Celtics 2025-26, Season Thread

[itrsteve]

This isn’t a sympathy digging post but I figured I would share with my C’s brethren.

So twice a year my team at work does an offsite, typically one in NE or NY then the second in the Carolinas (where I live).

This October it was the north’s turn, my boss called me 3 weeks ago making sure I could make it and he said “good, since we know you’re the resident Celtics fan we’re going to get a box” (for the Cavs game on the 29th). He went through all the internal approvals and all that to pay for it although not a basketball guy but knew I would be stoked. Such a cool gesture to go through the hassle at all.

Unexpectedly, he went to the hospital this weekend not feeling well and passed away by Wednesday at only 50 years old. Completely out of the blue. Our existence is far too fragile.

Get your blood checked and go C’s

[Shak_Celts]

This isn’t a sympathy digging post but I figured I would share with my C’s brethren.

So twice a year my team at work does an offsite, typically one in NE or NY then the second in the Carolinas (where I live).

This October it was the north’s turn, my boss called me 3 weeks ago making sure I could make it and he said “good, since we know you’re the resident Celtics fan we’re going to get a box” (for the Cavs game on the 29th). He went through all the internal approvals and all that to pay for it although not a basketball guy but knew I would be stoked. Such a cool gesture to go through the hassle at all.

Unexpectedly, he went to the hospital this weekend not feeling well and passed away by Wednesday at only 50 years old. Completely out of the blue. Our existence is far too fragile.

Get your blood checked and go C’s

Wow. RIP.

[ThePigeon]

IN: Hugo, Boucher, Minott
TBD: Garza, Baylor
OUT: Walsh, Tilman

Tillman OUT? I think that he just needs to get his NBA speed and instincts back.
Garza seems to me to be a shoo-in. I see him being part of our Center by Committee.

Tillman makes Luke Kornet look like Prime Olajuwon.

Kornet is playing like prime Olajuwon right now
Tilman will be fine. He knows how to play. Hampered by injury and getting back to form

[ThePigeon]

This isn’t a sympathy digging post but I figured I would share with my C’s brethren.

So twice a year my team at work does an offsite, typically one in NE or NY then the second in the Carolinas (where I live).

This October it was the north’s turn, my boss called me 3 weeks ago making sure I could make it and he said “good, since we know you’re the resident Celtics fan we’re going to get a box” (for the Cavs game on the 29th). He went through all the internal approvals and all that to pay for it although not a basketball guy but knew I would be stoked. Such a cool gesture to go through the hassle at all.

Unexpectedly, he went to the hospital this weekend not feeling well and passed away by Wednesday at only 50 years old. Completely out of the blue. Our existence is far too fragile.

Get your blood checked and go C’s

Sad. RIP

[Parliament10]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[bisme37]

Read on Twitter

[canman1971]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46554922/simulating-2025-2026-nba-season-predictions-nba-cup-playoffs-finals-champion-draft-lottery
ESPN simulator has the Cs winning the NBA Cup and losing in the play-in.

[Parliament10]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46554922/simulating-2025-2026-nba-season-predictions-nba-cup-playoffs-finals-champion-draft-lottery
ESPN simulator has the Cs winning the NBA Cup and losing in the play-in.

2025 NBA Cup
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_NBA_Cup

Prize money [2025]
Players on teams advancing to the knockout stage received prize money as follows:[4]

Players on teams that lose in the quarterfinals: $51,497 each
Players on teams that lose in the semifinals: $102,994 each
Players on the tournament runner-up team: $205,988 each
Players on the tournament championship team: $514,971 each

Two-Way Players earn half, each. -- (Prize Money increases 3% every year.)
https://www.nba.com/news/in-season-tournament-financial-incentives-motivates-players

Two-way players on those rosters only get half as much as those on standard contracts.

[bucknersrevenge]

We tryin to go FULL Nolan Richardson "40 minutes of hell" on teams this year

Read on Twitter

[Fierce1]

We tryin to go FULL Nolan Richardson "40 minutes of hell" on teams this year

Read on Twitter

Joe being able to do that to NBA players says a lot about Joe as a leader.

[Hal14]

Read on Twitter

[redslastlaugh]

Harper didn't look very good though. I think they just played Harper so much because they only had White and Pritchard to dribble, lol

I think Shulga is safe because he was a draft pick and asst GMs want to build a resume so Brad isn't gonna cut a draftee this fast. RJ Luis, maybe he is sweating it right now though, lol ... but did Wendell Moore even do anything, other than that 1 dunk, this preseason, I cant remember?

Read on Twitter

[threrf23]

but did Wendell Moore even do anything, other than that 1 dunk, this preseason, I cant remember?

From the little I've seen of him, I thought he looked good, the best of our garbage time crew, even.

Of course that doesn't say much, but I also feel like he made for a solid draft prospect, on paper, just a few years back.

Would say similar about Bridges.

RJ Luis got robbed the other night against the Raptors, drew a foul that should have been whistled in the closing seconds. Ofc he should have known to call a timeout as soon as he got the ball in that situation, but our first stringers & Joe aren't good with that either.

[Hal14]

Harper didn't look very good though. I think they just played Harper so much because they only had White and Pritchard to dribble, lol

I think Shulga is safe because he was a draft pick and asst GMs want to build a resume so Brad isn't gonna cut a draftee this fast. RJ Luis, maybe he is sweating it right now though, lol ... but did Wendell Moore even do anything, other than that 1 dunk, this preseason, I cant remember?

Read on Twitter

I thought Harper has done alright..especially that smooth step back 3 he hit.

It certainly doesn't bode well for Shulga, if Joe trusts Harper to be in the game dribbling more than he does Shulga.

While part of me agrees that Shulga is probably safe because he was a draft pick:

a) he was the 57th pick..that's barely a draft pick.

b) He's had 5 summer league games + 3 preseason games and he's done basically nothing.

Harper and Moore have simply played more and impressed more in preseason..so it wouldn't shock me if Shulga gets cut..

As for Moore, that 1 dunk was *the* play that stands out the most from the entire preseason. Also, from what I recall, he's been solid on defense, and also had a bucket in 1 of the games where he had a nice little drive to the basket and finished near the rim. Also, he's a former 1st round pick. He's about the same size as Shulga (around 6'4"/6'5") but is much stronger and more athletic than him. He's known as a pesky defender (at Duke and so far in his NBA stops)..

Agreed that Luis is probably sweating right now. If Shulga's 2-way spot is safe, that means Moore, Harper and even Bridges and Brown are all gunning to take that spot away. Let the best man win!

[Bill Lumbergh]

I thought that nothing about Shulga's game looked like an NBA player in summer league, and that has continued in preseason, to my eye. I don't think Brad will think twice about cutting bait with him if he likes someone better for a two way spot.

[Parliament10]

Read on Twitter

[redslastlaugh]

Joe seems to prioritize seniority and Harper has history with the team from previous seasons in Maine.

The Moore dunk was pretty awesome and he was a 1st round pick in the JD Davison draft, so just 3 years ago, but it's a red flag that he hasn't stuck with a team yet.

Shulga didn't make shots in summer league but he played pretty well otherwise, only 3 turnovers over the entire 5 games if I recall. Joe highly values guards that dont turn it over. Why is Harper ahead of Shulga for minutes? Maybe Shulga has underimpressed against NBA level athletes in camp or maybe Joe is just favoring the senior player in Harper?

In any case, I would be very surprised if Brad cuts Shulga at this moment. If six months from now, Shulga sucks on the floor or off, then yea sure, but even Anton Watson got 6 months or so for a legit try out.

I thought Harper has done alright..especially that smooth step back 3 he hit.

It certainly doesn't bode well for Shulga, if Joe trusts Harper to be in the game dribbling more than he does Shulga.

While part of me agrees that Shulga is probably safe because he was a draft pick:

a) he was the 57th pick..that's barely a draft pick.

b) He's had 5 summer league games + 3 preseason games and he's done basically nothing.

Harper and Moore have simply played more and impressed more in preseason..so it wouldn't shock me if Shulga gets cut..

As for Moore, that 1 dunk was *the* play that stands out the most from the entire preseason. Also, from what I recall, he's been solid on defense, and also had a bucket in 1 of the games where he had a nice little drive to the basket and finished near the rim. Also, he's a former 1st round pick. He's about the same size as Shulga (around 6'4"/6'5") but is much stronger and more athletic than him. He's known as a pesky defender (at Duke and so far in his NBA stops)..

Agreed that Luis is probably sweating right now. If Shulga's 2-way spot is safe, that means Moore, Harper and even Bridges and Brown are all gunning to take that spot away. Let the best man win!

[djFan71]

Joe seems to prioritize seniority and Harper has history with the team from previous seasons in Maine.

The Moore dunk was pretty awesome and he was a 1st round pick in the JD Davison draft, so just 3 years ago, but it's a red flag that he hasn't stuck with a team yet.

Shulga didn't make shots in summer league but he played pretty well otherwise, only 3 turnovers over the entire 5 games if I recall. Joe highly values guards that dont turn it over. Why is Harper ahead of Shulga for minutes? Maybe Shulga has underimpressed against NBA level athletes in camp or maybe Joe is just favoring the senior player in Harper?

In any case, I would be very surprised if Brad cuts Shulga at this moment. If six months from now, Shulga sucks on the floor or off, then yea sure, but even Anton Watson got 6 months or so for a legit try out.

I thought Harper has done alright..especially that smooth step back 3 he hit.

It certainly doesn't bode well for Shulga, if Joe trusts Harper to be in the game dribbling more than he does Shulga.

While part of me agrees that Shulga is probably safe because he was a draft pick:

a) he was the 57th pick..that's barely a draft pick.

b) He's had 5 summer league games + 3 preseason games and he's done basically nothing.

Harper and Moore have simply played more and impressed more in preseason..so it wouldn't shock me if Shulga gets cut..

As for Moore, that 1 dunk was *the* play that stands out the most from the entire preseason. Also, from what I recall, he's been solid on defense, and also had a bucket in 1 of the games where he had a nice little drive to the basket and finished near the rim. Also, he's a former 1st round pick. He's about the same size as Shulga (around 6'4"/6'5") but is much stronger and more athletic than him. He's known as a pesky defender (at Duke and so far in his NBA stops)..

Agreed that Luis is probably sweating right now. If Shulga's 2-way spot is safe, that means Moore, Harper and even Bridges and Brown are all gunning to take that spot away. Let the best man win!

I watched the 2nd half last night, and Moore had a bad stretch of a few turnovers and missed D rotation in the minutes before the dunk. But, dang, that was a dunk, lol. I liked him the previous game, iirc. Some guys take time, so I wouldn't go as far as red flag. But he's also in JAG territory to me.

Overall, I don't think a ton is separating Luis and the non-roster wings. Pick one and hope you get it right.

Shulga is the one that does stand out to me, tbh. He's just calm out there and doesn't screw up. Not sexy, but he can settle the team and is more of a ball handler than anyone else not on the real roster. I'd keep him, Amari and a dart-board wing as my 2-ways. I'm not super concerned about reading into his lack of PT. Could be any number of reasons. If they know they're keeping him for Maine, then give more time to the other guys to make the wing decision. Or he sucks in practice, lol. Just nothing I can know / worry about.

[Bad-Thoma]

This isn’t a sympathy digging post but I figured I would share with my C’s brethren.

So twice a year my team at work does an offsite, typically one in NE or NY then the second in the Carolinas (where I live).

This October it was the north’s turn, my boss called me 3 weeks ago making sure I could make it and he said “good, since we know you’re the resident Celtics fan we’re going to get a box” (for the Cavs game on the 29th). He went through all the internal approvals and all that to pay for it although not a basketball guy but knew I would be stoked. Such a cool gesture to go through the hassle at all.

Unexpectedly, he went to the hospital this weekend not feeling well and passed away by Wednesday at only 50 years old. Completely out of the blue. Our existence is far too fragile.

Get your blood checked and go C’s

Sorry for your loss, sounds like a good guy.

[redslastlaugh]

Pretty much agree with that. I'd keep Amari, Shulga and then the one winner of the other group...

I have no preference between Harper, Brown, Moore, Luis, Bridges ... I'm probably the least impressed with Harper/Bridges but I am not watching practice and I don't really know... Whoever Brad & Joe wants, whatever, I'm fine with it

Shulga is the one that does stand out to me, tbh. He's just calm out there and doesn't screw up. Not sexy, but he can settle the team and is more of a ball handler than anyone else not on the real roster. I'd keep him, Amari and a dart-board wing as my 2-ways. I'm not super concerned about reading into his lack of PT. Could be any number of reasons. If they know they're keeping him for Maine, then give more time to the other guys to make the wing decision. Or he sucks in practice, lol. Just nothing I can know / worry about.