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

[ConstableGeneva]

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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.

Expectation was they'd hit the ground running as soon as KP came back since Brad brought in essentially the same team. I guess not. It should be the one advantage of continuity in the roster, but I guess if you change defensive coverages from one season to the next, it's a whole new adjustment regardless of the characters being the same.

And it appears KP is only somewhere between 80%-85% back. Guys like Jrue/JB/Hauser and now White being in and out of the lineup doesn't help with the continuity thing either.

[djFan71]

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.

Expectation was they'd hit the ground running as soon as KP came back since Brad brought in essentially the same team. I guess not. It should be the one advantage of continuity in the roster, but I guess if you change defensive coverages from one season to the next, it's a whole new adjustment regardless of the characters being the same.

And it appears KP is only somewhere between 80%-85% back. Guys like Jrue/JB/Hauser and now White being in and out of the lineup doesn't help with the continuity thing either.

Feels like that's all mildly true but dead shooting legs from playing thru June or August and some mental fatigue in the doldrum days juxtaposed with teams playing out of their skulls against us play into it as much / more.

[ConstableGeneva]

Watch on YouTube

[ConstableGeneva]

EPM still high on the Cs. Or does this just mean we're underachieving?

[ConstableGeneva]

How bad on defense are the other teams when Cs are 4th in defense since KP came back??

[Fierce1]

I think Cs are still adjusting to KP being back.

Cs got used to not having KP almost all of the playoffs.

Once KP and the rest of the guys get comfortable, watch out!

[ConstableGeneva]

Yes, yes, I will come! Keep building, Cs.

[djFan71]

Yes, yes, I will come! Keep building, Cs.

Just gotta get up to #1 defense and #1 offense and I think we got a shot.

[165bows]

Yes, yes, I will come! Keep building, Cs.

That picture at the bottom lol!! (Not the Costner one).

[ConstableGeneva]

Spoiler:

Yes, yes, I will come! Keep building, Cs.

That picture at the bottom lol!! (Not the Costner one).

Is that Trudeau?

For those yelling "small sample!," the Cs are 2nd in offense and 4th in defense since KP came back. We just need more game-to-game consistency but I also wouldn't want us to peak early.

[bisme37]

Here's a spreadsheet with DARKO team ratings. C's are #2, just behind OKC but a good amount ahead of the CLE at #3.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UFev1ZRjl-T4cCGslRc9IeiBwPh84Khl_JFjokJ_sj8/edit?gid=0#gid=0

[ConstableGeneva]

20 Players take at least 5 catch-and-shoot threes a game. BOS has the top 2 guys in 3FG% -- Pritchard (47.6%) and White (44.4%).

[redslastlaugh]

Ryan Bernardoni (Dangercart) on bluesky regarding Celtics 3PTA rate.

After this game the Celtics will fall to right in the middle of the league in 3PT%. When the gap b/ween you and the 2nd highest 3PT rate team is the same as the gap between 2nd-27th, that's not nearly good enough. Celtics shooting is simply not justifying their 3PT volume right now.

Hopefully, we’re seeing a the start of a change in sentiment regarding low-percentage threes.

[Curmudgeon]

They are playing like a second round exit team. No duckboats this year.

[Kids Are Alright]

Tatum needs to morph somehow towards a Butler-like attitude. If somebody says you’re the softest Celtics superstar ever, you’ve got **** all over that person, and then show it in the next string of games.
Brown needs to get meaner and nastier as well.
The team needs attitude.
We might need a banger power forward to get back to the level we were at last year.
We keep getting blown out in the fourth quarter against good teams and that’s a real bad sign.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Tatum needs to morph somehow towards a Butler-like attitude. If somebody says you’re the softest Celtics superstar ever, you’ve got **** all over that person, and then show it in the next string of games.
Brown needs to get meaner and nastier as well.
The team needs attitude.
We might need a banger power forward to get back to the level we were at last year.
We keep getting blown out in the fourth quarter against good teams and that’s a real bad sign.

Which part of Butler's attitude should he emulate exactly ? The part where he tried to burn down the Timberwolves franchise to get a trade out of there or the part where he tried to burn down the Heat franchise to get a trade out of there ? Nothing says tough guy like trying to bail out of your situation every time there's a little bit of adversity.

[darrendaye]

[ConstableGeneva]

Ryan Bernardoni (Dangercart) on bluesky regarding Celtics 3PTA rate.

After this game the Celtics will fall to right in the middle of the league in 3PT%. When the gap b/ween you and the 2nd highest 3PT rate team is the same as the gap between 2nd-27th, that's not nearly good enough. Celtics shooting is simply not justifying their 3PT volume right now.

Hopefully, we’re seeing a the start of a change in sentiment regarding low-percentage threes.

Funnily enough, they're shooting less threes in losses (53.8% 3PTA rate) than in wins (55.1%).

Pre-KP: 56.2% 3PTA rate, 14-3 record
Since KP: 53.5% 3PTA rare, 13-8 record

Either the amount of threes is helping with the wins or there are other (probably more pressing) variables other than "too many threes" at play.

[ConstableGeneva]

This Is Fine Celtics missing the guy keeping it all together last season... Come on down (literally down if he's in Toronto), Oshae Jahve Brissett...



Bad choice of gif considering what's going on in Cali, sorry. But firefighters rock.

[ConstableGeneva]

Celtics when shooting below 33.3% from 3:

Before KP: 5-0
Since KP: 2-6

Celtics were finding a way to win pre-KP despite their poor 3-pt shooting.

Celtics 3-pt shooting:
KP ON the floor: 33.8%
KP OFF the floor: 37.1%

Celtics Opponent 3-pt shooting:
KP ON the floor: 40.7%
KP OFF the floor: 33.9%

Remember, Celtics are taking the least amount of threes (3-pt attempt rate) when KP plays. Not only do the Celtics shoot worse w/ KP, they also defend the 3-ball much worse (volume and %) when KP is on the floor.

What was once a 20-plus point advantage from 3 pre-KP has now shrunk to about half of that (10.86).