Post-Game Notes: BOS 134, NYK 138 (OT, 0-1)

[MaxwellSmart]

I blame this on the mask.

[Garbanzo]

Usually, I try not to overeact after seeing a small smaple size. So watching Tatum plays the 3 in preseason had me thinking that maybe Ime tries to put tatum in a position, in which he has physical advantage over his opponents.Thought maybe its just in order to force Tatum to be more aggressive. The fact we switched everything in preseason negated that, as it showed it was a complete strategy, but I was optimistic.

Playing Tatum at the 3 is a HUGE mistake for three different and important reasons.
1. It creates advantages for the Celtics, but those advantages are worth 2 points, while playing Tatum at the 3 gives our opponents advantages worth 3 points.
2. Law of diminished returns. If your two best players plays the 2 and 3 its not the most efficient approach.
3. Do we want Tatum to grow into Giannis or Pauk George?
Playing Tatum at the 3 promotes the latter.

Anyway, in many years I watch basketball, i saw ton of coaches trying the "switch everything" defence.
It never works. Not even once.
In todays league, when everybody can shoot the ball so well, it even makes less sense to try that

[MaxwellSmart]

Udoka coached like a rookie.

[soxfan2003]

Usually, I try not to overeact after seeing a small smaple size. So watching Tatum plays the 3 in preseason had me thinking that maybe Ime tries to put tatum in a position, in which he has physical advantage over his opponents.Thought maybe its just in order to force Tatum to be more aggressive. The fact we switched everything in preseason negated that, as it showed it was a complete strategy, but I was optimistic.

Playing Tatum at the 3 is a HUGE mistake for three different and important reasons.
1. It creates advantages for the Celtics, but those advantages are worth 2 points, while playing Tatum at the 3 gives our opponents advantages worth 3 points.
2. Law of diminished returns. If your two best players plays the 2 and 3 its not the most efficient approach.
3. Do we want Tatum to grow into Giannis or Pauk George?
Playing Tatum at the 3 promotes the latter.

Anyway, in many years I watch basketball, i saw ton of coaches trying the "switch everything" defence.
It never works. Not even once.
In todays league, when everybody can shoot the ball so well, it even makes less sense to try that

Granted it was a different era but the Bulls 2 best players were at SG and SF and it won them 6 titles.

Tatum isn't going to be Giannis. Giannis is a physical freak. Tatum isn't but obviously Tatum is light years better as a pure shooter/floor spacer.

Tatum at the 3 and/or the Celtics playing with above average team size in all likelihood is the only way this team is going to win a title. Think of the teams that won with smallish teams and most of them had a part time PF bigger, stronger, or more athletic than Tatum. Or the teams were skilled/athletic enough to play 3 "PF's" stronger/taller or more athletic that Tatum. Some people refer to the Heat as successful small ball and their is some truth to it but they really played 3 players with PF size when they went Haslem/Lebron/Bosh and sometimes they played more of a pure center.

Tatum as a 4 makes more sense if the other positions are very big but the Celtics are still overall not that big of a team when you factor in the players who will get the lions share of the actual minutes.

Fans are just used to so many damn years of the Celtics being undersized.

The small ball gimmick works better in the regular season and in the postseason against mediocre teams but to win a title, you usually need to be able to stand up to teams with size since there is usually 1 or 2 of them that you face.

[Tyakack]

One thing I like about basketball is that it's a long season. When the patriots lose it ruins my whole day. I got over this loss before it was even official. Obviously tatum isn't going to suck ass like this all season. I have to give a big thumbs down to the coaching though. I hope he learns and adjusts and isn't a hardheaded coach.

[captain green]

Well let's see fournier played 44 his replacement played 0. It appears we are small again and tatum laid an egg. Whew lots of ugly though. At least can't looked good for one quarter but the other 3 okish. If this is the rotation then I miss read alot of what we did in preseason and off season. Going to be a rough start I feel. Showcase them kids yo.

[TheMartian]

Jaylen's legs were out when he attempted that dunk. Barely reached the rim. I blame that on COVID.

The switchable defense hasn't worked well so far. Team needs time to figure it out.

Tatum needs to put his head down and drive or find a way to go to the line when his outside shots aren't falling.

Still a heck of a game. Too bad we were on the losing end.

[FlatearthZorro]

My only complaint is the Ime Udoka bush league “let’s switch everything and give the other team offensive mismatches” defense all night.

Celtics are a .500 team if Udoka sticks to this style of defense. It doesn’t work!!

This loss was on the coach. Hope he isn’t stubborn and changes

We are slightly above .500 anyways. Why we didn't pay Fournier is a MYSTERY to me and it still remains mystery. 3 years /20 per for a guy who scores 20 a game is not a bad deal. Good we got the "instangibles" with Smart.

Wish Brown scored 50 at the very least, but I'm not super optimistic for the team overall, good thing is that I don't have expectations for this year, if we do well, I'd be impressed... Hopefully with Horford back, we do get a little bit more of a rhythm on defense.

[Perseus1966]

Bucks fan
I watched 3rd 4th and double ot,Timelord was very slow and dead tired .

[Garbanzo]

Usually, I try not to overeact after seeing a small smaple size. So watching Tatum plays the 3 in preseason had me thinking that maybe Ime tries to put tatum in a position, in which he has physical advantage over his opponents.Thought maybe its just in order to force Tatum to be more aggressive. The fact we switched everything in preseason negated that, as it showed it was a complete strategy, but I was optimistic.

Playing Tatum at the 3 is a HUGE mistake for three different and important reasons.
1. It creates advantages for the Celtics, but those advantages are worth 2 points, while playing Tatum at the 3 gives our opponents advantages worth 3 points.
2. Law of diminished returns. If your two best players plays the 2 and 3 its not the most efficient approach.
3. Do we want Tatum to grow into Giannis or Pauk George?
Playing Tatum at the 3 promotes the latter.

Anyway, in many years I watch basketball, i saw ton of coaches trying the "switch everything" defence.
It never works. Not even once.
In todays league, when everybody can shoot the ball so well, it even makes less sense to try that

Granted it was a different era but the Bulls 2 best players were at SG and SF and it won them 6 titles.

Tatum isn't going to be Giannis. Giannis is a physical freak. Tatum isn't but obviously Tatum is light years better as a pure shooter/floor spacer.

Tatum at the 3 and/or the Celtics playing with above average team size in all likelihood is the only way this team is going to win a title. Think of the teams that won with smallish teams and most of them had a part time PF bigger, stronger, or more athletic than Tatum. Or the teams were skilled/athletic enough to play 3 "PF's" stronger/taller or more athletic that Tatum. Some people refer to the Heat as successful small ball and their is some truth to it but they really played 3 players with PF size when they went Haslem/Lebron/Bosh and sometimes they played more of a pure center.

Tatum as a 4 makes more sense if the other positions are very big but the Celtics are still overall not that big of a team when you factor in the players who will get the lions share of the actual minutes.

Fans are just used to so many damn years of the Celtics being undersized.

The small ball gimmick works better in the regular season and in the postseason against mediocre teams but to win a title, you usually need to be able to stand up to teams with size since there is usually 1 or 2 of them that you face.

[Triple7]

I just hope Ime isn’t the type of old school coach mentality that gives the vets all the benefits, as oppose to playing the players that could really help us win. Dennis and Smart is unplayeable together. and they don’t fit well with Grant in the lineup, as we go back to small basketball like last season.

[Garbanzo]

Usually, I try not to overeact after seeing a small smaple size. So watching Tatum plays the 3 in preseason had me thinking that maybe Ime tries to put tatum in a position, in which he has physical advantage over his opponents.Thought maybe its just in order to force Tatum to be more aggressive. The fact we switched everything in preseason negated that, as it showed it was a complete strategy, but I was optimistic.

Playing Tatum at the 3 is a HUGE mistake for three different and important reasons.
1. It creates advantages for the Celtics, but those advantages are worth 2 points, while playing Tatum at the 3 gives our opponents advantages worth 3 points.
2. Law of diminished returns. If your two best players plays the 2 and 3 its not the most efficient approach.
3. Do we want Tatum to grow into Giannis or Pauk George?
Playing Tatum at the 3 promotes the latter.

Anyway, in many years I watch basketball, i saw ton of coaches trying the "switch everything" defence.
It never works. Not even once.
In todays league, when everybody can shoot the ball so well, it even makes less sense to try that

Granted it was a different era but the Bulls 2 best players were at SG and SF and it won them 6 titles.

Tatum isn't going to be Giannis. Giannis is a physical freak. Tatum isn't but obviously Tatum is light years better as a pure shooter/floor spacer.

Tatum at the 3 and/or the Celtics playing with above average team size in all likelihood is the only way this team is going to win a title. Think of the teams that won with smallish teams and most of them had a part time PF bigger, stronger, or more athletic than Tatum. Or the teams were skilled/athletic enough to play 3 "PF's" stronger/taller or more athletic that Tatum. Some people refer to the Heat as successful small ball and their is some truth to it but they really played 3 players with PF size when they went Haslem/Lebron/Bosh and sometimes they played more of a pure center.

Tatum as a 4 makes more sense if the other positions are very big but the Celtics are still overall not that big of a team when you factor in the players who will get the lions share of the actual minutes.

Fans are just used to so many damn years of the Celtics being undersized.

The small ball gimmick works better in the regular season and in the postseason against mediocre teams but to win a title, you usually need to be able to stand up to teams with size since there is usually 1 or 2 of them that you face.

Tatum is an athletic freak. Playing the 4 that is.. He is very long and very quick for his size. He i
got much stronger, and although he is never going to be as tall as Giannis, he can get as strong. Have a look on Giannis when he first entered the league. Also, as you pointed out, Tatum ia a great shooter. It can help him attack the rim as effectively as Giannis.

About the Celtics playing small and "small ball gimmick".
Latest teams who won championhips:
Bucks - Giannis playing the 4, Lopez the 5.
LA - Lebron playing the 4,Davis the 5.
Toronto - Siakam (6'8) played the 4, Gasol/Ibaka the 5.
Golden state - Durant (6'9, same as Tatum) at the 4, Draymond Green at the 5.
Miami - Lebron at the 4, Boah at the 5.
Last team to play two bigs and win a championship, is GS about 8 years ago, with Bogut and Green.

Regarding the law of diminished return, the Bulls winning 6 championships, does not contradict it.
Maybe the Bulls with a player as good as Pippen playing the 4/5, would have been better?
Also, don't forget Pippen was more defensive oriented, while Jordan had more offensive responsabilities (though he was a tremendous defender as well).
That's not the case with Brown and Tatum.

[BillessuR6]

Entertaining yet frustrating game. Defense was brutal! Leaving Furnier open time after time and going under screen was mind boggling.

I know Horford was out but playing such ultra small line-up for stretches was bad.

Some strange decisiony by Udoka but I will give him a pass since he is a rookie...he needs to change the defense, though...

[Garbanzo]

I truly feel that Brown will be our leading scorer this year. He plays with versatility where Tatum settles for the outside shot more times than not. I don't expect Tatum to be a post up player but I wish he would go back to what he did well when he started his NBA career.......a solid mid range game. He has to have the same mindset as Paul Pierce.......get to the free throw line multiple times per game.

Tatum drove to the hoop more and drew more fouls than Jaylen last season. Tatum dropped 50+ four times in the last 6 weeks of last season lol, while being the most double teamed front court player in the league.

Your post is the very definition of recency bias.

Mind you, he was talking/writing in future tense.
That's not recency bias.

[GreenBloodedC]

Jaylen was playing out of his mind last season before the nagging injury.

If he can play consistently near that level, oh man.

[tlee324]

We're still playing crappy defensively.

[31to6]

I was wrong; I thought Tatum and Nesmith would get hot in the second half and we'd cruise to a win.
I was right: I said Tatum was playing like garbage in the preseason.
Kemba sucks. I liked our NOTHING instead of Kemba out there tonight.
Tatum will be great again, soon.
Jaylen is such a BALLER that Lavar Ball should start making him some t-shirts!

[Floody100]

Bucks fan
I watched 3rd 4th and double ot,Timelord was very slow and dead tired .

I don’t think he’s ever played more than 25 minutes a game so this doesn’t surprise a lot of us.

It’s kind of shocking too look at the box score & see he played the same amount of minutes as Brown, Smart & Tatum.

[FlatearthZorro]

Jaylen was playing out of his mind last season before the nagging injury.

If he can play consistently near that level, oh man.

He can, I think he figured it out. He's a superstar in the making and is capable of doing anything on the court. The NBA should market him same as Tatum.

We need Horford to play and we need Richardson to provide something or to give a chance to Nesmith(a real chance), we need to go small, Bobby-Tatum-Brown-Nesmith or Romeo and Smart.

[jonige94]

Tatum hasnt been shooting well during the pre season so this atrocity of a performance is not that shocking , but its concerning.