: 7/19 from 3, 8/9 FT
2024 Summer League: 4/30 from 3, 9/17 FT
Total: 21/84 (25%), 22/35 (62.8%) FT

[ThePigeon]

Excellent comparison. I do in fact see Avery Bradley level defense with Springer.

AB became a very good 3pt shooter which helped him last for 12 years and make a good chunk of change.

Springer is an Elite Defender, no question.
He needs to learn to play within the Celtics Program on Offfense, though.

When Springer will get extended minutes with the starters like Walsh and will not perform well then you could say he didn't learn to play within the Celtics program
We had issues with Nembhard, Haliburton and Maxey. These are the kind of players he can hound for a few minutes. Make them miserable

This goes for also for Tillman. I would try playing him as a lone big for a stretch with the starters

As for the offense against IND with these players on the floor - give the ball to JB to cook a smaller defender or JT on the block to cook a smaller defender. This will open up the 3s that Joe and Brad like so much

[shi-woo]

Y'all are asking for too much, and why teams should prioritize having vets at the end of the bench instead of young guys. Celtic's don't have time to develop dudes, every single team is giving them their best because they are the current belt holders. There isn't much time to get Springer and Peterson those minutes to develop.

Honestly, KP being out has allowed this team to throw solid developing minutes at Queta this year already, and Walsh has also gotten way more burn than he should have due to Celtic's resting players so much this year, and Sam being trash. Queta getting 16 minutes in 26 games with 5 starts and Walsh 9 in 23 with a start is more than any Celtic fan who cares about development could have asked for. Both those guys are locked up for 2 more years after this for pennies, that was the best case scenario for both of them, as they are guaranteed rotation spots next year.

This team has it's core 8 guys when healthy, and it's the deepest 8 in the league.

Kornet at this point has proved he's a solid #9, and honestly one of the best 9th men in the league, he could be a backup 5 on so many teams in this league, and I respect how he just comes in and does what the team needs. Offensive boards, blocks, rebounds, doesn't turn the ball over. Great guy, we all are just desperate for a guard version of Luka if we are being honest with ourselves.

After that we have Queta and Tillman as situational bigs and guys who needed burn so the team is used to them if Al or KP is out. Those guys had to get minutes.

Walsh seems to be the next guy on the list given the role he plays and fit with the rest of the team.

I think the team should continue to stick to their Top 9, and continue to prioritizing minutes to Walsh and Queta when able. Those are the two players not in the Top 9 who have the potential to impact a playoff series this year and in the future.

[Parliament10]

I find myself rooting for the Fringe Players, more so than the Stars.

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