Celts Fight Off Spooky Sixers Comeback, Get The Hallo-win! NBA Cup Victory Cigar vs PHI 10/31

[tfmiii]

Simons was the best guard for our team tonight
White was caca on both ends
PP was good on offense to start the game but deteriorated like the whole team in the 2nd

I'll keep him if the price is right
He can be a Hauser replacement (another not so good game - saw the back belt on him again), not a PP replacement

That's a good way to think about it, especially as Minott and Hugo are going to be demanding minutes and are same size as Hauser

[ThePigeon]

Simons was the best guard for our team tonight
White was caca on both ends
PP was good on offense to start the game but deteriorated like the whole team in the 2nd

I'll keep him if the price is right
He can be a Hauser replacement (another not so good game - saw the back belt on him again), not a PP replacement

Simons can't be a Hauser replacement because Joe is asking Hauser to defend Forwards.

I also thought of trading Sam instead of Simons, but apparently Joe doesn't see it that way.

You can tell Joe values what Sam brings to the table because of Sam's consistent minutes.

Hauser knows the drills and defensive schemes so he get the nod
He is a shooter and when he doesn't produce on offense - there are better guys defensively on the bench (Hugo?). Simons produces on offense, which is the main thing we keep Hauser for

[Green89]

White Simons JB JT and Queta is what I was envisioning in the summer.

But Joe doesn't see it that way.

There's still time, but I don't know if Joe will ever go with Simons over PP in crunch time.

I think yall are missing the mark on Pritch, he has been our best guard defender, though I stick behind Simons hasn’t been bad at all. He needs to make some 3s, but he’s been fine starting.

Pritchard is not an elite defender, so using him over our 2nd best scorer to end games is wrong. They can both be out there, but I would not play PP in crunch time over Simons. You can't bench your #2 scorer.

[ThePigeon]

I just hope that when JT comes back he will buy in to the high pace high intensity style
He likes to play it slow, walking the ball and most times he is the last one on offense

[Shak_Celts]

White Simons JB JT and Queta is what I was envisioning in the summer.

But Joe doesn't see it that way.

There's still time, but I don't know if Joe will ever go with Simons over PP in crunch time.

I think yall are missing the mark on Pritch, he has been our best guard defender, though I stick behind Simons hasn’t been bad at all. He needs to make some 3s, but he’s been fine starting.

Pritchard is not an elite defender, so using him over our 2nd best scorer to end games is wrong. They can both be out there, but I would not play PP in crunch time over Simons. You can't bench your #2 scorer.

I really don’t care about this part of it. You gotta talk to Joe about that. I’m sticking by what I said, Pritch has been fine STARTING, and he’s been our best guard defender.

[Green89]

Coach should get VC because he pushed the right buttons in the 4th.

Joe put Hugo in early in the 4th and that really gave the Cs some cushion.

Then Joe went back to Mynot to close out the game was also correct.
It's just unfortunate that Mynot missed 2 FTs at the end.

Putting in Tillman was also the right move.
Tillman forced that miss on Maxey's potential game winning layup.

Defense and rebounds won this game for the Cs.

I know the offense was horrible in the last 2 minutes, but this is the price to pay when one of the game's best closer, Jayson Tatum, is not playing for the Cs.

All wiped away by his horrific decision not once but twice, to have the smallest guy on the team be on the floor for 2 must execute inbounds pkays. He's the easiest guy to trap and defend.

Pritchard also our best ball handler and possibly our highest IQ player who you always trust to make the right decisions in crunch time. And you trust him to make FT's if they put him on the line.

We won the game..on the road vs a team that just beat us on our home floor and was undefeated before tonight. Putting Pritchard in didn't cost us the game - we won

Did you see what Nurse did when Pritchard got it? They doubled him right away. Ball handling skills go out the window when you're the shortest guy on the court getting double teamed. Nurse knew what to do right away.

[Shak_Celts]

I just hope that when JT comes back he will buy in to the high pace high intensity style
He likes to play it slow, walking the ball and most times he is the last one on offense

Can’t worry about that, Tatum is a winner, he’ll do whatever it takes to win.

[Green89]

Coach should get VC because he pushed the right buttons in the 4th.

Joe put Hugo in early in the 4th and that really gave the Cs some cushion.

Then Joe went back to Mynot to close out the game was also correct.
It's just unfortunate that Mynot missed 2 FTs at the end.

Putting in Tillman was also the right move.
Tillman forced that miss on Maxey's potential game winning layup.

Defense and rebounds won this game for the Cs.

I know the offense was horrible in the last 2 minutes, but this is the price to pay when one of the game's best closer, Jayson Tatum, is not playing for the Cs.

All wiped away by his horrific decision not once but twice, to have the smallest guy on the team be on the floor for 2 must execute inbounds pkays. He's the easiest guy to trap and defend.

They were anticipating the Sixers would foul immediately.

But Nick Nurse countered by sacrificing time for going for a steal by trapping.

Reason why PP is in there is because he's the best FT shooter on the Cs right now.

It's automatic 2 points if he goes to the FT line.

Credit Nick Nurse for countering with not fouling immediately.

Getting ball inbounds and no steals >>>>>> having a guy you think shoots free throws a little bit better than the others on the floor.

Besides, 7 other players on the team have a higher FT% than PP does this year.

[djFan71]

JB smokes the cigar tonight with a handful of runner ups. Hugo, Simons, Garza were all solid tonight! Minott looked like he was going to crap his pants before those freethrows and some real questionable play at the end but this teams learning and growing on the fly! Sorry to the tank mafia, it isn’t happening! This teams reloading not rebuilding

Relax it's still early. 1 injury to JB and this team falls harder than Vanilla Ice's rap career.

Huh losing a guy who many argue not even a #2 would make us Suck? I seem to remember a burner account of a former mod around here stating JB was on the decline.

It’s been a few years, may be time to let it go and update that sig.

[Hal14]

That's the problem, Joe will not go with Simons over PP.

Joe's going to go with PP in crunch time and it's valid because PP's better than Simons defensively.

It's like the Smart, DWhite, and Brogdon logjam again.

When JT returns, it will be C, JT, JB, White, and PP in crunch time.

I'm a Simons fan and have defended him all summer.
But I think it will be between PP and Simons.

Trading Simons for a player with a lower salary will reset the Cs repeater tax situation and the player Brad will get for Simons should be a contributor off the bench.

And if you do that you go White, Brown, Minott, Tatum, Queta with PP, Hauser, Oogo, and new big off the bench for your main rotation. Doesn’t have to be a starting big even. Probably pick up a cheap vet PG for insurance and that team is pretty scary.

Real scary part is do you want to rely on JT or Joe to restrict minutes in the playoffs?

Nah!

Don't get fooled.

Tatum is 27 years old and those legs heal faster compared to players who tear achilles in their 30s.

Demarcus Cousins was also 27 when he tore his achilles:

Read on Twitter

Embiid had lots of injuries in his 20s's...missed like his first 2 NBA seasons. Look at Time Lord. Ben Simmons.

Jamal Murray age 25 missed a year with torn ACL.

Haliburton out for year with torn achilles at age 25.

Dejounte Murray tore achilles at age 28..

Holmgren hurt..missed a full season even though he was basically healthy enough to play in March..why didn't OKC bring him back in March? Because you just don't do it..you don't bring a guy back from an injury that severe that late in the season when all these other players are in mid season form and already played 40+ games..guys are all flying around going a million miles an hour battling like hell for playoff positioning..you don't put a guy out there in that environment for the first time all season when he's coming off an injury of that severity wth no training camp or preseason..especially when it's such a big investment, he's literally the highest paid player in NBA history. Who is just starting his contract extension, only 27 so that means there's more risk, there's more to lose if he gets hurt again because you maybe bring him back too soon.

Hence, why Wyc said he's not playing this season:

Read on Twitter

Just accept it and stop beating a dead horse please - not every thread all season long after every game needs to be a debate about whether JT is gonna play this season - it gets very tiresome

[KamikazeK]

I'm beginning the JB for MVP campaign right meow

[Shak_Celts]

And if you do that you go White, Brown, Minott, Tatum, Queta with PP, Hauser, Oogo, and new big off the bench for your main rotation. Doesn’t have to be a starting big even. Probably pick up a cheap vet PG for insurance and that team is pretty scary.

Real scary part is do you want to rely on JT or Joe to restrict minutes in the playoffs?

Nah!

Don't get fooled.

Tatum is 27 years old and those legs heal faster compared to players who tear achilles in their 30s.

Demarcus Cousins was also 27 when he tore his achilles:

Read on Twitter

Embiid had lots of injuries in his 20s's...missed like his first 2 NBA seasons. Look at Time Lord. Ben Simmons.

Jamal Murray age 25 missed a year with torn ACL.

Haliburton out for year with torn achilles at age 25.

Dejounte Murray tore achilles at age 28..

Holmgren hurt..missed a full season even though he was basically healthy enough to play in March..why didn't OKC bring him back in March? Because you just don't do it..you don't bring a guy back from an injury that severe that late in the season when all these other players are in mid season form and already played 40+ games..guys are all flying around going a million miles an hour battling like hell for playoff positioning..you don't put a guy out there in that environment for the first time all season when he's coming off an injury of that severity wth no training camp or preseason..especially when it's such a big investment, he's literally the highest paid player in NBA history. Who is just starting his contract extension, only 27 so that means there's more risk, there's more to lose if he gets hurt again because you maybe bring him back too soon.

Hence, why Wyc said he's not playing this season:

Read on Twitter

Just accept it and stop beating a dead horse in every thread please

I’ll take everything you said, except for anything boogie said, he is not the same as everyone else. He had terrible work ethic.

[Parasite]

Simons is a luxury the Celtics cannot afford.
I love Simons and I think he's a great player, but it's just not a good fit because the Cs would be too small if they have PP, White, and Simons.

Garza is 100% a keeper.

Why can’t we have a White/Simons/Jaylen/Tatum/Queta
starting lineup or sub Pritch with Simons and have Simons come off the bench for instant offense?

Exactly, Simons should be starting. PP as sixth man

This is my preference as well

[Fierce1]

And if you do that you go White, Brown, Minott, Tatum, Queta with PP, Hauser, Oogo, and new big off the bench for your main rotation. Doesn’t have to be a starting big even. Probably pick up a cheap vet PG for insurance and that team is pretty scary.

Real scary part is do you want to rely on JT or Joe to restrict minutes in the playoffs?

Nah!

Don't get fooled.

Tatum is 27 years old and those legs heal faster compared to players who tear achilles in their 30s.

Demarcus Cousins was also 27 when he tore his achilles:

Read on Twitter

Embiid had lots of injuries in his 20s's...missed like his first 2 NBA seasons. Look at Time Lord. Ben Simmons.

Jamal Murray age 25 missed a year with torn ACL.

Haliburton out for year with torn achilles at age 25.

Dejounte Murray tore achilles at age 28..

Holmgren hurt..missed a full season even though he was basically healthy enough to play in March..why didn't OKC bring him back in March? Because you just don't do it..you don't bring a guy back from an injury that severe that late in the season when all these other players are in mid season form and already played 40+ games..guys are all flying around going a million miles an hour battling like hell for playoff positioning..you don't put a guy out there in that environment for the first time all season when he's coming off an injury of that severity wth no training camp or preseason..especially when it's such a big investment, he's literally the highest paid player in NBA history. Who is just starting his contract extension, only 27 so that means there's more risk, there's more to lose if he gets hurt again because you maybe bring him back too soon.

Hence, why Wyc said he's not playing this season:

Read on Twitter

Just accept it and stop beating a dead horse in every thread please

On the contrary, most of us here are already in agreement that Tatum will return later in the season.

Your posts of articles and twitter posts are the ones beating the dead horse.

Make a poll if you want to, but I'm certain majority of the board already agrees Tatum will be returning this season.

[Fierce1]

All wiped away by his horrific decision not once but twice, to have the smallest guy on the team be on the floor for 2 must execute inbounds pkays. He's the easiest guy to trap and defend.

They were anticipating the Sixers would foul immediately.

But Nick Nurse countered by sacrificing time for going for a steal by trapping.

Reason why PP is in there is because he's the best FT shooter on the Cs right now.

It's automatic 2 points if he goes to the FT line.

Credit Nick Nurse for countering with not fouling immediately.

Getting ball inbounds and no steals >>>>>> having a guy you think shoots free throws a little bit better than the others on the floor.

Besides, 7 other players on the team have a higher FT% than PP does this year.

The FT% this season is not accurate because of the small sample size.

Last season and even in 2024, Joe always had Joe in there to make FTs in the clutch.

[Green89]

I think yall are missing the mark on Pritch, he has been our best guard defender, though I stick behind Simons hasn’t been bad at all. He needs to make some 3s, but he’s been fine starting.

Pritchard is not an elite defender, so using him over our 2nd best scorer to end games is wrong. They can both be out there, but I would not play PP in crunch time over Simons. You can't bench your #2 scorer.

I really don’t care about this part of it. You gotta talk to Joe about that. I’m sticking by what I said, Pritch has been fine STARTING, and he’s been our best guard defender.

Three point percentage this season:

Pritchard - 17%
Simons - 40%

[Fierce1]

Pritchard is not an elite defender, so using him over our 2nd best scorer to end games is wrong. They can both be out there, but I would not play PP in crunch time over Simons. You can't bench your #2 scorer.

I really don’t care about this part of it. You gotta talk to Joe about that. I’m sticking by what I said, Pritch has been fine STARTING, and he’s been our best guard defender.

Three point percentage this season:

Pritchard - 17%
Simons - 40%

I also believe Simons will be better than PP in crunch time when it comes to scoring.
Simons can be a closer because he can score from anywhere.

But as long as Joe doesn't see it that way, it will be PP over Simons in crunch time.

[Green89]

Minott missed the all-important FTs and a couple of open shots late in the game but that is how you instill confidence on your young players.

Minott missed the free throws but he got the key rebound that won the game. And Brown missed one a few seconds earlier that would have make it a two possession game.

I think Minott should have bricked the second one intentionally.

Yes. I was thinking that. And get hands on the ball.

Can't risk it down only 1. You have to try to go up a bucket.

[31to6]

Good W! Way to keep it going.
JB for VC thanks to his offense, especially 1st half. Got destabilized in the 3rd and TOs became an issue.
Tossed my other VC vote to Garza/Tillman -- great efforts by those two tonight.
Loved Hugo, of course. Appreciated Simons driving to the hoops tonight, even if he got swatted a couple of times, good to see him use his speed.

Rebounding, turnovers, pace, and defensive intensity all pretty impressive tonight. Joe + Co seem to have them ENTIRELY bought in. That's fun to watch. LFFGOOOOOOO!!!

[Hal14]

All wiped away by his horrific decision not once but twice, to have the smallest guy on the team be on the floor for 2 must execute inbounds pkays. He's the easiest guy to trap and defend.

They were anticipating the Sixers would foul immediately.

But Nick Nurse countered by sacrificing time for going for a steal by trapping.

Reason why PP is in there is because he's the best FT shooter on the Cs right now.

It's automatic 2 points if he goes to the FT line.

Credit Nick Nurse for countering with not fouling immediately.

Getting ball inbounds and no steals >>>>>> having a guy you think shoots free throws a little bit better than the others on the floor.

Besides, 7 other players on the team have a higher FT% than PP does this year.

This year? C'mon now..5 game sample sizes don't mean squat. Anyone who follows this team year after year knows that our best FT shooters (in alphabetical order) who you trust to hit FT's with the game on the line are:

Hauser
Pritchard
Simons
White

And Pritchard pretty much never turns the ball over. Even when he's double teamed.

The one who coughed the ball up and turned it over when double teamed in the 4th quarter was JB.

And Simons also had a turnover in the 2nd half where he drove into traffic and coughed it up.

Yet you're throwing a tantrum about Joe putting Pritchard in the game?

And we *won*

What kind of weird logic is this? Because Pritchard is short, you're supposed to take him out late in a close game because you're afraid he's gonna get double teamed and turn the ball over? Um, did the Suns take Steve Nash out late in close games? Did the spurs take Tony Parker out? Did the Jazz take John Stockton out? Did the Cavs take Mark Price out? Do the Grizzles take out Ja? Rondo? John Wall? No, you out your best ball handlers and free throw shooters in the game. Really good ball handlers can often dribble through multiple defenders..