Celtics 2023-24, Season Thread

[Hal14]

I'll get this out of the way early,

The Celtics have 5 full days before the start of the playoffs. If the Celtics don't excel on offense playing against a zone defense with 5 days to prepare then Mazzulla should be fired on the spot. No excuses. Miami is going to play exclusively zone defense against the Celtics because they don't match up well in man to man. There should be no reason for Miami's zone defense to give the Celtics trouble.

5 days to prepare!

Jesus, people need to stop being so dramatic, lmao. He's not getting fired on the spot after 1 playoff game.

He can prepare till he's blue in the face, but Miami could still come out running something that is completely new, that they haven't run before - to try and throw us off. Especially a coach like Spoelstra, who's very tricky.

Relax and stop looking for a reason to fire the guy who is a 1st time head coach, found out he got the job the day before training camp and still won more games than any Celtic team since Pierce/KG/Ray and was top 2 in both offense and defensive rating, #1 in net rating, #2 record in the league with 2 blowout wins by a combined 62 points against the Bucks.

[Celts17Pride]

Celtics 4-1 over Miami. Celtics 4-2 over Philly. Celtics 4-2 over Bucks. Celtics 4-2 over Suns. Banner 18

Sounds good to me.

[Celts17Pride]

I'll get this out of the way early,

The Celtics have 5 full days before the start of the playoffs. If the Celtics don't excel on offense playing against a zone defense with 5 days to prepare then Mazzulla should be fired on the spot. No excuses. Miami is going to play exclusively zone defense against the Celtics because they don't match up well in man to man. There should be no reason for Miami's zone defense to give the Celtics trouble.

5 days to prepare!

Jesus, people need to stop being so dramatic, lmao. He's not getting fired on the spot after 1 playoff game.

He can prepare till he's blue in the face, but Miami could still come out running something that is completely new, that they haven't run before - to try and throw us off. Especially a coach like Spoelstra, who's very tricky.

Relax and stop looking for a reason to fire the guy who is a 1st time head coach, found out he got the job the day before training camp and still won more games than any Celtic team since Pierce/KG/Ray and was top 2 in both offense and defensive rating, #1 in net rating, #2 record in the league with 2 blowout wins by a combined 62 points against the Bucks.

The point is there is no reason for the Celtics not to be prepared. Celtics are going to see a ton of zone defense in the playoffs.

[zoyathedestroya]

There are a lot of nice regular season stats above, But I for one don't care as much. what will any of it matter if we don't get 18??

18 or BUST!

I think they matter a bit. They objectively show how this team performed and how we got the record we got. And to an extent, how much prepared they are to tackle the postseason. We are built for a deep playoff run. But you still have to play the games. And anything can happen from there.

But I'm with you, if we're healthy throughout the run, I expect a title at the end of it.

[sam_I_am]

Having an easy first round would have been nice and any Pats fan knows how important that can be after years of watching Brady get to super bowls more easily after securing first round byes.

Miami was 1 seed last year and on paper they are no worse. Butler had a sneaky good year. 22 ppg may not seem so great in a year with so many 30 ppg scorers but he only took 13 shots per game. When he starts taking 20 shots per game Miami will be better.

I am more concerned with Heat than 76ers or Nets.

Bucks have scariest player in entire East and it’s not Giannis…..it’s Jrue.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

I'll get this out of the way early,

The Celtics have 5 full days before the start of the playoffs. If the Celtics don't excel on offense playing against a zone defense with 5 days to prepare then Mazzulla should be fired on the spot. No excuses. Miami is going to play exclusively zone defense against the Celtics because they don't match up well in man to man. There should be no reason for Miami's zone defense to give the Celtics trouble.

5 days to prepare!

So I guess the Raptors should have fired Nick Nurse after losing to Orlando in game 1 in 2019 and the Lakers should have fired Frank Vogel after losing to the Blazers in game 1 in 2020.

[Ben-N1ce]

They need to play to their potential at both ends. That's at least ECF. When they don't they are just another team and as others are saying how many times you have to play the Heat to crack the zone code. It's crazy how much it has given them fits seeing it as often as they have.

[31to6]

why the **** do ESPN stats have Javon Carter playing 1 game for the Celtics this season? I mean, I like the dude, but I would've *really* had to miss something, right?
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/stats/_/name/bos/boston-celtics

[Smart2Nesmith43]

why the **** do ESPN stats have Javon Carter playing 1 game for the Celtics this season? I mean, I like the dude, but I would've *really* had to miss something, right?
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/stats/_/name/bos/boston-celtics

Well in the last Bucks/Celtics game he was -20 and went 2/9 from the floor with 1 rebound, 1 turnover and zero assist in 20 minutes. Maybe that's the game they are referencing

[ITYSL]

Celtics became just the 3rd team in NBA history (2023 GSW, 2019 HOU) to record 16 made three-pointers per game in a season. Cs ended up with 6 guys shooting over 38% and Pritchard rallied late in the season to become the 7th guy to shoot above league average (36.1%).



Three of our worst three-point shooters in terms of % took the most attempts per game. Need Jays and Smart to hit at a higher rate. I don’t think we’re going to stop taking them.

Live by the 3, die by the 3.

[BK_2020]

Having an easy first round would have been nice and any Pats fan knows how important that can be after years of watching Brady get to super bowls more easily after securing first round byes.

Miami was 1 seed last year and on paper they are no worse. Butler had a sneaky good year. 22 ppg may not seem so great in a year with so many 30 ppg scorers but he only took 13 shots per game. When he starts taking 20 shots per game Miami will be better.

I am more concerned with Heat than 76ers or Nets.

Bucks have scariest player in entire East and it’s not Giannis…..it’s Jrue.

Miami is a team that gave up more points than they scored this season. They have a negative SRS and net rating. Out of 20 teams in the playoffs/play-in, Miami and Minnesota are the only two teams who don't have a positive points differential. Miami is not a good team.

[MagicBagley18]

I’m just a little more scared of Giannis and embiid than I am jrue holiday but hey that’s me . Series will be a grind it out dog fight but I think we win in 6.

[zoyathedestroya]

I’m just a little more scared of Giannis and embiid than I am jrue holiday but hey that’s me . Series will be a grind it out dog fight but I think we win in 6.

Jrue is able to do Jrue things (on both ends) because Giannis is that scary (on both ends). He can pressure ball-handlers the way he does because he has Giannis (and Lopez) behind him to cover for him. He gets open looks and favorable matchups on offense because more attention is geared towards Giannis.

He's also been objectively worse in the playoffs for the Bucks. Classic 82-game performer. National media guys are just great at propping him up and his regular season rep unjustifiably carries over to the postseason for whatever reason. Smart gets killed by the fanbase for his poor shooting but by far shot better than Jrue in their lone Finals appearance.

[MagicBagley18]

I’m just a little more scared of Giannis and embiid than I am jrue holiday but hey that’s me . Series will be a grind it out dog fight but I think we win in 6.

Jrue is able to do Jrue things (on both ends) because Giannis is that scary (on both ends). He can pressure ball-handlers the way he does because he has Giannis (and Lopez) behind him to cover for him. He gets open looks and favorable matchups on offense because more attention is geared towards Giannis.

He's also been objectively worse in the playoffs for the Bucks. Classic 82-game performer. National media guys are just great at propping him up and his regular season rep unjustifiably carries over to the postseason for whatever reason. Smart gets killed by the fanbase for his poor shooting but by far shot better than Jrue in their lone Finals appearance.

Dead on.

[Homerclease]

I’ll go on record, I think Cleveland beats the bucks in the second round. #1 defense in the league with two huge guys to defend the paint against Giannis

[zoyathedestroya]

I’ll go on record, I think Cleveland beats the bucks in the second round. #1 defense in the league with two huge guys to defend the paint against Giannis

I'll go on record that the Knicks win in 6 against the Cavs.

*hides*

[SuperDeluxe]

why the **** do ESPN stats have Javon Carter playing 1 game for the Celtics this season? I mean, I like the dude, but I would've *really* had to miss something, right?
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/stats/_/name/bos/boston-celtics

Super-wild guess here, but he must've scored one of those rare auto-goals in a game against the C's.

[MagicBagley18]

I’ll go on record, I think Cleveland beats the bucks in the second round. #1 defense in the league with two huge guys to defend the paint against Giannis

Bucks in 6

[chrisab123]

Celtics need the Hawks to take care of business. I want no part of a 7 game series vs Miami. Celtics still beat them but I also wouldn't be shocked if they bounced the Celtics in Round 1. Just hope the Hawks take care of business and none of this will be an issue. Let the Bucks deal with them. Bam Herro Butler and those role players all love playing against Boston.

[SuperDeluxe]

Yeah, let the Bucks deal with the Heat in the first round.