2023-24 PRESEASON, Multi-Game Thread – Next: 7:30PM, Tues, Oct, 17 vs Knicks

[Tyakack]

It's hard for me to get excited for games that don't matter but it does feel damn good to have basketball back again.

[31to6]

Let’s just all agree now, and swear this sacred oath: whatever happens in the first few minutes of this game determines everything for this team for the next several seasons, as a team and as individuals.

[ConstableGeneva]

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[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

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[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

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Joe Mazzulla has a lot of bench decisions on his plate this season for the Celtics after an offseason roster shakeup. The team lost four rotation players including a pair of starters with Robert Williams and Marcus Smart in order to land Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. The turnover has given Mazzulla a very impressive top half of the roster but Boston looks a bit thin in the frontcourt on paper with a few options for minutes at center behind Kristaps Porzingis and/or Al Horford.


At Saturday’s practice, Mazzulla addressed the bench big man rotation, singling out a familiar name as a candidate for reserve minutes.

“It starts with Luke,” Mazzulla said. “I thought Luke really did a great job last year. I think he’s an underrated player and I don’t think people realize how effective he is. He’s a guy that’s always in the right spot defensively and he’s a guy that makes the right play on the offensive end, and he makes the right screen read almost every single time and creates two-on-ones for us, and he can guard our defensive system very well and communicate it.

“So, we’re gonna heavily rely on Luke because of what he did last year and how he carries himself, and then the preseason is an opportunity for the other guys to see who can fall along those lines of what Luke does for us.”


Mazzulla’s declaration may provide a hint into how the Celtics plan to start games this year. The team was very upfront about its hope to play with double bigs after the Porzingis trade in June and putting Kornet in the team’s rotation may signal that Horford and Porzingis will start together as bigs. That move would send Derrick White in all likelihood to Boston’s bench to begin games.

[Fierce1]

Porzingis: Luke, I am your father.

[SuperDeluxe]

Smart gone = addition but subtraction.

It looks like your subconscious had something to say there

[Floody23]

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Joe Mazzulla has a lot of bench decisions on his plate this season for the Celtics after an offseason roster shakeup. The team lost four rotation players including a pair of starters with Robert Williams and Marcus Smart in order to land Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. The turnover has given Mazzulla a very impressive top half of the roster but Boston looks a bit thin in the frontcourt on paper with a few options for minutes at center behind Kristaps Porzingis and/or Al Horford.


At Saturday’s practice, Mazzulla addressed the bench big man rotation, singling out a familiar name as a candidate for reserve minutes.

“It starts with Luke,” Mazzulla said. “I thought Luke really did a great job last year. I think he’s an underrated player and I don’t think people realize how effective he is. He’s a guy that’s always in the right spot defensively and he’s a guy that makes the right play on the offensive end, and he makes the right screen read almost every single time and creates two-on-ones for us, and he can guard our defensive system very well and communicate it.

“So, we’re gonna heavily rely on Luke because of what he did last year and how he carries himself, and then the preseason is an opportunity for the other guys to see who can fall along those lines of what Luke does for us.”


Mazzulla’s declaration may provide a hint into how the Celtics plan to start games this year. The team was very upfront about its hope to play with double bigs after the Porzingis trade in June and putting Kornet in the team’s rotation may signal that Horford and Porzingis will start together as bigs. That move would send Derrick White in all likelihood to Boston’s bench to begin games.

Don’t agree with this at all. This is the season Horford should’ve transitioned to the bench & have White starting. It makes our starting unit consistent because we don’t have to chop & change the lineup every time Horford needs a rest.

[sam_I_am]

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Joe Mazzulla has a lot of bench decisions on his plate this season for the Celtics after an offseason roster shakeup. The team lost four rotation players including a pair of starters with Robert Williams and Marcus Smart in order to land Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. The turnover has given Mazzulla a very impressive top half of the roster but Boston looks a bit thin in the frontcourt on paper with a few options for minutes at center behind Kristaps Porzingis and/or Al Horford.


At Saturday’s practice, Mazzulla addressed the bench big man rotation, singling out a familiar name as a candidate for reserve minutes.

“It starts with Luke,” Mazzulla said. “I thought Luke really did a great job last year. I think he’s an underrated player and I don’t think people realize how effective he is. He’s a guy that’s always in the right spot defensively and he’s a guy that makes the right play on the offensive end, and he makes the right screen read almost every single time and creates two-on-ones for us, and he can guard our defensive system very well and communicate it.

“So, we’re gonna heavily rely on Luke because of what he did last year and how he carries himself, and then the preseason is an opportunity for the other guys to see who can fall along those lines of what Luke does for us.”


Mazzulla’s declaration may provide a hint into how the Celtics plan to start games this year. The team was very upfront about its hope to play with double bigs after the Porzingis trade in June and putting Kornet in the team’s rotation may signal that Horford and Porzingis will start together as bigs. That move would send Derrick White in all likelihood to Boston’s bench to begin games.

The big question is whether Porzingas can actually play the 5. I think he is a unicorn as a 4 on offense but defensively is best as a 4 who can help as an off ball shot blocker. I’m not sure he can hold up as a 5 in a one big rotation unless the other team is also small.

If he cannot, the team has to go double big a lot and therefore Horford/Kornet makes sense as center rotation with Porzingas playing a few minutes there when team goes small.

[steefP2]

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Joe Mazzulla has a lot of bench decisions on his plate this season for the Celtics after an offseason roster shakeup. The team lost four rotation players including a pair of starters with Robert Williams and Marcus Smart in order to land Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. The turnover has given Mazzulla a very impressive top half of the roster but Boston looks a bit thin in the frontcourt on paper with a few options for minutes at center behind Kristaps Porzingis and/or Al Horford.


At Saturday’s practice, Mazzulla addressed the bench big man rotation, singling out a familiar name as a candidate for reserve minutes.

“It starts with Luke,” Mazzulla said. “I thought Luke really did a great job last year. I think he’s an underrated player and I don’t think people realize how effective he is. He’s a guy that’s always in the right spot defensively and he’s a guy that makes the right play on the offensive end, and he makes the right screen read almost every single time and creates two-on-ones for us, and he can guard our defensive system very well and communicate it.

“So, we’re gonna heavily rely on Luke because of what he did last year and how he carries himself, and then the preseason is an opportunity for the other guys to see who can fall along those lines of what Luke does for us.”


Mazzulla’s declaration may provide a hint into how the Celtics plan to start games this year. The team was very upfront about its hope to play with double bigs after the Porzingis trade in June and putting Kornet in the team’s rotation may signal that Horford and Porzingis will start together as bigs. That move would send Derrick White in all likelihood to Boston’s bench to begin games.

The big question is whether Porzingas can actually play the 5. I think he is a unicorn as a 4 on offense but defensively is best as a 4 who can help as an off ball shot blocker. I’m not sure he can hold up as a 5 in a one big rotation unless the other team is also small.

If he cannot, the team has to go double big a lot and therefore Horford/Kornet makes sense as center rotation with Porzingas playing a few minutes there when team goes small.

Why do you doubt that he can ? Every season since 17-18 he has played between 60% and 97% of his minutes at center.

[Shak_Celts]

Porzi talked about playing center like it was set in stone. I hate doing this to White when Al should be on the bench. I love Al and he’s still an awesome player, but it’s time! Not only because of age, but because it helps balance rotations.

I’m not saying Korny isn’t adequate, I’m saying he’s not good enough for the playoffs! If he can’t play in the playoffs that’s a change to the rotation we wouldn’t have had to make. I bet the team is going to be fine with him as the backup but that’s fool’s gold (regular season shine). Stop forcing fetch!!


If Al is the starter it feels like placating. I was uneasy about Al “dodging” the question, wish he said I’ll do whatever they ask me to do it’s not a big deal anymore. I don’t remember his words but they made me doubt he was willing to go to the bench.


I hope I’m wrong. I actually would have bet Al was going to the bench before media day, now I’m not as sure. Tonight won’t tell who it will be, but by the end of preseason, the group that got more burn together should tell us.

[steefP2]

Porzi talked about playing center like it was set in stone. I hate doing this to White when Al should be on the bench. I love Al and he’s still an awesome player, but it’s time! Not only because of age, but because it helps balance rotations.

I’m not saying Korny isn’t adequate, I’m saying he’s not good enough for the playoffs! If he can’t play in the playoffs that’s a change to the rotation we wouldn’t have had to make. I bet the team is going to be fine with him as the backup but that’s fool’s gold (regular season shine). Stop forcing fetch!!


If Al is the starter it feels like placating. I was uneasy about Al “dodging” the question, wish he said I’ll do whatever they ask me to do it’s not a big deal anymore. I don’t remember his words but they made me doubt he was willing to go to the bench.


I hope I’m wrong. I actually would have bet Al was going to the bench before media day, now I’m not as sure. Tonight won’t tell who it will be, but by the end of preseason, the group that got more burn together should tell us.

I think Al is still prideful and I don’t begrudge him that. He can be a token starter; it’s not something I love love but probably simpler that way. White dhaf about coming off the bench and this way we do split up the ball handlers between bench and starters. But as long as we keep Horford under 24 ish minutes I’ll be happy with either

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Hush you people, you're going to make Anna cry...

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Cheaters! What are they the Lakers?

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[MeanGeraldGreen]

I wonder if Tatum will be able to play the 4, and Jaylen at the 3.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Adam Jones mentioned that Horford would not go to the bench willingly -- "pissy" - and he may be right.
Poor DW, no extension, and back to the bench.
At least he has a helpful salary which can be easily traded.

[sam_I_am]

Read on Twitter

Joe Mazzulla has a lot of bench decisions on his plate this season for the Celtics after an offseason roster shakeup. The team lost four rotation players including a pair of starters with Robert Williams and Marcus Smart in order to land Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. The turnover has given Mazzulla a very impressive top half of the roster but Boston looks a bit thin in the frontcourt on paper with a few options for minutes at center behind Kristaps Porzingis and/or Al Horford.


At Saturday’s practice, Mazzulla addressed the bench big man rotation, singling out a familiar name as a candidate for reserve minutes.

“It starts with Luke,” Mazzulla said. “I thought Luke really did a great job last year. I think he’s an underrated player and I don’t think people realize how effective he is. He’s a guy that’s always in the right spot defensively and he’s a guy that makes the right play on the offensive end, and he makes the right screen read almost every single time and creates two-on-ones for us, and he can guard our defensive system very well and communicate it.

“So, we’re gonna heavily rely on Luke because of what he did last year and how he carries himself, and then the preseason is an opportunity for the other guys to see who can fall along those lines of what Luke does for us.”


Mazzulla’s declaration may provide a hint into how the Celtics plan to start games this year. The team was very upfront about its hope to play with double bigs after the Porzingis trade in June and putting Kornet in the team’s rotation may signal that Horford and Porzingis will start together as bigs. That move would send Derrick White in all likelihood to Boston’s bench to begin games.

The big question is whether Porzingas can actually play the 5. I think he is a unicorn as a 4 on offense but defensively is best as a 4 who can help as an off ball shot blocker. I’m not sure he can hold up as a 5 in a one big rotation unless the other team is also small.

If he cannot, the team has to go double big a lot and therefore Horford/Kornet makes sense as center rotation with Porzingas playing a few minutes there when team goes small.

Why do you doubt that he can ? Every season since 17-18 he has played between 60% and 97% of his minutes at center.

I only question if he can succeed as a single big with Tatum/Brown/White/JRue. We know Horford thrived in that role last year. KP usually played with another center like Gafford or a stouter PF like Morris, Klieber or Powell. Maybe Tatum being older and stronger can be that other big to support KP.

[SuperDeluxe]

Cheaters! What are they the Lakers?

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Not that preseason games matter, but this looks like a built-in excuse. It probably also means that our starters won't play a lot of minutes, possibly even no minutes at all past halftime.

[steefP2]

The big question is whether Porzingas can actually play the 5. I think he is a unicorn as a 4 on offense but defensively is best as a 4 who can help as an off ball shot blocker. I’m not sure he can hold up as a 5 in a one big rotation unless the other team is also small.

If he cannot, the team has to go double big a lot and therefore Horford/Kornet makes sense as center rotation with Porzingas playing a few minutes there when team goes small.

Why do you doubt that he can ? Every season since 17-18 he has played between 60% and 97% of his minutes at center.

I only question if he can succeed as a single big with Tatum/Brown/White/JRue. We know Horford thrived in that role last year. KP usually played with another center like Gafford or a stouter PF like Morris, Klieber or Powell. Maybe Tatum being older and stronger can be that other big to support KP.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, last season with the Wizards he played 3/4th of his minutes with one of Kuzma, Rui or Deni at the 4 and the defense didn't suffer compared to their regular season numbers. In fact it was better than his minutes with either Gafford or Taj Gibson next to him.

[fallguy]

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