Celtics 2025-26, Off-Season/Training Camp Thread

[Fierce1]

No more pressure as it's obvious the Cs will not be in the hunt for the #1 seed for a while.

Maybe after ASB the Cs will be in the hunt again.

But for now, just win as many games as possible.

It may be even more impressive if the Cs win a chip as a 4th seed.

[cloverleaf]

The Ime effect has worn off on D and Jrue has gotten old.

Time to see what Joe's coaching is made off when it's not paying off in player stats on O.

[chrisab123]

Team will go on a run soon. People are acting like the sky is falling. I’d be shocked if they weren’t a top 2 seed.

[ConstableGeneva]

The 55-shooting rule: Over the past three seasons, Celtics are 110-8 when eFG% is at least 55%. In the same token, Celtics are 102-22 when limiting opponents to less than 55% eFG%. Do both, it's 74-1. Do neither, it's 6-22 (both Indy losses included).

I think if we can be the Cavs on offense and the Thunder on defense, we'll be nearly unstoppable. So stop being bums and improve in both lol.

[Fierce1]

KP and Jrue have injuries that are not serious, according to a report I read.

Clearly Cs are being extra cautious.

Bad news is this will cost them a few games.

Guess they're hoping they will be rewarded with good health when the playoffs start.

[jmr07019]

Celtics have obviously been struggling this month. Some of the problem is age (Al, Jrue) and injuries (KP) but a lot of the problem is simply effort and taking pride on the defensive side of the ball. Here is how Draymond responded to a lack of defensive effort from Buddy Heild.

“Wake tf up or go sit tf down”

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Read on Twitter

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Read on Twitter

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Conversely the Celtics seem to show a lack of motivation to win regular season games. There is no urgency. Team acts like they can flip the switch when needed and it’s all good. But we are pissing away any chance at HCA. 5 games behind the Cavs and 4 behind the thunder. We’re making our post season run more difficult and reducing our odds at a title.

I would like to see either Joe or Jaylen call the team out publicly on the lack of defensive effort. One month of bad play is unacceptable and we are at risk of falling out of the top 10 in defensive rating. Guys need to start caring more.

Celtics need to do something. Ownership should bite the bullet and sign Lonnie Walker. Show the players they are serious about repeating. And if Lonnie Walker and a public call out doesn’t get things moving in the right direction then you look at making a trade at the deadline.

[phincsfan]

Sam’s injury is gonna be a problem all season for the team. Last year he started 13 games, likely due to rest or injury for a regular starter. They went 11-2 when he started those games. He averaged 32min - 12ppg - 5reb. Very good numbers. Right now, unless Joe decides to let Peterson get a shot at the rotation, nobody will be able to fill Sam’s role if he continues to struggle due to the back issue.

There’s gonna be other games where Jrue is out, and JB or JT need a break. Nobody right now can fill that reserve role for those guys. Perfect example was last night.

[Parasite]

Team will go on a run soon. People are acting like the sky is falling. I’d be shocked if they weren’t a top 2 seed.

If this team isn’t a top 2 seed it’s a catastrophic failure in all aspects. The money was on this Celtics team to repeat. And when I say that I mean before the year started, that was against the field! So the Celtics were favored against all the other teams put together. It would be a monumental failure not to repeat this year.

[jmr07019]

The defense has slipped. After years of being a top-five group, Boston has dropped to ninth in defensive efficiency this season. That's where the team has to focus to turn things around, according to Jaylen Brown.

"We gotta get back to emphasizing the defensive side of the ball. It’s kind of slipped over the last few games," Brown said. "Our intensity and teams are pressuring us and being physical with us. We gotta do some of the same stuff to them … we’ve had some great moments this season and maybe some comfort has slipped in. I mean offensively, we’re fine. I just think defensively, we gotta find ways to get more stops and be more consistent protecting the basket, helping each other, communicating and we just haven’t emphasized that enough."

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/278576/Celtics-Say-They-Need-To-Refocus-On-Defense

Nice to see Jaylen publicly acknowledge the Celtics defensive issues.

[phincsfan]

Team will go on a run soon. People are acting like the sky is falling. I’d be shocked if they weren’t a top 2 seed.

If this team isn’t a top 2 seed it’s a catastrophic failure in all aspects. The money was on this Celtics team to repeat. And when I say that I mean before the year started, that was against the field! So the Celtics were favored against all the other teams put together. It would be a monumental failure not to repeat this year.

If you said top 2 seed and don’t win the championship I’d agree with it being a failure. But if they win the championship regardless of the seeding that’s all that matters. Regular season injuries affect standings. Getting healthy for the playoffs is what’s important.

[Parasite]

Team will go on a run soon. People are acting like the sky is falling. I’d be shocked if they weren’t a top 2 seed.

If this team isn’t a top 2 seed it’s a catastrophic failure in all aspects. The money was on this Celtics team to repeat. And when I say that I mean before the year started, that was against the field! So the Celtics were favored against all the other teams put together. It would be a monumental failure not to repeat this year.

If you said top 2 seed and don’t win the championship I’d agree with it being a failure. But if they win the championship regardless of the seeding that’s all that matters. Regular season injuries affect standings. Getting healthy for the playoffs is what’s important.

Sorry. Yes that’s true. As long as they win the championship it’s a success. But I find it hard to believe they will from a lower seed. A lower seed implies that they played trash defense the whole season and I’m of the opinion that is something that can’t just be turned on like a faucet. They need to start playing good defense well before the playoffs start.

[fallguy]

Here's where I am as we hit 2025:

We are the best team with Cleveland/OKC right at our heels. Banner 19 just waiting for us to grab it.

BUT... getting pummelled in the paint is our achilles heel on defense.

I have very little confidence we'll get through another playoff run with Horford and KP effective and healthy, respectively. Luke is a fine backup but hardly a defensive stopper. Queta should watch the playoffs from the bench. Tillman isn't a rotation player. If those last two are playing a lot, we're in trouble.

All of which is why I wonder if we might see a deadline move for someone big and stalwart to patrol the paint. Brad and Mike will have to get creative given all the restrictions on trades. But I'd love another option at the 5.

[ConstableGeneva]

The Exciting Whites Lineup (White, PP, Sam, Luke) has a +14.3 (97th percentile) net rating in 202 possessions. Surprisingly defending well too with a defensive rating of 101.5 (98th percentile).

"I think he's a much better defender than people think. I can't say why or else I'll get in trouble."

[165bows]

Here's where I am as we hit 2025:

We are the best team with Cleveland/OKC right at our heels. Banner 19 just waiting for us to grab it.

BUT... getting pummelled in the paint is our achilles heel on defense.

I have very little confidence we'll get through another playoff run with Horford and KP effective and healthy, respectively. Luke is a fine backup but hardly a defensive stopper. Queta should watch the playoffs from the bench. Tillman isn't a rotation player. If those last two are playing a lot, we're in trouble.

All of which is why I wonder if we might see a deadline move for someone big and stalwart to patrol the paint. Brad and Mike will have to get creative given all the restrictions on trades. But I'd love another option at the 5.

First to the Floor podcast had some interesting numbers re Al Horford. Basically said that his rim protection numbers went way up in the playoffs, to the point he was well above average for all playoff centers.

Whereas in the RS he was pretty average overall.

So the assumption was that Al (last year at least) was capable of dialing it up a notch or three when it counted.

But they clearly haven’t been quite all there this year on D so far so we will see and Tillman was the guy they targeted last deadline and he’s been M.I.A. So if they don’t have confidence in him agree they very may well target another Tillman type.

[threrf23]

The 55-shooting rule: Over the past three seasons, Celtics are 110-8 when eFG% is at least 55%. In the same token, Celtics are 102-22 when limiting opponents to less than 55% eFG%. Do both, it's 74-1. Do neither, it's 6-22 (both Indy losses included).

.60 TS% rule is better IMO, we are 103-4 (edit 101-4) when our TS% is at least .595 (reg season).

But, we're also 26-1 when pulling down more than 57% of rebounds, and we've only done it twice this season. 30-2 when pulling down at least 31% of offensive rebounds, we've done it five times this season.

I'm too lazy rn to look at the defensive rebounding, but I've said this too many times over the years, shooting is, partially at least, about rhythm, need to be able to establish yourself inside and ideally to not get pushed around to consistently maintain rhythm. Ws set the trend but it's Dray & Iggy, and guys like Andrew Bogut who played key, understated roles.

[Deivork]

What a weird schedule. First road game in the West of the season? We had it to easy until now, I feel we haven't been really tested and now we get 4 tough games in 6 days. Minnesota, Houston back to Boston and back to Denver? This is... not balanced to say the least.

[phincsfan]

What a weird schedule. First road game in the West of the season? We had it to easy until now, I feel we haven't been really tested and now we get 4 tough games in 6 days. Minnesota, Houston back to Boston and back to Denver? This is... not balanced to say the least.

@ Minny, @Hou, @OKC, @Den 4 game road trip

[Deivork]

oh, celtics site has it wrong then

https://www.nba.com/celtics/schedule

still weird scheduling overall...

[Gant]

Mike Vorkunov‬ ‪

Which NBA team gets its shots at the rim and which fires away from 3? And who does both?

Here's where teams sit on the spectrum of shots at the rim and from 3

(data via Cleaning The Glass)



https://bsky.app/profile/mikevorkunov.bsky.social/post/3leugq62vlk24

[redslastlaugh]

Cleveland is really humming.

Mike Vorkunov‬ ‪

Which NBA team gets its shots at the rim and which fires away from 3? And who does both?

Here's where teams sit on the spectrum of shots at the rim and from 3

(data via Cleaning The Glass)