Around the League -All Star Game

emunney · Post #141 » by **emunney** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 5:39 pm

If Boston has 6 top 60 players, either they're bunched 25-50 or they're hugely underachieving. I have them at 3-4, personally (Tatum top 10, Jrue and Brown fringe top 30, White fringe top 50. Porzingis and Horford? FOH.

German Athens · Post #142 » by **German Athens** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 5:43 pm

If Boston loses again in the playoffs, it’ll likely come down to their top 2 not being good enough just like it has in prior years.

You could have a literal all-star team, but it’s hard when your top options just aren’t as good as others. The 4th and 5th option being high level offensive players is often a moot point when the very nature of a 4th or 5th option is that they don’t get that many shots.

DingleJerry · Post #143 » by **DingleJerry** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 5:55 pm

Yea that's essentially what I've said to a Boston friend as their killer. Tatum/Brown are good but as of now it looks Tatum isn't going to get above the 10ish level. A couple years ago you could talk yourself into one more leap up but it seems its not gonna happen for him. Because of that they're always good but not quite good enough. I'd probably put Brown higher than 30 but its nitpicking.

That said, in such a situation they've done all they possible could as far as roster construction this year to get a title without a top top player. You couldn't split up that duo yet, so they had to add to it even more and hope depth beats the top level star (Embiid, Giannis, Dame, Jokic, etc). They've done everything right, we'll see what happens in the playoffs. One or two more years of this and Brown's contract being so crazy though and without a title they'll have to shake it up. Plus, with their contract/salary situations what do they do with Jrue coming into FA at age 34ish?

PG Graveyard · Post #144 » by **PG Graveyard** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 6:04 pm

emunney wrote:If Boston has 6 top 60 players, either they're bunched 25-50 or they're hugely underachieving. I have them at 3-4, personally (Tatum top 10, Jrue and Brown fringe top 30, White fringe top 50. Porzingis and Horford? FOH.

Well Bontemps said 6 in the top 40 or 50. I’m not sure we can ever compete with that. I hope they at least let us play the games

pifhluk23 · Post #145 » by **pifhluk23** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 7:47 pm

Tatum is 25, it would be foolish to say he can't make the leap to best player on a championship team. He's got years before you can make that claim.

Ron Swanson · Post #146 » by **Ron Swanson** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 7:48 pm

pifhluk23 wrote:Tatum is 25, it would be foolish to say he can't make the leap to best player on a championship team. He's got years before you can make that claim.

I don't think that's what people are arguing here.

Dick Tate · Post #147 » by **Dick Tate** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 8:34 pm

Read on Twitter

Lakers and Pacers now a combined 2-7 since their exhibition game (with wins over the Spurs and Pistons). :lol:

Ron Swanson · Post #148 » by **Ron Swanson** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 8:45 pm

They seriously hung a banner. God, that's so embarrassing.

MikeIsGood · Post #149 » by **MikeIsGood** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 8:50 pm

Embarrassing nonetheless, but I am guessing they were effectively forced to.

BUCKnation · Post #150 » by **BUCKnation** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 8:53 pm

I don't see anything wrong with a banner tbh

DingleJerry · Post #151 » by **DingleJerry** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 8:54 pm

Ron Swanson wrote:
pifhluk23 wrote:Tatum is 25, it would be foolish to say he can't make the leap to best player on a championship team. He's got years before you can make that claim.

I don't think that's what people are arguing here.

I kinda did. And sure I wouldn't say its impossible to leap from the 10-15ish to top 5 monster type guy, but after 3ish years hovering at this level I wouldn't bank on it as he turns 26.

Badgerlander · Post #152 » by **Badgerlander** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 8:57 pm

Participation trophy, bet neither team makes the playoffs

Ron Swanson · Post #153 » by **Ron Swanson** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 9:04 pm

DingleJerry wrote:
Ron Swanson wrote:
pifhluk23 wrote:Tatum is 25, it would be foolish to say he can't make the leap to best player on a championship team. He's got years before you can make that claim.

I don't think that's what people are arguing here.

I kinda did. And sure I wouldn't say its impossible to leap from the 10-15ish to top 5 monster type guy, but after 3ish years hovering at this level I wouldn't bank on it as he turns 26.

I don't think you need to have a Top-5 guy to win a title. The problem is Tatum (and Brown to a lesser extent) hasn't played up to his RS level in any important playoff series to date, not that he isn't good enough as is to be the "best player on a title team".

Post #154 » by **Prez** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 9:15 pm

I think Tatum’s good enough to be a championship #1 tbh. I think the much bigger issue for Boston is Brown. But maybe he takes a leap this postseason, we’ll see.

Plossum · Post #155 » by **Plossum** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:14 pm

Yeah it's hard to see the Celts not winning a title in the Tatum/Brown era. They've come close a few times now and haven't even yet hit their primes. They're already a championship level defence, they just tend to get the yips offensively in big games. That's the last hurdle they need to get over.

Maybe after the Bucks' upcoming threepeat it'll be their turn.

skbucks1985 · Post #156 » by **skbucks1985** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:47 pm

emunney wrote:If Boston has 6 top 60 players, either they're bunched 25-50 or they're hugely underachieving. I have them at 3-4, personally (Tatum top 10, Jrue and Brown fringe top 30, White fringe top 50. Porzingis and Horford? FOH.

By ESPN's own top 100, they've only got 3. They did have Kristaps at 62 but neither White nor Horford made the top 100

soxperry · Post #157 » by **soxperry** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:48 pm

Simmons and Russillo talking Mitchell trades got me thinking about Cleveland...

If they are trading Mitchell, they go full tank this season right? Could be a blessing for them in the long run that their guys got hurt if they can grab a top 3 pick.

But for our purposes, do they have any defensive minded players that fill a need for us?

emunney · Post #158 » by **emunney** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:51 pm

skbucks1985 wrote:
emunney wrote:If Boston has 6 top 60 players, either they're bunched 25-50 or they're hugely underachieving. I have them at 3-4, personally (Tatum top 10, Jrue and Brown fringe top 30, White fringe top 50. Porzingis and Horford? FOH.

By ESPN's own top 100, they've only got 3. They did have Kristaps at 62 but neither White nor Horford made the top 100

I feel like most hardcore observers would have White in the top 100 and Horford touch and go due to advanced age.

Post #159 » by **ReasonablySober** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:56 pm

Pacers -500000000 to win it all after this.

Watch on YouTube

Jez2983 · Post #160 » by **Jez2983** » Tue Dec 19, 2023 11:01 pm

Plossum wrote:Yeah it's hard to see the Celts not winning a title in the Tatum/Brown era. They've come close a few times now and haven't even yet hit their primes. They're already a championship level defence, they just tend to get the yips offensively in big games. That's the last hurdle they need to get over.

Maybe after the Bucks' upcoming threepeat it'll be their turn.

I always think when people say 'they should win a title', it's just so much more likely that they won't. Do I think they have a team that can win a championship with their players? Yes. Do I think they definitely will? As we saw with Butler last playoffs, many teams have individuals capable of ruining the post seasons of more fancied teams. To say one team will win discounts the efforts of all others.