Celtics 2025-26, Season Thread

[Fencer reregistered]

Boston has settled on Minott as a starting power forward up front with Brown and Queta, and that five-man starting lineup has outscored foes 114-102 in 47 minutes together. The same lineup, but with Hauser instead of Minott, has outscored foes by 26 points in 29 minutes. The problem is that in every other five-man lineup Boston has put on the floor, the Celtics have been outscored by 29 points.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6773370/2025/11/03/nba-power-rankings-lakers-rockets-warriors-defense/

[Parliament10]

I'm still for Waiving Walsh, or Trading away for no one coming back.
Move up Amari, and fill his Two-Way spot with Ward.


Celtics Roster, 2025-26:
Starters: White - Simons - Brown - Minott - Queta
Rotation: Pritchard - González - Hauser - Tillman - Garza
Reserves: Scheierman - Walsh - Boucher

Two-Ways: Shulga - Harper - Amari
Affiliates: Gray - Scott - Luis - Ward - ????


Injured:
Tatum

[cloverleaf]

I have hopes for Amari too.

[Parliament10]

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[brackdan70]

Boston has settled on Minott as a starting power forward up front with Brown and Queta, and that five-man starting lineup has outscored foes 114-102 in 47 minutes together. The same lineup, but with Hauser instead of Minott, has outscored foes by 26 points in 29 minutes. The problem is that in every other five-man lineup Boston has put on the floor, the Celtics have been outscored by 29 points.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6773370/2025/11/03/nba-power-rankings-lakers-rockets-warriors-defense/

6 man rotation?

[keevsnick1]

Some Celtics ranks according to cleaning the glass, as of 11/6/25:

Offense: 13th
TOV%: 1st
OReb%: 14th
FTr: 30th
Rim Attempt Freq: 30th
3 Point Freq: 2nd

Defense: 10th
TOV%: 3rd
OReb%: 29th
FTr: 27th
Rim Attempt Freq: 2nd
3 Point Freq: 23rd

So basically they have some very pronounced strengths and weaknesses. They are elite at winning the TO battle, they shut down the rim on defense, they get up a lot of 3 pointers. On the other hand they lose the FT battle handily, give up a lot of Oreb's and don't get to the rim much themselves.

The offensive rating being 13th despite shooting just 31.8% from three is impressive, I'd imagine it goes up as they start hitting three pointers.

[redslastlaugh]

Winning the turnover battle at the expense of playing winning basketball is fool's gold
So much of the turnover issue is just the ballhandler dribbling up and shooting a 3pt attempt or one screen, fade, and shoot a 3pt attempt
if the ballhandler dribbles it over halfcourt, stops at the line, and launches a 3, this is a sure bet to not have a turnover!

but it's fools gold
& can be a counterproductive strategy if it leads to stagnant, bad basketball

Some Celtics ranks according to cleaning the glass, as of 11/6/25:

Offense: 13th
TOV%: 1st
OReb%: 14th
FTr: 30th
Rim Attempt Freq: 30th
3 Point Freq: 2nd

Defense: 10th
TOV%: 3rd
OReb%: 29th
FTr: 27th
Rim Attempt Freq: 2nd
3 Point Freq: 23rd

So basically they have some very pronounced strengths and weaknesses. They are elite at winning the TO battle, they shut down the rim on defense, they get up a lot of 3 pointers. On the other hand they lose the FT battle handily, give up a lot of Oreb's and don't get to the rim much themselves.

The offensive rating being 13th despite shooting just 31.8% from three is impressive, I'd imagine it goes up as they start hitting three pointers.

[keevsnick1]

Winning the turnover battle at the expense of playing winning basketball is fool's gold
So much of the turnover issue is just the ballhandler dribbling up and shooting a 3pt attempt or one screen, fade, and shoot a 3pt attempt
if the ballhandler dribbles it over halfcourt, stops at the line, and launches a 3, this is a sure bet to not have a turnover!

but it's fools gold
& can be a counterproductive strategy if it leads to stagnant, bad basketball

Some Celtics ranks according to cleaning the glass, as of 11/6/25:

Offense: 13th
TOV%: 1st
OReb%: 14th
FTr: 30th
Rim Attempt Freq: 30th
3 Point Freq: 2nd

Defense: 10th
TOV%: 3rd
OReb%: 29th
FTr: 27th
Rim Attempt Freq: 2nd
3 Point Freq: 23rd

So basically they have some very pronounced strengths and weaknesses. They are elite at winning the TO battle, they shut down the rim on defense, they get up a lot of 3 pointers. On the other hand they lose the FT battle handily, give up a lot of Oreb's and don't get to the rim much themselves.

The offensive rating being 13th despite shooting just 31.8% from three is impressive, I'd imagine it goes up as they start hitting three pointers.

Ya, I don't think the turnover stuff is fools gold at all. Sure, they shoot a lot of threes, but threes is what their players are good at. Derick White and PP are shooters, they aren't explosive at rim finishers. You want them shooting, and generally I think they've taken good shots. Just got to make them.

[Fierce1]

Winning the turnover battle is as crucial as winning the rebounding battle.

In the playoffs, every possession counts.

If the Cs continue to take care of the ball then that's already an advantage.

As for the rebounds, I believe it's time to bring Rob Williams back to Boston.
It's a low risk scenario now that Rob has an expiring contract.

[djFan71]

Winning the turnover battle is as crucial as winning the rebounding battle.

In the playoffs, every possession counts.

If the Cs continue to take care of the ball then that's already an advantage.

As for the rebounds, I believe it's time to bring Rob Williams back to Boston.
It's a low risk scenario now that Rob has an expiring contract.

I definitely tried to trade for Rob multiple times this summer. If something happened by the deadline, I'd be pleased. But, it can't really cost an asset due to health risk, and at that point, why would POR?

KP and Rob back next summer would be hilarious / awesome. Hopefully we'd get a full set of 82 out of them combined somehow.

[Fierce1]

Winning the turnover battle is as crucial as winning the rebounding battle.

In the playoffs, every possession counts.

If the Cs continue to take care of the ball then that's already an advantage.

As for the rebounds, I believe it's time to bring Rob Williams back to Boston.
It's a low risk scenario now that Rob has an expiring contract.

I definitely tried to trade for Rob multiple times this summer. If something happened by the deadline, I'd be pleased. But, it can't really cost an asset due to health risk, and at that point, why would POR?

KP and Rob back next summer would be hilarious / awesome. Hopefully we'd get a full set of 82 out of them combined somehow.

Rob has no value to Portland anymore because they have Clingan and Hansen.

I read an article that even if Portland just gets a 2nd rounder that would be a win for them.

Rob is also an expiring and I don't think they would re-sign him long term.

In the summer it was uncertain what Rob's condition was.
Now that we know he's playing again, I think it's worth the risk.

For the trade to work, it has to be Rob and Kyle Anderson going to Boston, Simons to Utah, and Niang to Portland.
Draft picks would have to be involved.

[djFan71]

Winning the turnover battle is as crucial as winning the rebounding battle.

In the playoffs, every possession counts.

If the Cs continue to take care of the ball then that's already an advantage.

As for the rebounds, I believe it's time to bring Rob Williams back to Boston.
It's a low risk scenario now that Rob has an expiring contract.

I definitely tried to trade for Rob multiple times this summer. If something happened by the deadline, I'd be pleased. But, it can't really cost an asset due to health risk, and at that point, why would POR?

KP and Rob back next summer would be hilarious / awesome. Hopefully we'd get a full set of 82 out of them combined somehow.

Rob has no value to Portland anymore because they have Clingan and Hansen.

I read an article that even if Portland just gets a 2nd rounder that would be a win for them.

Rob is also an expiring and I don't think they would re-sign him long term.

In the summer it was uncertain what Rob's condition was.
Now that we know he's playing again, I think it's worth the risk.

For the trade to work, it has to be Rob and Kyle Anderson going to Boston, Simons to Utah, and Niang to Portland.
Draft picks would have to be involved.

That’s at least 3 seconds cuz Utah needs to be paid as well for adding salary.

[Fierce1]

I definitely tried to trade for Rob multiple times this summer. If something happened by the deadline, I'd be pleased. But, it can't really cost an asset due to health risk, and at that point, why would POR?

KP and Rob back next summer would be hilarious / awesome. Hopefully we'd get a full set of 82 out of them combined somehow.

Rob has no value to Portland anymore because they have Clingan and Hansen.

I read an article that even if Portland just gets a 2nd rounder that would be a win for them.

Rob is also an expiring and I don't think they would re-sign him long term.

In the summer it was uncertain what Rob's condition was.
Now that we know he's playing again, I think it's worth the risk.

For the trade to work, it has to be Rob and Kyle Anderson going to Boston, Simons to Utah, and Niang to Portland.
Draft picks would have to be involved.

That’s at least 3 seconds cuz Utah needs to be paid as well for adding salary.

Yeah, I think that's about right.

Maybe the 3rd 2nd round pick can be heavily protected.

Why I like Rob back is he doesn't have to be a starter with the Cs.
Rob just backs up Queta in the regular season then Rob gets a bigger role in the playoffs.

With Rob, Cs can go back to using a double big lineup again.

[djFan71]

Rob has no value to Portland anymore because they have Clingan and Hansen.

I read an article that even if Portland just gets a 2nd rounder that would be a win for them.

Rob is also an expiring and I don't think they would re-sign him long term.

In the summer it was uncertain what Rob's condition was.
Now that we know he's playing again, I think it's worth the risk.

For the trade to work, it has to be Rob and Kyle Anderson going to Boston, Simons to Utah, and Niang to Portland.
Draft picks would have to be involved.

That’s at least 3 seconds cuz Utah needs to be paid as well for adding salary.

Yeah, I think that's about right.

Maybe the 3rd 2nd round pick can be heavily protected.

Why I like Rob back is he doesn't have to be a starter with the Cs.
Rob just backs up Queta in the regular season then Rob gets a bigger role in the playoffs.

With Rob, Cs can go back to using a double big lineup again.

I'm fully on board with the Rob part. The paying 3-2nds to get him this year rather than just waiting and signing him is where I'm unsure. A lot to like: You get under the 1st apron, save a bunch in tax, but don't fully duck the actual tax line. Though you're close enough that some deadline & 10-day shenanigans the rest of the year and you can probably get you under even without moving Hauser. You create a $27M TPE from Simons.

But you've lost a lot of deal greasers to use that TPE. Though, you're in the position to prey on teams that need to save money like us last summer. Snag WCJ for free/cheap, etc. Probably get a 2nd to take Isaac, etc.

I wouldn't hate it, and probably proposed something very similar in the summer, lol. Might be better to keep the powder dry til the deadline and see what else shakes loose at Simons $, though.

[Fierce1]

That’s at least 3 seconds cuz Utah needs to be paid as well for adding salary.

Yeah, I think that's about right.

Maybe the 3rd 2nd round pick can be heavily protected.

Why I like Rob back is he doesn't have to be a starter with the Cs.
Rob just backs up Queta in the regular season then Rob gets a bigger role in the playoffs.

With Rob, Cs can go back to using a double big lineup again.

I'm fully on board with the Rob part. The paying 3-2nds to get him this year rather than just waiting and signing him is where I'm unsure. A lot to like: You get under the 1st apron, save a bunch in tax, but don't fully duck the actual tax line. Though you're close enough that some deadline & 10-day shenanigans the rest of the year and you can probably get you under even without moving Hauser. You create a $27M TPE from Simons.

But you've lost a lot of deal greasers to use that TPE. Though, you're in the position to prey on teams that need to save money like us last summer. Snag WCJ for free/cheap, etc. Probably get a 2nd to take Isaac, etc.

I wouldn't hate it, and probably proposed something very similar in the summer, lol. Might be better to keep the powder dry til the deadline and see what else shakes loose at Simons $, though.

Or if Brad thinks Grayson Allen can be a rotation piece then Simons for Grayson and Richards.
It works on the trade machine.

That trade will also save the Cs close to 6m.
Cs will be slightly below the 1st apron after the trade.

I think the Suns will want out of Grayson's contract because the Suns are already tied up with Booker and Jalen Green for 80-90m per year.

[Celts17Pride]

It's not going to happen but if the Celtics want to be the best version of themselves this year then I think moving Pritchard to the 6th man role and making Simons the starter is the best way to go. This is not a knock on Pritchard at all, it's actually a knock on Simons.

Simons just doesn't have any impact at all on the 2nd unit. Simons just can't get others involved like PP can. Pritchard on the 2nd unit I think could get guys like Hauser, Garza, Gonzalez etc. going with his playmaking and energy. Simons has just been unwilling or unable to do that. Simons as a starter can do what he does best which is just stand around and be a spot up shooter.

I have resisted this but like I said, this is not going to happen but if the Celtics want to be the best version of themselves then I think this is the way to go.

The game against the Wiz is a perfect example. PP got in foul trouble and Simons came in as basically the starter after 1 minutes. Simons did his usual nothing but when PP came in the game the late first quarter and start of the 2nd quarter the Celtics took off.

Not going to happen but it should.

[Hal14]

Yeah, I think that's about right.

Maybe the 3rd 2nd round pick can be heavily protected.

Why I like Rob back is he doesn't have to be a starter with the Cs.
Rob just backs up Queta in the regular season then Rob gets a bigger role in the playoffs.

With Rob, Cs can go back to using a double big lineup again.

I'm fully on board with the Rob part. The paying 3-2nds to get him this year rather than just waiting and signing him is where I'm unsure. A lot to like: You get under the 1st apron, save a bunch in tax, but don't fully duck the actual tax line. Though you're close enough that some deadline & 10-day shenanigans the rest of the year and you can probably get you under even without moving Hauser. You create a $27M TPE from Simons.

But you've lost a lot of deal greasers to use that TPE. Though, you're in the position to prey on teams that need to save money like us last summer. Snag WCJ for free/cheap, etc. Probably get a 2nd to take Isaac, etc.

I wouldn't hate it, and probably proposed something very similar in the summer, lol. Might be better to keep the powder dry til the deadline and see what else shakes loose at Simons $, though.

Or if Brad thinks Grayson Allen can be a rotation piece then Simons for Grayson and Richards.
It works on the trade machine.

That trade will also save the Cs close to 6m.
Cs will be slightly below the 1st apron after the trade.

I think the Suns will want out of Grayson's contract because the Suns are already tied up with Booker and Jalen Green for 80-90m per year.

Plus the suns are also paying dillon brooks. Who has this year plus 1 more on his contract. Would not be surprised if either green, brooks or allen is moved soon.

[threrf23]

So far this season, our opponents are shooting 44.6% (eFG) against us while Queta is on the floor.

When he is on the bench, opponents are shooting 58.3%.

All in all, with Queta is on the floor we are a good defensive team and we outscore opponents by 16.7 points per 100 possessions. With Queta on the bench, our defense sucks and we get outscored by 8 points.

[djFan71]

It's not going to happen but if the Celtics want to be the best version of themselves this year then I think moving Pritchard to the 6th man role and making Simons the starter is the best way to go. This is not a knock on Pritchard at all, it's actually a knock on Simons.

Simons just doesn't have any impact at all on the 2nd unit. Simons just can't get others involved like PP can. Pritchard on the 2nd unit I think could get guys like Hauser, Garza, Gonzalez etc. going with his playmaking and energy. Simons has just been unwilling or unable to do that. Simons as a starter can do what he does best which is just stand around and be a spot up shooter.

I have resisted this but like I said, this is not going to happen but if the Celtics want to be the best version of themselves then I think this is the way to go.

The game against the Wiz is a perfect example. PP got in foul trouble and Simons came in as basically the starter after 1 minutes. Simons did his usual nothing but when PP came in the game the late first quarter and start of the 2nd quarter the Celtics took off.

Not going to happen but it should.

This was my thought all summer. With the bonus of showcasing Simons for trade value. But, it was dependent on the first unit being good enough without Pritchard to handle that. I’m not sure they are, esp against other starters. I think now its start and stagger the big(ish) 3 if you really wanna win.