Celts Swat Pesky Insects! Victory Cigar vs CHA 11/1

[sam_I_am]

I think Grant was trying to send a message before tonight’s game. The way the 2 stars got themselves out of the game at the end doesn’t bode well for tonight. I think it was another moment like getting in Jimmy Butler’s face that will not have the desired effect.

Queta is starting to turn into the player we thought he could be. He was so disappointing during preseason that I wondered if we were wrong about him and that he was going to be another Springer, ie. too good for G-league but not quite an NBA player. Charlotte has a couple of young bigs in Richards and Williams that would be incredible assets on a veteran team but are kind of wasted there. Last year I saw in Queta a guy who could be like one of them. Not a star but a big guy who can fill the role and be productive. Queta over the past 2 games is showing signs of making a big leap.

[ConstableGeneva]

VC/CP:

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[darrendaye]

I'm fine playing Queta to see if he can improve and to save wear and tear on Al (Queta was really bad in the first half, better in the second half) but I'm surprised so many of you seem to think he's a better option than Kornet. It's not close. Especially defensively. Luke is also a better finisher than Queta.

Agree, though Queta is more assertive on offense and a better at getting the ball as a rebounder. Luke is more trustworthy. Overall, my thoughts on the game....

- I thought they should have actually sought to dump the ball down to Kornet and Queta a few more times to make Charlotte "pay" for the times they went small. Was very happy to see Queta pass the ball out to Jrue rather than try to force something when he got the ball in the post late in the 4th.

- More on Queta. I said in the game thread (in the 1st quarter) that they were getting diminishing returns from playing Queta. Queta was getting a bit outworked on the boards and, much like I used to say with Pritchard, if they are not making him a scoring threat offensively in the minutes he is out there, it tilts things a bit more to making his weaknesses more pronounced when you don't seek to mitigate them with his strengths.

- Speaking of Pritchard, I thought his defensive effort should not go unnoticed.

[Gant]

Hauser is not physically there yet. Hopefully soon as they need him to be all he can be.

Charles Lee mapped out a great game plan which was to take away the three, out attempt on threes, and outshoot on threes. Done, done, and done. It still wasn't enough.

The reason? The Celtics took advantage of mismatches causing the Hornets to get into early foul trouble nearly every quarter, then racked up a huge but fair advantage at the line. The Hornets compounded this with Ts, flagrants, and occasionally falling short in the poise category. Jaylen Brown was particularly effective at targeting Ball, leading LaMelo to eventually foul out. Brown and Tatum got a lot of free throws and Tatum's rebounding was very strong.

Speaking of LaMelo. As he does against Boston, he briefly went supernova from three. This coincided with Queta's out of sync first half performance, making the big fellow look worse than he actually was.

Mazzulla still returned Queta to the game, who bounced back with a good second half.

The Celtics center stats are interesting. 24 minutes each for K & Q. All the + came in Kornet's time (it's unusual for Queta to not be positive).
K n' Q Combined: 48 minutes, 8-8 shooting, 17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, and only 3 pfs. So, very efficient without accumulating a ton for totals. They both had good presence too. The Hornets knew they were there.

In the background, it was a happy game for Jordan Walsh, who had a couple of long balls drop and did good stuff in his brief appearance.

[Jammer]

I think Grant was trying to send a message before tonight’s game. The way the 2 stars got themselves out of the game at the end doesn’t bode well for tonight. I think it was another moment like getting in Jimmy Butler’s face that will not have the desired effect.

Queta is starting to turn into the player we thought he could be. He was so disappointing during preseason that I wondered if we were wrong about him and that he was going to be another Springer, ie. too good for G-league but not quite an NBA player. Charlotte has a couple of young bigs in Richards and Williams that would be incredible assets on a veteran team but are kind of wasted there. Last year I saw in Queta a guy who could be like one of them. Not a star but a big guy who can fill the role and be productive. Queta over the past 2 games is showing signs of making a big leap.

I knew Queta was an NBA player when he was in Utah. Celtics were extremely lucky to get him.