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

[ConstableGeneva]

You’re nothing if not consistent, lol…

Still undefeated when taking more than 60% of shots from 3. Let's get that number to 75% to be kookier.

Haha.

To answer the question why no other team does it. They'll be dumb to do so.

No other team has a top 8 with this type of 3-pt accuracy (Celtics career):
Hauser 41.4%
Pritchard 40.1%
Holiday 39.9%
Horford 39.1%
White 38.3%
Tatum 37.5%
Porziņģis 36.6%
Brown 36.1%

I would propose Tatum swap some of his iso pullups for drives (which he does come postseason), Porzingis to get to the block more (risky for regular season considering his fragility), and for Brown to take less (but he does make timely threes so what do I know). Everyone else, when they're open, let it fly.

Priority is still rim shots (dunks if available), but they're not as easy to get esp since we don't have a Giannis or Jokic type. FWIW, we've been top 4 in rim efficiency in Mazzulla's whole tenure and our ability to space the floor has a lot to do with that. We just don't take as many shots from there. I'd bet we're among the top in teams that don't get their paint shots blocked a lot since we don't force shots from there. Defenses will always protect paint first. Wishing for more midrangers is counterproductive since other than JB and maybe PP, we really don't have anyone good at them. KP takes them on his postups.

[ConstableGeneva]

Currently, the Celtics are 2nd on offense behind the Cavs.

It appears on the surface that the main difference has been Celtics being really bad at transition offense and Cavs being elite at it.

After Made Shot:
1. BOS (1.19 PPP)
2. CLE (1.18 PPP)

After Defensive Rebound:
1. CLE (1.21 PPP)
2. BOS (1.20 PPP)

After a Live Turnover:
4. CLE (1.42 PPP)
...
28. BOS (1.15 PPP)

Matches the eye test. We are a funny bunch to watch even when we have a 3-on-2 advantage on the break.

*Figures from inpredictable.com

Anyway, I don't think you wanna mess around too much with a half-court offense that's been top 3 the past 3 seasons (3rd, 1st, 2nd in Joe's tenure). Find a way to improve our transition offense (currently 29th) which has little to do with the amount of threes we take.

[Shak_Celts]

Still undefeated when taking more than 60% of shots from 3. Let's get that number to 75% to be kookier.

Shh, Joe may say no 2s and fts (unless 3pt) next season!

That high school team that won shooting three-pointers is crazy, I hope Joe hasn’t seen that. I don’t mind the threes we’re taking now, but I know I’d hate it if that’s all we did. I like slams on folks’ heads and how crazy the crowd gets when it happens! They already say we’re soft, I can’t imagine what they will say if we only take threes. I really wouldn’t put it past Joe, but that would be crazy for sure.

[Fierce1]

Just one game where the Cs attempt 60 3s is all I'm asking for.

[ConstableGeneva]

Still undefeated when taking more than 60% of shots from 3. Let's get that number to 75% to be kookier.

Shh, Joe may say no 2s and fts (unless 3pt) next season!

That high school team that won shooting three-pointers is crazy, I hope Joe hasn’t seen that. I don’t mind the threes we’re taking now, but I know I’d hate it if that’s all we did. I like slams on folks’ heads and how crazy the crowd gets when it happens! They already say we’re soft, I can’t imagine what they will say if we only take threes. I really wouldn’t put it past Joe, but that would be crazy for sure.

I don't know what the limit is. Others have already said it, but the focus shouldn't be on the amount of threes but how you generate them (we can be more consistent at this; love how Cavs do it) and how open they are (we get a ton of open and wide open 3s, need to make more). I feel the amount of threes we take is more a function of our personnel (as I discussed on post above). We weren't taking this much when we had Rob, Semi, Theis, Kanter, etc. I can only imagine how fans would react if we still had Smart and he had this type of green light lol.

I'm not opposed to bringing in a guy or guys that can shift our shot profile. I just don't think they'd improve our offense overall or that Joe would use them to begin with (hi Lonnie!). Give me prime IT and we'll talk but then he'd take the ball away from JT (who is killing it as the guy with the ball).

[Shak_Celts]

Still undefeated when taking more than 60% of shots from 3. Let's get that number to 75% to be kookier.

Shh, Joe may say no 2s and fts (unless 3pt) next season!

That high school team that won shooting three-pointers is crazy, I hope Joe hasn’t seen that. I don’t mind the threes we’re taking now, but I know I’d hate it if that’s all we did. I like slams on folks’ heads and how crazy the crowd gets when it happens! They already say we’re soft, I can’t imagine what they will say if we only take threes. I really wouldn’t put it past Joe, but that would be crazy for sure.

I don't know what the limit is. Others have already said it, but the focus shouldn't be on the amount of threes but how you generate them (we can be more consistent at this; love how Cavs do it) and how open they are (we get a ton of open and wide open 3s, need to make more). I feel the amount of threes we take is more a function of our personnel (as I discussed on post above). We weren't taking this much when we had Rob, Semi, Theis, Kanter, etc. I can only imagine how fans would react if we still had Smart and he had this type of green light lol.

I'm not opposed to bringing in a guy or guys that can shift our shot profile. I just don't think they'd improve our offense overall or that Joe would use them to begin with (hi Lonnie!). Give me prime IT and we'll talk but then he'd take the ball away from JT (who is killing it as the guy with the ball).

I say we should find out the limit, but still sprinkle in dunks! Just go crazier than 50, let’s shoot for 70 for a month. I’m feeling like it would be hella boring if we go all out on 3s though. Still want to see what it would be like, the complaints would probably kill the board.

[ConstableGeneva]

Shh, Joe may say no 2s and fts (unless 3pt) next season!

That high school team that won shooting three-pointers is crazy, I hope Joe hasn’t seen that. I don’t mind the threes we’re taking now, but I know I’d hate it if that’s all we did. I like slams on folks’ heads and how crazy the crowd gets when it happens! They already say we’re soft, I can’t imagine what they will say if we only take threes. I really wouldn’t put it past Joe, but that would be crazy for sure.

I don't know what the limit is. Others have already said it, but the focus shouldn't be on the amount of threes but how you generate them (we can be more consistent at this; love how Cavs do it) and how open they are (we get a ton of open and wide open 3s, need to make more). I feel the amount of threes we take is more a function of our personnel (as I discussed on post above). We weren't taking this much when we had Rob, Semi, Theis, Kanter, etc. I can only imagine how fans would react if we still had Smart and he had this type of green light lol.

I'm not opposed to bringing in a guy or guys that can shift our shot profile. I just don't think they'd improve our offense overall or that Joe would use them to begin with (hi Lonnie!). Give me prime IT and we'll talk but then he'd take the ball away from JT (who is killing it as the guy with the ball).

I say we should find out the limit, but still sprinkle in dunks! Just go crazier than 50, let’s shoot for 70 for a month. I’m feeling like it would be hella boring if we go all out on 3s though. Still want to see what it would be like, the complaints would probably kill the board.

Forgot to say... Apart from our personnel, amount of threes a team takes is also dictated by the defense more than the offense, if that makes sense. Leave us open for three and pack the paint or prevent drives, we're taking them. Close out hard and we're going to drive more (though that could only lead to kicks and more threes lol). I have been saying though that against certain teams/lineups that don't have rim protectors, JT and co. should drive more. So yeah, I still get frustrated when "they settle" for those pullups when it seems they could beat their man off the dribble and get all the way to the rim. But overall, I have no issue with their style of play and general offensive philosophy (hard to expect execution to be perfect game-to-game).

[Shak_Celts]

I don't know what the limit is. Others have already said it, but the focus shouldn't be on the amount of threes but how you generate them (we can be more consistent at this; love how Cavs do it) and how open they are (we get a ton of open and wide open 3s, need to make more). I feel the amount of threes we take is more a function of our personnel (as I discussed on post above). We weren't taking this much when we had Rob, Semi, Theis, Kanter, etc. I can only imagine how fans would react if we still had Smart and he had this type of green light lol.

I'm not opposed to bringing in a guy or guys that can shift our shot profile. I just don't think they'd improve our offense overall or that Joe would use them to begin with (hi Lonnie!). Give me prime IT and we'll talk but then he'd take the ball away from JT (who is killing it as the guy with the ball).

I say we should find out the limit, but still sprinkle in dunks! Just go crazier than 50, let’s shoot for 70 for a month. I’m feeling like it would be hella boring if we go all out on 3s though. Still want to see what it would be like, the complaints would probably kill the board.

Forgot to say... Apart from our personnel, amount of threes a team takes is also dictated by the defense more than the offense, if that makes sense. Leave us open for three and pack the paint or prevent drives, we're taking them. Close out hard and we're going to drive more (though that could only lead to kicks and more threes lol). I have been saying though that against certain teams/lineups that don't have rim protectors, JT and co. should drive more. So yeah, I still get frustrated when "they settle" for those pullups when it seems they could beat their man off the dribble and get all the way to the rim. But overall, I have no issue with their style of play and general offensive philosophy (hard to expect execution to be perfect game-to-game).

I know it seems like I was joking or sarcasm but I was being serious. If we shoot a lot and never lose, looks like we’re need to shoot that amount more often. If it works don’t fix it.

Yeah teams will shut it down eventually, if they have the players, but like you said that’ll play into our hands.

Slip joe the numbers!


Edit; wait, did it matter how well we shot or was it as long as we took that percentage?

[Fierce1]

I'm liking the KP-Luke combination.

I think that's something Joe can use in the playoffs.

[ConstableGeneva]

I say we should find out the limit, but still sprinkle in dunks! Just go crazier than 50, let’s shoot for 70 for a month. I’m feeling like it would be hella boring if we go all out on 3s though. Still want to see what it would be like, the complaints would probably kill the board.

Forgot to say... Apart from our personnel, amount of threes a team takes is also dictated by the defense more than the offense, if that makes sense. Leave us open for three and pack the paint or prevent drives, we're taking them. Close out hard and we're going to drive more (though that could only lead to kicks and more threes lol). I have been saying though that against certain teams/lineups that don't have rim protectors, JT and co. should drive more. So yeah, I still get frustrated when "they settle" for those pullups when it seems they could beat their man off the dribble and get all the way to the rim. But overall, I have no issue with their style of play and general offensive philosophy (hard to expect execution to be perfect game-to-game).

I know it seems like I was joking or sarcasm but I was being serious. If we shoot a lot and never lose, looks like we’re need to shoot that amount more often. If it works don’t fix it.

Yeah teams will shut it down eventually, if they have the players, but like you said that’ll play into our hands.

Slip joe the numbers!


Edit; wait, did it matter how well we shot or was it as long as we took that percentage?

3/8 we shot below current league average. Beat four good-ish teams (incl. MIN twice), no elite teams. Wolves and Bucks the only top 10 defensive teams.

Apart from it being a small sample, I intentionally omitted "60% of our shots" since we lost twice doing that. Has to be more than 60%. Farther we go away from that threshold, the higher chance of winning.

[165bows]

Forgot to say... Apart from our personnel, amount of threes a team takes is also dictated by the defense more than the offense, if that makes sense. Leave us open for three and pack the paint or prevent drives, we're taking them. Close out hard and we're going to drive more (though that could only lead to kicks and more threes lol). I have been saying though that against certain teams/lineups that don't have rim protectors, JT and co. should drive more. So yeah, I still get frustrated when "they settle" for those pullups when it seems they could beat their man off the dribble and get all the way to the rim. But overall, I have no issue with their style of play and general offensive philosophy (hard to expect execution to be perfect game-to-game).

I know it seems like I was joking or sarcasm but I was being serious. If we shoot a lot and never lose, looks like we’re need to shoot that amount more often. If it works don’t fix it.

Yeah teams will shut it down eventually, if they have the players, but like you said that’ll play into our hands.

Slip joe the numbers!


Edit; wait, did it matter how well we shot or was it as long as we took that percentage?

3/8 we shot below current league average. Beat four good-ish teams (incl. MIN twice), no elite teams. Wolves and Bucks the only top 10 defensive teams.

Apart from it being a small sample, I intentionally omitted "60% of our shots" since we lost twice doing that. Has to be more than 60%. Farther we go away from that threshold, the higher chance of winning.

That’s what the team thinks too lol.

Worth noting Brad’s first first-round pick was shooting threes at a .591 3PTA rate.

[ConstableGeneva]

I know it seems like I was joking or sarcasm but I was being serious. If we shoot a lot and never lose, looks like we’re need to shoot that amount more often. If it works don’t fix it.

Yeah teams will shut it down eventually, if they have the players, but like you said that’ll play into our hands.

Slip joe the numbers!


Edit; wait, did it matter how well we shot or was it as long as we took that percentage?

3/8 we shot below current league average. Beat four good-ish teams (incl. MIN twice), no elite teams. Wolves and Bucks the only top 10 defensive teams.

Apart from it being a small sample, I intentionally omitted "60% of our shots" since we lost twice doing that. Has to be more than 60%. Farther we go away from that threshold, the higher chance of winning.

That’s what the team thinks too lol.

Worth noting Brad’s first first-round pick was shooting threes at a .591 3PTA rate.

In college or in Maine?

[165bows]

3/8 we shot below current league average. Beat four good-ish teams (incl. MIN twice), no elite teams. Wolves and Bucks the only top 10 defensive teams.

Apart from it being a small sample, I intentionally omitted "60% of our shots" since we lost twice doing that. Has to be more than 60%. Farther we go away from that threshold, the higher chance of winning.

That’s what the team thinks too lol.

Worth noting Brad’s first first-round pick was shooting threes at a .591 3PTA rate.

In college or in Maine?

College - note that’s rate ie 3PATr not 3PT%. I’m not sure what it is in Maine, they might have that but G league stats are super annoying imo how they divide the season in half.

https://tankathon.com/players/baylor-scheierman
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/baylor-scheierman-1.html

Edit: Karaban currently sitting at exactly .6003PATr currently so maybe that’s fate lol.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

That’s what the team thinks too lol.

Worth noting Brad’s first first-round pick was shooting threes at a .591 3PTA rate.

In college or in Maine?

College - note that’s rate ie 3PATr not 3PT%. I’m not sure what it is in Maine, they might have that but G league stats are super annoying imo how they divide the season in half.

https://tankathon.com/players/baylor-scheierman
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/baylor-scheierman-1.html

Edit: Karaban currently sitting at exactly .6003PATr currently so maybe that’s fate lol.

Last year, Scheierman took more threes per hundred possessions than any other player in his draft class. Last year (and this year too obviously), the Celtics took more threes per hundred possessions than any other team in the league. That hardly seems like a coincidence.

[ConstableGeneva]

How far we've come...

2021-22:
JT w/o JB: 80th percentile ORtg, 88th percentile DRtg, +8.9 in 2495 possessions
JB w/o JT: 24th percentile ORtg, 81st percentile DRtg, +0.0 in 1522 possessions

2024-25:
JT w/o JB: 99th percentile ORtg, 57th percentile DRtg, +13.3 in 1029 possessions
JB w/o JT: 98th percentile ORtg, 54th percentile DRtg, +11.8 in 714 possessions

Offense no longer crashes when JT sits. Defense needs work though in both configurations.

[165bows]

In college or in Maine?

College - note that’s rate ie 3PATr not 3PT%. I’m not sure what it is in Maine, they might have that but G league stats are super annoying imo how they divide the season in half.

https://tankathon.com/players/baylor-scheierman
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/baylor-scheierman-1.html

Edit: Karaban currently sitting at exactly .6003PATr currently so maybe that’s fate lol.

Last year, Scheierman took more threes per hundred possessions than any other player in his draft class. Last year (and this year too obviously), the Celtics took more threes per hundred possessions than any other team in the league. That hardly seems like a coincidence.

Not to turn this into the draft thread but Tankathon conveniently lists 3PATr and FTAr right next to each other. The closer those add up to 1I figure the higher up he is on their internal draft board.

[ConstableGeneva]

Per tankathon, Cavs have 4th hardest remaining schedule. Celtics 4th easiest. They have 2 matchups left.

Celtics need to win next five games to match last year's pace - SAC, NOP, @TOR, ORL, ATL. Then they're on another less tough 4-game West trip.

[Fierce1]

Next 9 games really all winnable.

Just depends on how hard the Cs play.

[itrsteve]

Next 9 games really all winnable.

Just depends on how hard the Cs play.

Yeah but those are the trap games we tend to throw out. I hope they snap out of that regression.

With that being said, I’m very pleased with the 3-1 roadtrip. Can’t say that confidence was sky high after that Pacers loss.

[bisme37]

Read on Twitter

I saw this quote from Joe, and then SVG on TNT last night was again talking about how the C's are currently adjusting their defense to switch less at times and go for more steals and deflections. And clearly been experimenting a bit with rotations etc.

I've seen comments from fans getting mad at Joe and saying he's been outcoached in games etc. I don't really think he's been outcoached as much as he's coaching with the playoffs and a championship on his mind more so than winning every game in January or whatever.

The C's are just now playing with a full roster and trying new things at the moment. So be patient is what I think I'm saying.