Mike Muscala Appreciation Thread! – (Retires, July 2024)

[playa-hater]

Hey not many teams can roll four of their top five guys off the bench at 40% from three. Kind of wanted Plumlee in this spot but pretty clear he was obtainable if they wanted him instead.

I actually like Muscala more than Plumlee.

My signature used to be shooters shooters and spacing spacing spacing. MM definitely provides that.

[Hal14]

I'm sure gonna miss Moose. He's already a club legend and a really good dude. Hope he wins a chip for you guys. Cheers

Thanks - we hope he wins a chip for us too!

[Ben-N1ce]

I think Muscala is a downgrade from landing a player like KD.

[Hal14]

BTW, I just realized this is a sneaky stealth tank move by Presti. OKC was getting a little too close to the play-in. Sam had to ship out the glue holding that squad together.

Yup. They shipped out Muscala and Bazley. 2 good players. Muscala in particular with some really good analytics.

Get rid of 2 good players..help the tanking efforts. Lose 2 guys who aren't part of the long term plan anyways - and get some draft picks.

Makes sense for OKC.

[playa-hater]

It is worth noting again this is another guy roughly in the Gallo mold. Wonder how intent they are in playing a double-shooting big lineup. They’ve got the double big lineup with two good defenders now they’ve got the double big shooter option that they lined up to start the year.

Curious to see if that’s the plan and if they roll Moose and Al out at the same time or stagger them.

Since big Al plays a lot of 4 I am definitely thinking Al and MM can play together..

[Triple7]

It is worth noting again this is another guy roughly in the Gallo mold. Wonder how intent they are in playing a double-shooting big lineup. They’ve got the double big lineup with two good defenders now they’ve got the double big shooter option that they lined up to start the year.

Curious to see if that’s the plan and if they roll Moose and Al out at the same time or stagger them.

We have lot’s of options. Horf and muscala, rob and Musc, kornet and musc, grant and musc if you want offense. Pretty nice pick up for a 9th-10th player.

[Triple7]

It is worth noting again this is another guy roughly in the Gallo mold. Wonder how intent they are in playing a double-shooting big lineup. They’ve got the double big lineup with two good defenders now they’ve got the double big shooter option that they lined up to start the year.

Curious to see if that’s the plan and if they roll Moose and Al out at the same time or stagger them.

Since big Al plays a lot of 4 I am definitely thinking Al and MM can play together..

They definitely can. Al passes the ball well, and muscala cuts to the basket a lot. That could work.

[cl2117]

Hey not many teams can roll four of their top five guys off the bench at 40% from three. Kind of wanted Plumlee in this spot but pretty clear he was obtainable if they wanted him instead.

I actually like Muscala more than Plumlee.

My signature used to be shooters shooters and spacing spacing spacing. MM definitely provides that.

Yeah I definitely prefer Muscala to Plumlee. At least he adds a unique skillset.

With the last 3-4 spots on the roster I would always prefer to have a guy who is elite in just one skill than a guy who is mediocre in multiple. If you were a good enough jack of all trades/master of none, you'd probably crack a team's top 10 roster spots, otherwise you're just a minutes eater realistically.

I'd much rather an elite monolith because at least I know I can count on you for something. In order of preference: shooting, on-ball defense, passing and then rebounding bringing up the rear.

Ideally you combine then with one or two "utility" players who can eat minutes and then you've got options to mess around with. Grant is already our utility guy for the front court, so I like adding a guy who hangs his hat on one skill (especially since it's shooting).

[cl2117]

BTW, I just realized this is a sneaky stealth tank move by Presti. OKC was getting a little too close to the play-in. Sam had to ship out the glue holding that squad together.

Yup. They shipped out Muscala and Bazley. 2 good players. Muscala in particular with some really good analytics.

Get rid of 2 good players..help the tanking efforts. Lose 2 guys who aren't part of the long term plan anyways - and get some draft picks.

Makes sense for OKC.

Taking Saric back is interesting. Would have thought he would be flipped as well for a 2nd/tanking purposes.

[Shak_Celts]

BTW, I just realized this is a sneaky stealth tank move by Presti. OKC was getting a little too close to the play-in. Sam had to ship out the glue holding that squad together.

Yup. They shipped out Muscala and Bazley. 2 good players. Muscala in particular with some really good analytics.

Get rid of 2 good players..help the tanking efforts. Lose 2 guys who aren't part of the long term plan anyways - and get some draft picks.

Makes sense for OKC.

Taking Saric back is interesting. Would have thought he would be flipped as well for a 2nd/tanking purposes.

could buy him out.

[djFan71]

The bold means a lot to me.. near first rd talent..

As Far as Muscala goes, the comparison to a Bigger Hauser is a good one for me. Like Hauser, he has a nice stroke, can do a bit more like Hauser than just spot up and shoot, though He really doesn't have to do much else offensively to make it work.

I also believe his solid shooting is NOT from a small sample size and may actually get better for us. Which team between Boston and OKC would lead to more "OPEN" looks. I have to believe with Tatum (especially) and the way Brogdon, White, Smart + others move the ball, It's Boston easy.

And while I like Kornet a bit more than most since day one, I will be first to say that Muscala should/will be a much better fit offensively. Have no idea about his defense as of yet. Though I expect a lot of DROP COVERAGE like all of our Bigs and drive me nuts.

Overall I also believe he CAN BE a rotation piece in the playoffs when necessary, just because he can make teams pay for trapping Tatum.

That alone is very underrated IMO.

I almost revoked my and1 over the Kornet slander, but you did it nicely, lol. Definitely nice to have options. Let Kornet dominate the Embiids and Lopezes of the world, bring out the shooting on other nights. (Though luke should really shoot more).

Kornet slander?? I have been proclaiming Kornet The best 3rd string center in the league..

The only one who likes Kornett more than me might be Brad Stevens.

Now Kornet will just have to be the greatest 4th string center ever..

See this is what I’m talking about. You SAY you’re his biggest fan, then drop him at the first sight of something shiny and new. Where’s the loyalty? Where’s the love, man?

[Garbanzo]

I knew we'd get him, as soon as Zoya had that list of players the other day.
He is a Grant Williams replacement, and a very good player as well.

[themoneyteam2]

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[fallguy]

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We gave up nothing for him.

What's with the whining from certain people?

[themoneyteam2]

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[zoyathedestroya]

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[zoyathedestroya]

Would you have signed Kevin Love if he was bought out?

Apart from rebounding and assists, Muscala has comparable, if not better numbers than Kevin Love hehe. Muscala might be better on defense too.

https://stathead.com/tiny/syX3m

In terms of shooting efficiency, Muscala would be the Celtics’ 9th guy who shoots at least 60% TS%, 6th that comes off the bench. (Derrick White is currently at 59.3% and has been trending up again.)

[ParticleMan]

So many tears over here lol..
I 100% know as soon as you called me lil used the adjective cryer I have no interest in a dialog. Idc if everyone on earth thinks I'm wrong but ridicule isn't my thing . This is a place for opinions and mine doesn't fit most on the board and I'm fine with that.
Lol who knew this placed loved the great muscala lol oh well.

Why can’t you explain and have reasonable discussion on how the East improved and who you wanted the Celtics to get instead of a big man insurance piece who won’t crack their already set 8 man rotation?

I just think it’s odd behavior to twist people’s words into saying Muscala is bringing them a title when all anyone says is he’s a good bench piece and hopefully won’t have to use him in playoffs because that means there are no injuries. Why are there two extremes and he can’t just be a solid addition?

Ok this is the last time I post the same stuff I already posted that most of you do not approve.
1. I believe we have no tough guy on our roster and no defensive depth behind timelord or horford.
2. I also believe crowder does improve bucks and crowder right now vs muscala it's Crowder the better player.
3. I believe the nets improved the locker room and now can play freely.
4. Any defensive minded center and a wing was who I wanted.
5. Smart, brown, Tatum, horford, timelord as starters is great but how many games this year have we had that starting rotation. White, Brogdon, pp no need to help here this is our strength. I'm still not a can't Williams fan but ok he is what he is but absolutely hate him guarding bigs. So that leaves Hauser, kornet, muscala that to me is same non d 3 point shooters. I truly wanted a defensive big so we didn't have to see Can't Williams playing center. I'd type a bunch of names but I've already typed alot . Thomas byrant , Collins, hell noel would have worked for me.
6. Is this the end all be all no but I'd rather have the draft picks and just picked up a waiver wire center if we wasn't committed to going all in instead of muscala we basically added another guy we already had.
7.Tbh I thought we could have gotten a lot for can't will , pp and add in picks and or Hauser, or kornet.
8.I am pleased with Griffin though and didn't think I would be.

Not bad points and I agree in a vacuum Crowder is better than Muscala. But #18 really hinges on keeping our guys healthy. Our wings have been ok, and we've got depth especially if Hauser is back doing Hauser things. But our bigs need to play less, especially Horford. They're going to keep missing time, and we have to expect that's going to continue into the playoffs. We are going to have to win playoff games without Al and/or Rob. So Brad had to get a big.

You'd prefer a defensive big, and I don't disagree but the people you mentioned would either cost a ton or they suck. Muscala is actually better on D than Bryant or Collins, who are both atrocious on that end. Noel is solid on D but unplayably bad otherwise. At least Muscala brings a valued skill in our scheme as a stretch 5. This is critical when paired with Brogdon on the second unit since Brogdon needs the paint clear to drive and he makes killer kickouts. I could see a lot of pick and pop with occasional rolls between Moose and Brogs. Kornet has been a nice surprise but Muscala is a genuine offensive threat outside of 2 feet which Kornet and Rob are not. It's not correct to say Muscala is a guy we already have, and frankly there is nothing even wrong with that if it's valuable. I am not a big fan of GWill either so I like the idea of having more flexibility with our big rotation than having to go to a 6-6 guy at center. We gave up nothing to get a potential rotation piece, that is a win.

It's a strange disconnect to say guys like can't will suck but then say we could have gotten a lot for them. Given their seasons i think all of those guys have significantly more value to us than to anyone else. Plus continuity is important, making lateral trades just hoping it will work out is not something championship teams should be doing.

[Curmudgeon]

Muscala is the only player from Bucknell ever to play in the NBA.

[Fencer reregistered]

Your opinions about Grant's and Kornet's defense are obviously different than team managements'. Yet you implicitly assume their views are the same as yours.

So whatever you claim about their commitment to winning starts from incorrect premises.

(And by the way -- I think what happens on the court is more supportive of their views than of yours.)

So many tears over here lol..
I 100% know as soon as you called me lil used the adjective cryer I have no interest in a dialog. Idc if everyone on earth thinks I'm wrong but ridicule isn't my thing . This is a place for opinions and mine doesn't fit most on the board and I'm fine with that.
Lol who knew this placed loved the great muscala lol oh well.

Why can’t you explain and have reasonable discussion on how the East improved and who you wanted the Celtics to get instead of a big man insurance piece who won’t crack their already set 8 man rotation?

I just think it’s odd behavior to twist people’s words into saying Muscala is bringing them a title when all anyone says is he’s a good bench piece and hopefully won’t have to use him in playoffs because that means there are no injuries. Why are there two extremes and he can’t just be a solid addition?

Ok this is the last time I post the same stuff I already posted that most of you do not approve.
1. I believe we have no tough guy on our roster and no defensive depth behind timelord or horford.
2. I also believe crowder does improve bucks and crowder right now vs muscala it's Crowder the better player.
3. I believe the nets improved the locker room and now can play freely.
4. Any defensive minded center and a wing was who I wanted.
5. Smart, brown, Tatum, horford, timelord as starters is great but how many games this year have we had that starting rotation. White, Brogdon, pp no need to help here this is our strength. I'm still not a can't Williams fan but ok he is what he is but absolutely hate him guarding bigs. So that leaves Hauser, kornet, muscala that to me is same non d 3 point shooters. I truly wanted a defensive big so we didn't have to see Can't Williams playing center. I'd type a bunch of names but I've already typed alot . Thomas byrant , Collins, hell noel would have worked for me.
6. Is this the end all be all no but I'd rather have the draft picks and just picked up a waiver wire center if we wasn't committed to going all in instead of muscala we basically added another guy we already had.
7.Tbh I thought we could have gotten a lot for can't will , pp and add in picks and or Hauser, or kornet.
8.I am pleased with Griffin though and didn't think I would be.