Official Celtics 2022 Off-Season Thread

[playa-hater]

Celtics all the way up to the 5th ranked defense, only .2 pointer per 100 behind the 4th ranked.

Of course, also all the way down at 24th on offense.

Which only proves what? this is an offensive league first and foremost. You would think a 4th-5th ranked defense would get us to or above 500%

Can I insert my I HATE IME in here??

[bisme37]

Hoopshype did a poll with NBA execs and they say Tatum is the #2 player under 25 they'd want to build around. (After Luka)

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-execs-poll-luka-doncic-top-young-player-zion-williamson-lamelo-ball-evan-mobley/

(The General Board is very upset about it haha. On that planet Tatum sucks.)

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Celtics all the way up to the 5th ranked defense, only .2 pointer per 100 behind the 4th ranked.

Of course, also all the way down at 24th on offense.

Which only proves what? this is an offensive league first and foremost. You would think a 4th-5th ranked defense would get us to or above 500%

Can I insert my I HATE IME in here??

Atlanta is number two in offensive rating yet is having a worse season than the Celtics. So you could just as easily claim that defense is more important than offense. I think that at the end of the day, if you're very good but not great at one end of the floor, you better be at least average on the other one if you want to rack up the wins.

There are obviously issues that are going to prevent the team from being elite offensively, lack of shooting and top tier playmaking being foremost among them. But I don't know, I still feel like being average offensively with that group should be attainable. Especially since they get plenty of stops and opportunities to run but maybe I'm crazy.

[Feed Your Head]

Hoopshype did a poll with NBA execs and they say Tatum is the #2 player under 25 they'd want to build around. (After Luka)

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-execs-poll-luka-doncic-top-young-player-zion-williamson-lamelo-ball-evan-mobley/

(The General Board is very upset about it haha. On that planet Tatum sucks.)

Duke4life831 ended that debate real quick.

Also, let’s trade Tatum because he doesn’t scream. That’s this boards MO.

[BK_2020]

By SRS the Celtics are 6th in the East, above teams like the Nets and the Sixers. We have been bad, but not as bad as our record indicates.

[playa-hater]

Celtics all the way up to the 5th ranked defense, only .2 pointer per 100 behind the 4th ranked.

Of course, also all the way down at 24th on offense.

Which only proves what? this is an offensive league first and foremost. You would think a 4th-5th ranked defense would get us to or above 500%

Can I insert my I HATE IME in here??

Atlanta is number two in offensive rating yet is having a worse season than the Celtics. So you could just as easily claim that defense is more important than offense. I think that at the end of the day, if you're very good but not great at one end of the floor, you better be at least average on the other one if you want to rack up the wins.

There are obviously issues that are going to prevent the team from being elite offensively, lack of shooting and top tier playmaking being foremost among them. But I don't know, I still feel like being average offensively with that group should be attainable. Especially since they get plenty of stops and opportunities to run but maybe I'm crazy.

good counter.. I still think this is more an offensive league, but you're right overall

[keevsnick1]

Celtics all the way up to the 5th ranked defense, only .2 pointer per 100 behind the 4th ranked.

Of course, also all the way down at 24th on offense.

Which only proves what? this is an offensive league first and foremost. You would think a 4th-5th ranked defense would get us to or above 500%

Can I insert my I HATE IME in here??

I think you're reading into this some intent that isn't there. I didn't really have a point, only stating facts.

If add 5+24 and divide by 2 you get an average rank of 14.5. That's straight .500 team.

The only point, if there was one, is if they could find a way to have even an average offensive ranking they could be a 48-50ish win team. Not a contender, but second round playoff type team.

[keevsnick1]

Which only proves what? this is an offensive league first and foremost. You would think a 4th-5th ranked defense would get us to or above 500%

Can I insert my I HATE IME in here??

Atlanta is number two in offensive rating yet is having a worse season than the Celtics. So you could just as easily claim that defense is more important than offense. I think that at the end of the day, if you're very good but not great at one end of the floor, you better be at least average on the other one if you want to rack up the wins.

There are obviously issues that are going to prevent the team from being elite offensively, lack of shooting and top tier playmaking being foremost among them. But I don't know, I still feel like being average offensively with that group should be attainable. Especially since they get plenty of stops and opportunities to run but maybe I'm crazy.

good counter.. I still think this is more an offensive league, but you're right overall

Ya I don't know, I think the best way to be a good team is.... be good at both. The typical measurements of a contender is a top 10 offensive rating, and a top 10 defensive rating. Be both at good.

A top offensive team and bottom 5 defensive team is gonna be roughly as good as a top defensive team and bottom five offensive team. No better than .500.

[Fencer reregistered]

Read on Twitter

[zoyathedestroya]

Just so I won't be accused of posting only pro-Smart stats...

Jays + DS + MS: -1.3 net rating, 6th percentile offensive rating
Jays + DS - MS: +11.0 net rating, 74th percentile offensive rating (got big boost from Pacers game)
Jays + MS - DS: +5.9 net rating, 47th percentile offensive rating (but this also usually coincides with double big lineups, which are very poor on offense and also has larger sample)

[zoyathedestroya]

This is probably oversimplification, but 8 of the current top 10 teams in offensive efficiency are also among the top 10 in three-point field goal percentage.

The only top 10 offensive teams that aren't in top 10 in 3FG% are BKN (16th) and MEM (18th). But then Nets are great at midrange/2FG% and get to the FT line plus they have KD & Harden. Grizzlies are AWESOME at getting the "easy points" -- tops in the league in points in the paint, 2nd chance points, fastbreak points, and 4th in points off turnovers.

Celtics are 22nd in 3FG% and average-to-poor in the "easy points" categories. Especially poor in transition efficiency.

EDIT: Of our top 5 three-point takers, Jaylen and Schroder are shooting just above their career average, %-wise. Smart is shooting 1.5% less than his career average, Tatum 5.5% less, and Horford 7.8% less. So basically we need Tatum and Horford to shoot better. Smart is already taking career-low attempts from 3 and has replaced those with drives to the basket and occasional postups.

[Fierce1]

But Smart is taking 3s late in the game.

Even if Smart is taking less 3s this season, he's taking them when it matters most.

Opposing coaches are intentionally leaving Smart open and Smart obliges by taking the 3 and missing the 3.

[Fierce1]

It's time to move on from Marcus Smart.

Right now he's the only Celtic available with significant trade value.

[Zeroforwinger]

Read on Twitter

Isn’t 8-17 too small of a sample size to make any judgements?

[Larry_Russell]

But Smart is taking 3s late in the game.

Even if Smart is taking less 3s this season, he's taking them when it matters most.

Opposing coaches are intentionally leaving Smart open and Smart obliges by taking the 3 and missing the 3.

Smart attempts 0.4 3pt fga in the clutch

and he makes 50% of them.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional/?sort=FG3A&dir=-1&CF=TEAM_ABBREVIATION*E*bos

Smart attempts 1.1 3 pointers in the entire 4th. on average. Makes 33% of them.

so you obviously have no idea what is actually happening on the court and are just looking for an excuse to single smart out.

[zoyathedestroya]

Smart has taken a total of 8 three-point shots in the clutch this season. Made FOUR.

Meanwhile, Tatum has taken 20, made TWO. Schroder 2/9. Horford 2/6. Brown 7/17.

So of the five, Smart has had the BEST % from 3 in the clutch.

[Feed Your Head]

Arguing with Fierce about Smart is something even my stubborn ass has given up on.

[Larry_Russell]

Smart has taken a total of 8 three-point shots in the clutch this season. Made FOUR.

Meanwhile, Tatum has taken 20, made TWO. Schroder 2/9. Horford 2/6. Brown 7/17.

So of the five, Smart has had the BEST % from 3 in the clutch.

Smart has alot of flaws.

But some posters just want to make stuff up to try and force their point home.

SO wrong on that.

[Fierce1]

https://www.espn.com/nba/playbyplay/_/gameId/401360397

4:58 Marcus Smart misses 25-foot three point jumper 96 - 92

59.3 Marcus Smart misses 27-foot three point jumper 101 - 101

[Fierce1]

That's against the Knicks.

You guys really going to lie to everybody?

Is it not true that opposing coaches are intentionally leaving Smart open?