Celts Dispatch Pelicans, Entire League On Notice! Victory Cigar vs NOP 10/27

[DusterBuster]

Welcome to the Simons Experience I was tellin' ya'll about this summer.

His shots not falling? He'll lose you games, or at best, just be invisible on the court... when that shot does fall and he's on a heater, he'll light it up and almost singlehandedly win games.

Simons actually didn’t play well tonight but all of a sudden he got hot and made shot after shot. Simons did nothing different, just tonight the ball went in the basket. We’ll take it

Yeah, he will have those kinds of games too. Bad to start, but then goes on a 1 or 2 quarter tear.

It's what makes him such a frustrating player.

What others have said is right too, he's not as bad on defense as people make him out to be, but he's probably at best sub-par. Just a mixed bag, like all of his play.

[djFan71]

I’m following the Minott and Simons crowd and voting them.
Can’t wait til we have one of Hugo or Minott on the floor at all times.

Pretty much everyone played well. It’s fun playing the Pellies.

[flintsky21]

A win always feel good, even in a "throwaway year."

I thought 3 guys played great today. Minott, Simons, and Queta, who was literally fighting for every rebound.

Crazy how we're still yet to have a good shooting game from White and Pritchard. Only 24 minutes for Brown in a back to back is a win as well.

[jonige94]

Man are the Pelicans atrocious, gonna be tough to beat them and the Nets to that top lottery spot.

[GoCeltics123]

Man are the Pelicans atrocious, gonna be tough to beat them and the Nets to that top lottery spot.

They traded their pick to Atlanta

**** Dumars

[GoCeltics123]

Everyone knows I’m team tank but Minott and Hugo have looked good so far and will be very helpful going forward

[Curmudgeon]

Minott was a +42. I can't remember the last time any Celtic went over 40.

[brackdan70]

Minott looks like an amazing pickup.
Still 22 yo. Brad can’t draft, but I’ll give him a pass on Kalkbrenner since he snagged Minott.

[Hal14]

Man are the Pelicans atrocious, gonna be tough to beat them and the Nets to that top lottery spot.

The Pelicans don't own their 1st round pick so while they're a bad team, they're gonna be trying like hell to win games all year.

Their pick goes to the Hawks..

[jonige94]

Man are the Pelicans atrocious, gonna be tough to beat them and the Nets to that top lottery spot.

The Pelicans don't own their 1st round pick so while they're a bad team, they're gonna be trying like hell to win games all year.

Their pick goes to the Hawks..

Forgot about that masterclass of a trade, the Hawks must be licking their chops.

[Homerclease]

Credit to Brad and Mike Zarren for the Minott signing. Wish we had him last year

[Larry_Russell]

Minott is growing on me more and more, I like high energy young guys with something to prove to the league.

He was the best player last night, there were times that everyone else looked like absolutely low IQ garbage, or just ice cold...but Minott looked really nice.

Need a lockdown Point guard and a bigman next season....and AJ of course.

[Hal14]

But I was told all Mazzulla runs for offense is iso ball and jack up 3's?

Read on Twitter

[Bad-Thoma]

I actually want to give the refs a shout out for this game (I'm sorry Tommy H, I'm sorry), if they called all the fouls that Jordan Poole fished for he would have shot about 80 free throws. Watching him play makes me empathize with Draymond a little, don't know why

[Fierce1]

I just checked and in a span of 6 minutes, from 10 mins left in the 4th to 4 mins left, Simons scored 12 points after JB went out of the game because of foul trouble.

That's how dangerous Simons is when he goes off.

A team like Houston would prefer Simons over Sheppard, especially for the playoffs.

To those who think Simons can't be traded, under this new CBA, teams execute complicated trades by making it a 4-team or 5-team trade.

Brad was right in not trading Simons during the summer because Brad would've attached a pick to Simons for a team to bite.

Right now Simons will have value to playoff teams in need of a dynamic scoring guard.

So if Simons continues to be that microwave scorer for the Cs, Brad will get a deal done for Simons on or before trade deadline.

[darrendaye]

The Minny guys popped last night. Minott does gamble a good deal, it must be said, but he's very active and engaged and determined defensively to go along with his length and athleticism. Garza hitting 3's opens the door wider to get Minott minutes as Joe can use him at SF more frequently paired with Garza and Boucher and not worry about spacing. I have advocated for the Simons/Minott/Garza triumvirate 2nd unit.

Boucher is the one guy Joe is struggling mightily to figure out fit. I was comforted when Boucher was asked to set a screen WHILE Queta was out there with him. Maybe Joe is more apt to work with 2 screener role players concurrently. I counted a season high 4 screen setups for Minott last night. Slipped 2 of them and got knocked back on one of the 2 he did set. But, imo, just that function opens more actionable movement to the basket for him (and 2nd big in general).

White and Pritchard still need to find their 3pt shot. Certain enthusiasm should be tempered by quality and condition of the opponent. Simons was hitting his shots though the quality of the takes didn't really greatly improve. Queta has been very active. I would be interested in his speed/distance stats compared to other centers. Scheireman I thought played well again. They asked him to be the primary ball-handler shadow and thought he did an adequate job there. Minott should also get credit for his play in that role, taking on contact without losing determination.

[playa-hater]

But I was told all Mazzulla runs for offense is iso ball and jack up 3's?

Read on Twitter

So a rare play or 2 vs standard Iso-centric does not qualify in my eyes. Let alone the lack of consistency with cutting. But I guess it's a start.

[playa-hater]

Picture Minott with a more developed Tatum like physic. Then Picture a reasonable and continued improved shooting. This is not another Brissett we are talking about but rather a much better version. In fact he seems to be already lined up to get to Jaden McDaniel's level. Minott may turn out to be Rotational Stud in the making. But better than a typical D and 3 type because of the way he cuts and attacks offensive rebounds as well gets out on the break and finishes.

And to think Stevens didn't have to give up a single draft pick and/or a 1st Rd swap.

[Half-Full]

Several players worthy of the cigar, but my vote goes to Nemias Queta. Pulling down 11 rebounds (7 of them offensive rebounds), was a big plus. Add in 4 blocked shots, 6 points, and only three fouls. He had an impactful game. Minott, and Simons also stepped up their game, and certainly both are deserving of the cigar, as others have mentioned. Payton Pritchard had a solid game, and Hauser seems to quietly impact games, whether with a timely 3-pointer, solid defense, or rebounding. Baylor also playing well. He's showing a bit more discipline, and not hoisting up bad shots. Last, but not least, Luka Garza had a good showing. Putting up 16 points in 19 minutes... Yeah, I'll take that! A good game all around, and the 4th quarter was particularly fun to watch.

[ThePigeon]

Minott and Simons for me
First time we play with a semblance of a PF with Minott. No wonder we rebounded well. Also, our second best rebounder, Baylor, got some minutes and got 6 rebounds