Celtics General Thread 2019-20, "Re-Start"

[Slax]

We have to go after Jeff Green. I mean he was valuable enough to net a Memphis first rounder, so he must be an absolutely incredible player, right??

I wouldn't put it exactly that way. But Danny does seem to get a large return every time he trades away Jeff Green or the rights to him.

Lol yeah, the amount of value we have gotten out of repeatedly trading Green is mind boggling.

[zoyathedestroya]

We have to go after Jeff Green. I mean he was valuable enough to net a Memphis first rounder, so he must be an absolutely incredible player, right??

I wouldn't put it exactly that way. But Danny does seem to get a large return every time he trades away Jeff Green or the rights to him.

Lol yeah, the amount of value we have gotten out of repeatedly trading Green is mind boggling.

If we pick him up from the waiver wire now, is he eligible to be traded for Doncic in February? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Slax]

I wouldn't put it exactly that way. But Danny does seem to get a large return every time he trades away Jeff Green or the rights to him.

Lol yeah, the amount of value we have gotten out of repeatedly trading Green is mind boggling.

If we pick him up from the waiver wire now, is he eligible to be traded for Doncic in February? Inquiring minds want to know.

I think we might need to add Kanter to make the salaries work. But that's ok, we can just ask them to also send back a first rounder to offset the extra talent we're sending out.

[Darth Celtic]

1 game at a time, but we have a chance to go 10 - 1 in the next 11 games. With raptors having injuries and a weak schedule, you never know.

[zoyathedestroya]

Offensive Rating (Points per 100 Possessions) of Top Starter Trios* in the East (minimum 80 mins):

• Tatum-Brown-Hayward: 126.6
...


• Siakam-Anunoby-Gasol: 114.4
• Butler-Robinson-Nunn: 114.1
• Giannis-Matthews-Bledsoe: 113.3
• Harris-Simmons-Horford: 111.7
• Warren-Sabonis-Brogdon: 105.9

*trios with the best offensive rating for each team's starters, per stats.nba.com.

Three wings can't co-exist though.

[zoyathedestroya]

More Tatum-Brown-Hayward:

• Offensive Rating - 128.5, 100th percentile
• Defensive Rating - 100.4, 97th percentile
• Net Rating - 28.2, 100th percentile
• Effective FG% - 62.1%, 100th percentile
• Forced TO Rate - 17.5%, 93rd percentile

Source: cleaningtheglass.com

Stay healthy, Gordo.

[31to6]

More Tatum-Brown-Hayward:

• Offensive Rating - 128.5, 100th percentile
• Defensive Rating - 100.4, 97th percentile
• Net Rating - 28.2, 100th percentile
• Effective FG% - 62.1%, 100th percentile
• Forced TO Rate - 17.5%, 93rd percentile

Source: cleaningtheglass.com

Stay healthy, Gordo.

Holy crap. Maybe four All Star caliber wings is pretty good after all.

[zoyathedestroya]

Read on Twitter

BBass midrange, baby!

[Slax]

Does anyone else think it's kind of weird that the Celtics just... aren't getting talked about at all? Every statistical indicator suggests the Celtics have been one of the top teams in the league for the first half of the season in spite of struggling with health: top five on both offense and defense, third in winning %, third in SRS, with quality wins against good teams. Granted we benefited from lucky timing of playing some opponents with their own injury issues recently, but overall the Celtics are playing like a quality team and probably deserve some attention. Yet we have seen very light national media discussion, not much interest by general NBA fans online, etc. I'm not upset, I'm actually kind of pleased to slip under the radar, but I'm curious why this team is treated as not notable or exciting in spite of performance. Is it because our talent is more spread out instead of concentrated in marketable superstars?

[5InOfLouisville]

Does anyone else think it's kind of weird that the Celtics just... aren't getting talked about at all? Every statistical indicator suggests the Celtics have been one of the top teams in the league for the first half of the season in spite of struggling with health: top five on both offense and defense, third in winning %, third in SRS, with quality wins against good teams. Granted we benefited from lucky timing of playing some opponents with their own injury issues recently, but overall the Celtics are playing like a quality team and probably deserve some attention. Yet we have seen very light national media discussion, not much interest by general NBA fans online, etc. I'm not upset, I'm actually kind of pleased to slip under the radar, but I'm curious why this team is treated as not notable or exciting in spite of performance. Is it because our talent is more spread out instead of concentrated in marketable superstars?

I think you touched it on the end. We don't have a proven superstar on our team, and there is a common belief, true or false, that you need a superstar to be a legit contender.

I think we are oft viewed as a nice team, a pleasant surprise with a bright future, but that without that big name, go-to guy, we aren't serious contenders.

I get the idea. Don't know if I fully agree. Sure hope it's wrong. I can only say that championship teams tend to have that player. But at the same time, I'm not at all upset with the ball in Kemba or Jayson's hand with the clock winding down during a close game when we need a big shot.

and if they give it up to gordo or brown in a good position, i'll take that too.

[Tyakack]

Does anyone else think it's kind of weird that the Celtics just... aren't getting talked about at all? Every statistical indicator suggests the Celtics have been one of the top teams in the league for the first half of the season in spite of struggling with health: top five on both offense and defense, third in winning %, third in SRS, with quality wins against good teams. Granted we benefited from lucky timing of playing some opponents with their own injury issues recently, but overall the Celtics are playing like a quality team and probably deserve some attention. Yet we have seen very light national media discussion, not much interest by general NBA fans online, etc. I'm not upset, I'm actually kind of pleased to slip under the radar, but I'm curious why this team is treated as not notable or exciting in spite of performance. Is it because our talent is more spread out instead of concentrated in marketable superstars?

I've seen them talked about a decent amount. Granted I rarely watch sports shows but I've definitely seen them talked about just by reading headlines and such.

[Slax]

Does anyone else think it's kind of weird that the Celtics just... aren't getting talked about at all? Every statistical indicator suggests the Celtics have been one of the top teams in the league for the first half of the season in spite of struggling with health: top five on both offense and defense, third in winning %, third in SRS, with quality wins against good teams. Granted we benefited from lucky timing of playing some opponents with their own injury issues recently, but overall the Celtics are playing like a quality team and probably deserve some attention. Yet we have seen very light national media discussion, not much interest by general NBA fans online, etc. I'm not upset, I'm actually kind of pleased to slip under the radar, but I'm curious why this team is treated as not notable or exciting in spite of performance. Is it because our talent is more spread out instead of concentrated in marketable superstars?

I've seen them talked about a decent amount. Granted I rarely watch sports shows but I've definitely seen them talked about just by reading headlines and such.

Maybe I just haven't been looking hard enough!

[5InOfLouisville]

I agree with both of you, in that i do think we get a fair amount of coverage, but generally as an afterthought...a nice regular season team that isn't a legitimate contender.

and while i may not FULLY agree, I think that is a fair assessment. The onus is on us to prove otherwise.

[sam_I_am]

Does anyone else think it's kind of weird that the Celtics just... aren't getting talked about at all? Every statistical indicator suggests the Celtics have been one of the top teams in the league for the first half of the season in spite of struggling with health: top five on both offense and defense, third in winning %, third in SRS, with quality wins against good teams. Granted we benefited from lucky timing of playing some opponents with their own injury issues recently, but overall the Celtics are playing like a quality team and probably deserve some attention. Yet we have seen very light national media discussion, not much interest by general NBA fans online, etc. I'm not upset, I'm actually kind of pleased to slip under the radar, but I'm curious why this team is treated as not notable or exciting in spite of performance. Is it because our talent is more spread out instead of concentrated in marketable superstars?

I feel that the next 11 games will change the narrative. With almost all hands on deck except RW and only one scheduled loss ( PHI on second day of back to back ) ... the team is poised to go on a huge run. If early indicators of offensive rating when Hayward/Brown/Tatum play together are correct....January is going to be a huge month for the Celtics and there is a good chance they distance themselves from second tier teams and maybe even the Lakers and Clippers too.

[Joshyjess]

Does anyone else think it's kind of weird that the Celtics just... aren't getting talked about at all? Every statistical indicator suggests the Celtics have been one of the top teams in the league for the first half of the season in spite of struggling with health: top five on both offense and defense, third in winning %, third in SRS, with quality wins against good teams. Granted we benefited from lucky timing of playing some opponents with their own injury issues recently, but overall the Celtics are playing like a quality team and probably deserve some attention. Yet we have seen very light national media discussion, not much interest by general NBA fans online, etc. I'm not upset, I'm actually kind of pleased to slip under the radar, but I'm curious why this team is treated as not notable or exciting in spite of performance. Is it because our talent is more spread out instead of concentrated in marketable superstars?

Personally, I hope it stays that way. Brad Steven's teams seem to be better when they are not talked about, or hyped up. I hope the C's keep flying under the radar this season, and then "suddenly, out of the blue", they make a run to the finals.

[Slax]

Does anyone else think it's kind of weird that the Celtics just... aren't getting talked about at all? Every statistical indicator suggests the Celtics have been one of the top teams in the league for the first half of the season in spite of struggling with health: top five on both offense and defense, third in winning %, third in SRS, with quality wins against good teams. Granted we benefited from lucky timing of playing some opponents with their own injury issues recently, but overall the Celtics are playing like a quality team and probably deserve some attention. Yet we have seen very light national media discussion, not much interest by general NBA fans online, etc. I'm not upset, I'm actually kind of pleased to slip under the radar, but I'm curious why this team is treated as not notable or exciting in spite of performance. Is it because our talent is more spread out instead of concentrated in marketable superstars?

I think you touched it on the end. We don't have a proven superstar on our team, and there is a common belief, true or false, that you need a superstar to be a legit contender.

I think we are oft viewed as a nice team, a pleasant surprise with a bright future, but that without that big name, go-to guy, we aren't serious contenders.

I get the idea. Don't know if I fully agree. Sure hope it's wrong. I can only say that championship teams tend to have that player. But at the same time, I'm not at all upset with the ball in Kemba or Jayson's hand with the clock winding down during a close game when we need a big shot.

and if they give it up to gordo or brown in a good position, i'll take that too.

I think the lack of a legit superstar is a huge limiting factor for us and will prevent us from being good enough to be favorites against teams with MVP candidates. But it's also super difficult to come up with historical comparisons that do justice to the Celtics' current roster construction. One of the best defenses in the league, fourth option on offense is someone like Gordon Hayward or Jaylen Brown, few major weaknesses on either end, so much talent that a player as good as Marcus Smart is forced to come off the bench, etc. The closest comparison I can come up with off the top of my head is maybe one of those late 90's early 2000's Blazers teams where at their peak they were extremely well balanced and stacked with talent on both ends so that they were good enough to beat the best teams in the league and contend for a championship when they were on, but just never quite managed to get lucky and squeeze past teams with more star power like the Lakers or Spurs so that they could win it all. It wasn't inevitable that those Blazers teams were bound to lose, but the odds were stacked against them because of their lack of in-prime superstars.

[zoyathedestroya]

After the Celtics go 70-0 the rest of the way...

"You know what, I dunno, they're still lacking an elite big to be considered contenders. They don't even have an MVP type player."

[exculpatory]

Does anyone else think it's kind of weird that the Celtics just... aren't getting talked about at all? Every statistical indicator suggests the Celtics have been one of the top teams in the league for the first half of the season in spite of struggling with health: top five on both offense and defense, third in winning %, third in SRS, with quality wins against good teams. Granted we benefited from lucky timing of playing some opponents with their own injury issues recently, but overall the Celtics are playing like a quality team and probably deserve some attention. Yet we have seen very light national media discussion, not much interest by general NBA fans online, etc. I'm not upset, I'm actually kind of pleased to slip under the radar, but I'm curious why this team is treated as not notable or exciting in spite of performance. Is it because our talent is more spread out instead of concentrated in marketable superstars?

I feel that the next 11 games will change the narrative. With almost all hands on deck except RW and only one scheduled loss ( PHI on second day of back to back ) ... the team is poised to go on a huge run. If early indicators of offensive rating when Hayward/Brown/Tatum play together are correct....January is going to be a huge month for the Celtics and there is a good chance they distance themselves from second tier teams and maybe even the Lakers and Clippers too.

Sam

I posted exactly this in my “next 14 games” thread before the Xmas game.

I projected a real possibility of 12-2 at that time (& 11-2 at this moment) with most likely losses on the road in the second game of a b2b VS Sixers & Bucks. If that occurs we will be 32-9 at precisely the half way point - and more than likely will have gained a little more separation from other good teams.

[ddb]

I am predicting it now....if healthy, the Celtics are going to the NBA finals this year. There isn't a team in the Eastern Conference that has 4 All-Star caliber guys at the top...and not only does Boston feature 4 All-Star guys, but those 4 guys mesh well. This isn't last season where the pieces didn't fit. Kemba, JB, JT, and Hayward all fit well together. Then you add in Smart, Kanter, Theis and young pieces that are improving....
The Celtics are crushing teams lately. They just seem to be getting better and better. I have a really good feeling about this team

[GoCeltics123]

I am predicting it now....if healthy, the Celtics are going to the NBA finals this year. There isn't a team in the Eastern Conference that has 4 All-Star caliber guys at the top...and not only does Boston feature 4 All-Star guys, but those 4 guys mesh well. This isn't last season where the pieces didn't fit. Kemba, JB, JT, and Hayward all fit well together. Then you add in Smart, Kanter, Theis and young pieces that are improving....
The Celtics are crushing teams lately. They just seem to be getting better and better. I have a really good feeling about this team

Do you think the Celtics would go after Dedmon now that he wants out, ddb? I've heard they've been interested in him in the past.