Official Celtics 2021-22 Season Thread

[GoCeltics123]

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[bisme37]

Jaylen opened a store in Boston! 7uice! 100 Seaport Boulevard.

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[bisme37]

Al Horford recruited Dennis Schroder..

Al Horford didn’t just want to catch up with a former teammate when he slid into Dennis Schroeder’s Instagram direct messages this summer. Shocked the Celtics were even in the mix to land Schröder as a free agent, Horford hoped to ensure the high-scoring guard would not sign anywhere else. Through the social media platform, Horford initiated an exchange of numbers with Schroder, then said they should talk on the phone. “Let’s get on a call,” Horford said, according to Schröder, “and talk about the Boston Celtics.”

On the phone, Horford laid out his recruiting pitch. He told Schröder his hard-nosed style would fit well in the Celtics organization and in the city of Boston. Horford emphasized that after needing to suppress his game in Los Angeles for a season, Schröder would be able to showcase his talents on the Celtics. As much as anything, Horford stressed to Schröder how badly the Celtics needed him. “You’re going to have a big year here,” Horford said, according to Schröder, “because we know your value and we know how to put you in place to be successful.’”

Horford believes Schröder can contribute much more than he did last year to the Lakers. Watching his former teammate then, Horford said he felt like “that wasn’t Dennis.” When informed of the comment, Schröder laughed. He agrees he never meshed perfectly in Los Angeles, though he doesn’t necessarily fault anyone for that. “Of course when you play with two of the best players in the world, it’s kind of tough to bring your game,” Schröder said. “And of course they said to me, ‘Dennis, just do your thing.’ But sometimes it fits. And sometimes your game doesn’t fit too well with an organization or a player. And that’s not even saying anything negative. It’s just about the business side of it. Sometimes you don’t feel comfortable and you don’t think you fit in very well. I had that a couple of times with L.A. where it’s like, ‘OK, do I really fit in? Do we have it down pat?’ Because in the first round, you saw what happened. Of course there were a lot of injuries, but it was just a little weird situation. But here I think everybody so far has given me a good feel.” – via Jay King @ The Athletic

https://theathletic.com/2860582/2021/10/01/how-did-dennis-schroder-end-up-choosing-the-celtics-it-started-with-al-horford-sliding-into-his-dms/?source=emp_shared_article

[Gomes3PC]

I think Al is going to make a huge impact on this team. Strong leader, selfless player who can improve ball movement, and honestly I think he still has gas in the tank. He had good per min numbers in OKC and thanks to their "strategy" he will be more refreshed than he has been in years with the time off. That's huge for a guy his age.

We will need to monitor his minutes, and maybe the double big lineup flubs, but I think he's going to make a meaningful impact to this team when he is on the floor.

[Shak_Celts]

I want to be very clear, me wanting Al to come off the bench has nothing to do with Al's age nor whether I think he diminished as a player. I know Al is still a quality starting center, but that's why I feel we should use that for the bench. If we didn't have Rob, there is no question that Al would start, he is still a top big in the East! I think it's just time to hand the reigns as the starter NOW, I want him to expand in responsibility as the anchor and in directing our offense the way Horford had in his career. I want Rob to be forced into being his full self and not wait until Horford is no longer here, the time is now. Besides that, I want Horford to do for the bench what I want Rob to do for the starters, I don't want there to be drop-off in what Rob and Horford can do for others. If they start together, that probably means they will sit most of the same time. I know we have Kant but for as good as he is, he doesn't have it in him to have things run through him in the ways that Al has proven and that I believe Rob can (health permitting). If Rob is healthy, we aren't lacking in what Horford gives as a starter but our bench would. I'm not saying it won't with with born starting, Al is not TT. I'm saying give teams a headache to steal with ALL GAME, when Rob is out Horford needs to be out there and vice versa!

I get it, both Jays will start together but one will likely always be out there but that's because both are usually healthy and young enough to play a lot of minutes, for now I don't want that for Rob (until he can handle it) nor Horford. Stagger their minutes and we can have one at all times.

We could start horford and sit him early but I don't want that, I want the starters to play together a lot, if they are dominating I want them to play the entire quarter, if they do that both will have to sit leaving that void I don't want.

I don't know, maybe I'm over thinking it and the right answer is to go with our best players off the bat. Oh well, this is fun, we can finally discuss real stuff about the team!!

[Hal14]

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Love the team unity!

Really seems like some good, positive vibes with this team.

Man, looks like almost the whole team came out to support JB. I don't think it's any coincidence that one of the things Udoka has been preaching since he took the job is "togetherness" as a team.

[zoyathedestroya]

The other problem with Horford is that he may get traded to bring in the next White Whale.

Willing to bet Horford won't be moved until the summer at the earliest if at all. This season is all about competing at the highest level possible and getting the duckBOATs in a row heading into the summer.

FIXED.

[31to6]

so what does Jaylen's warehouse/store sell?

edit: answer = merch
okay cool, just like Larry Bird back in the day
https://celticswire.usatoday.com/lists/nba-boston-celtics-seaport-7uice-shop/

[djFan71]

so what does Jaylen's warehouse/store sell?

Weird combinations of numbers and letters.

[31to6]

so what does Jaylen's warehouse/store sell?

Weird combinations of numbers and letters.

that's pretty funny, n00b!

[bisme37]

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[bucknersrevenge]

I mean, Al's 35 but he's not dead. He had a long layoff to get fully healthy. The way Ime is talking, I don't think Horford is replacing Rob in the starting lineup. They're gonna play together to start the game. We're gonna have a big long starting 5 and I think the plan is to bully and out-execute teams.

[Triple7]

Hold your ground KYRIE!!!
Don’t give in please.
Don’t get the shots, and don’t play home games please.
I support you!

[Fencer reregistered]

I mean, Al's 35 but he's not dead. He had a long layoff to get fully healthy. The way Ime is talking, I don't think Horford is replacing Rob in the starting lineup. They're gonna play together to start the game. We're gonna have a big long starting 5 and I think the plan is to bully and out-execute teams.

I would agree, except that I question by how much the sum of Al's and Rob's minutes played can exceed 48.

[Fencer reregistered]

Question: As opposed to the usual image of closing "death" lineups being smallball, would Rob and Al fit well together in a CLOSING lineup?

[Fencer reregistered]

And while I'm at it -- the Celtics could really use a lineup and scheme in which, for a few minutes per game, Enes is the only center, and his strengths at the offensive end outweigh his deficiencies elsewhere.

An obvious thought is:
-- Combine guys who are basically standstill scorers at this point in their careers -- e.g. Enes, Grant, Pritchard, Nesmith, Smart.
-- If Enes is single-teamed, the ball is dumped to him and he tries to score. Otherwise, the ball is supposed to move crisply to an open guy.
-- Somehow teach them enough defense so that the lineup is net positive.

[Fierce1]

Question: As opposed to the usual image of closing "death" lineups being smallball, would Rob and Al fit well together in a CLOSING lineup?

That will depend on Rob's progression on the defensive end.

If Rob is now a smarter defender, I think that could work.

[steefP2]

Question: As opposed to the usual image of closing "death" lineups being smallball, would Rob and Al fit well together in a CLOSING lineup?

I think that’s possible but it’s obviously situational. Rob and Al together is a defense first combo so if you’re up by 8-10 points i could see us closing with that lineup but typically coaches skew towards small ball as the game goes on.

I also think it’s much more possible late in the season. I think we’ll be relatively careful with rob and only slowly ramp his minutes up, starting at around 20 and hopefully getting towards 28 a game.

[bucknersrevenge]

I mean, Al's 35 but he's not dead. He had a long layoff to get fully healthy. The way Ime is talking, I don't think Horford is replacing Rob in the starting lineup. They're gonna play together to start the game. We're gonna have a big long starting 5 and I think the plan is to bully and out-execute teams.

I would agree, except that I question by how much the sum of Al's and Rob's minutes played can exceed 48.

That's fair but since Al's versatile enough to play both big spots, I think both could very easily average 26-28 mpg which would certainly exceed that 48.

[Fierce1]

One thing's for sure, a 2-big lineup with Al and Rob is definitely an upgrade over the 2-big lineup of Theis and TT.