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

[ConstableGeneva]

They need to figure out what's going on. But it's hard to ignore the data. They were doing fine great shooting MORE threes before KP came back.

[Fierce1]

What's concerning is a number of Celtic players seem to have the mentality of they're better, bigger, stronger, and faster than their opponents.

That's why they force shots.

Cavs and OKC are hard to beat because they don't force shots.

If not open, they pass the ball.

This season we're seeing JB and KP forcing shots because they think they have the advantage.

Cs need to get back to what they did last season and that's less 1 on 1 basketball.

[bisme37]

We had more AOS games last season than this one so far, and we won the title. This concluded my anecdotal evidence that maybe the team is fine.

[redslastlaugh]

They need to figure out what's going on. But it's hard to ignore the data. They were doing fine great shooting MORE threes before KP came back.

The thing about the 3 point question, aside from the numeracy, the basketball gods, the notions of team work, plus/minus, net rating or any other metric or analytic, the thing is when the team shoots 9-42 or 11-41 or 18 for 60 from THREE on a given night, it’s just demoralizing. It’s demoralizing across the board, for the fans at the game, for the people watching on TV, for the players in the game. The experience of seeing miss after miss on attempts from 24 feet from the hoop just has a negative effect on whoever watches it.

Maybe on this board we can agree on that point, or maybe we can’t and I’m falsely assuming a universality that isn’t really there. But it SEEMS to me that on the nights they LOSE the game after shooting a high volume of three point attempts, seventy % of which do NOT go in, it’s a demoralizing experience.

[ConstableGeneva]

They need to figure out what's going on. But it's hard to ignore the data. They were doing fine great shooting MORE threes before KP came back.

The thing about the 3 point question, aside from the numeracy, the basketball gods, the notions of team work, plus/minus, net rating or any other metric or analytic, the thing is when the team shoots 9-42 or 11-41 or 18 for 60 from THREE on a given night, it’s just demoralizing. It’s demoralizing across the board, for the fans at the game, for the people watching on TV, for the players in the game. The experience of seeing miss after miss on attempts from 24 feet from the hoop just has a negative effect on whoever watches it.

Maybe on this board we can agree on that point, or maybe we can’t and I’m falsely assuming a universality that isn’t really there. But it SEEMS to me that on the nights they LOSE the game after shooting a high volume of three point attempts, seventy % of which do NOT go in, it’s a demoralizing experience.

I think it's demoralizing any time we lose, no matter how it happened.

Just saw two bunnies missed by our bigs at the rim. So demoralizing esp when you're trying to get separation.

[ConstableGeneva]

This year's Celtics are still on pace to have the same or a better record than these repeat champions: GSW 2018, LAL 2010, LAL 2002, LAL 2001, HOU 1995, CHI 1993, DET 1990, and BOS 1969.

Somehow we have this notion that as defending champions, teams are just gonna dominate the competition the following regular season. More instances to the contrary in the last 50 seasons. None of the teams above had a top 20 point differential all-time. The 2024-25 Celtics do.

[Fencer reregistered]

This year's Celtics are still on pace to have the same or a better record than these repeat champions: GSW 2018, LAL 2010, LAL 2002, LAL 2001, HOU 1995, CHI 1993, DET 1990, and BOS 1969.

Somehow we have this notion that as defending champions, teams are just gonna dominate the competition the following regular season. More instances to the contrary in the last 50 seasons. None of the teams above had a top 20 point differential all-time. The 2024-25 Celtics do.

I'd add that neither of the teams that's been clearly better than the Celtics so far this regular season has an impressive amount of playoff experience.

[165bows]

This year's Celtics are still on pace to have the same or a better record than these repeat champions: GSW 2018, LAL 2010, LAL 2002, LAL 2001, HOU 1995, CHI 1993, DET 1990, and BOS 1969.

Somehow we have this notion that as defending champions, teams are just gonna dominate the competition the following regular season. More instances to the contrary in the last 50 seasons. None of the teams above had a top 20 point differential all-time. The 2024-25 Celtics do.

Are you suggesting we not have unrealistic expectations?!?!?!

[shackles10]

This year's Celtics are still on pace to have the same or a better record than these repeat champions: GSW 2018, LAL 2010, LAL 2002, LAL 2001, HOU 1995, CHI 1993, DET 1990, and BOS 1969.

Somehow we have this notion that as defending champions, teams are just gonna dominate the competition the following regular season. More instances to the contrary in the last 50 seasons. None of the teams above had a top 20 point differential all-time. The 2024-25 Celtics do.

Are you suggesting we not have unrealistic expectations?!?!?!

Talk about being unrealistic... psshhh

[Fierce1]

The way the Cs are playing right now, every game is a challenge.

It won't matter if they're playing a winning team or a lottery team.

[zoyathedestroya]

Article was about Tillman but this was interesting…

Boston doesn’t want Tillman to drive close-outs. They want him to shoot the ball. And it’s been an ongoing mental battle.

“It's really hard,” Tillman said with a smile. “And it's actually hilarious because there'd be so many opportunities where we'd be in a live read, and I would do that. I would catch it, and the guy would closeout, and I'd go right by him. And then they'd stop it after I made the layup, and they say, 'No, no, no, you're supposed to shoot that.' And I'm like, 'What? I had him. I saw his feet were out of place.' And they're like, 'That's not the point. The point is to be an unconscious shooter.'

Source: https://hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celtics-xavier-tillman-mental-hurdles-three-pointers-dj-macleay-basketball-memphis-grizzlies

[ConstableGeneva]

If maintained, this season's Celtics win-loss record would be #2 in the league last season behind the 2024 champs. True story.

And we're not even trying.

[ConstableGeneva]

Whether it's luck, scheme, or slow feet, that number of ATB3s and opponent 3FG% KP is surrendering can't be good.

[Celts17Pride]

Read on Twitter

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

November: 56.8 3PTA rate; 120.9 ORtg (2nd)
December: 53.8 3PTA rate; 117.7 ORtg (4th)
January: 49.7 3PTA rate; 115.5 ORtg (11th)

The plan to shoot less threes not going great, I see?

[WeLikeOurGuys]

From what I can see, the three-point shots aren't falling at the same rate they were earlier in the season, but I also feel like the ball movement has become completely stagnant. White and Jrue are almost non-factors now because Tatum, Brown, and KP have been taking the majority of the shots. To me, it looks like Tatum and Brown have reverted back to relying too much on isolation ball.

I think Tatum and Brown just need to get back to making that extra pass. If they do, their offense will get back on track.

[playa-hater]

From what I can see, the three-point shots aren't falling at the same rate they were earlier in the season, but I also feel like the ball movement has become completely stagnant. White and Jrue are almost non-factors now because Tatum, Brown, and KP have been taking the majority of the shots. To me, it looks like Tatum and Brown have reverted back to relying too much on isolation ball.

I think Tatum and Brown just need to get back to making that extra pass. If they do, their offense will get back on track.

Definitely my theory as well.

[165bows]

Read on Twitter

November: 56.8 3PTA rate; 120.9 ORtg (2nd)
December: 53.8 3PTA rate; 117.7 ORtg (4th)
January: 49.7 3PTA rate; 115.5 ORtg (11th)

The plan to shoot less threes not going great, I see?

Karalis is a graduate of the school of correlation is not causation I see.

Maybe the conclusion could have been their 3PT shooting has been *** lately so they've been forced to attack the rim more.

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

November: 56.8 3PTA rate; 120.9 ORtg (2nd)
December: 53.8 3PTA rate; 117.7 ORtg (4th)
January: 49.7 3PTA rate; 115.5 ORtg (11th)

The plan to shoot less threes not going great, I see?

Karalis is a graduate of the school of correlation is not causation I see.

Maybe the conclusion could have been their 3PT shooting has been *** lately so they've been forced to attack the rim more.

And attacking the rim more hasn't led to an improvement in our offense either?

[WeLikeOurGuys]

From what I can see, the three-point shots aren't falling at the same rate they were earlier in the season, but I also feel like the ball movement has become completely stagnant. White and Jrue are almost non-factors now because Tatum, Brown, and KP have been taking the majority of the shots. To me, it looks like Tatum and Brown have reverted back to relying too much on isolation ball.

I think Tatum and Brown just need to get back to making that extra pass. If they do, their offense will get back on track.

Definitely my theory as well.

I'm not a huge fan of the high pick-and-roll with KP. I understand the logic behind it – he's a 7'3" unicorn, so he’s a matchup nightmare – but it often bogs down the offense. When the ball ends up getting dumped down to him, the spacing suffers, and the other players become too stationary. This lack of movement and flow makes the offense more predictable and less dynamic.