Official Celtics 2022 Off-Season Thread

[moonie_mcgee]

As someone who started following the Celtics in 1987 (cool, but also “whoops”), I’m curious about how winning a title this year might compare to winning the 1981 championship. Neither expected, both a little “early”, but they all count the same?

Sorry if I just jinxed it. And for as much as I love JT, I won’t be prepared to make comparisons to Bird until he has like 25k points in kelly green.

Still, something I’ve been pondering a bit.
Also: **** the Lakers.

someone mentioned our weakness is lacking another consistent scorer other than Tatum. I say our strength is surprising level of experience from our stars and leaders.

[Bostondave]

I won't pretend to understand what switch got flipped that's resulted in this current Celts team. It's almost like magic happened. I've seen some great ball, great teams, great players. People overlook or forget perhaps the greatest celts team ever being the one year Walton played healthy with us. I go back to Cowens/Hondo/JoJo times. This celts team is doing something I've never seen before in snatching the freaking souls out of other teams. Deflating them. Demoralizing them. Can't ever recall seeing that happen before. Playing like they're Div 1 playing Div 3 teams.

If whatever this switch is on stays turned on I'd say the celts will win the championship.

Hi Dave great post. I remember the late Hondo years a bit but what you describe is also how the Bird-led team operated. Those guys, especially on the road, loved CRUSHING THEIR OPPONENTS WILL TO WIN. Bird talked about it once. And the Celts, as a team, knew the moment it happened and that was their greatest satisfaction. Forcing them to quit. True.

Yes that is correct. I can remember those days. Bird turning unstoppable with support from others. Dominique, Jordan, Dr. J. just taking over games, with support and with the aim of taking the heart of other teams.

What I'm seeing here is something else though. It's like a team of unstoppables. I've never seen anything like it where an entire team gets hot. Backdoor bounce passing between legs for layups and dunks. Everyone taking shots and not missing. I've seen individuals get hot and go nuclear, again with help and support. Perhaps two guys. The top guy and the support guy. Jordan and Pippen both lighting it up. Bird killing them outside with McHale killing them inside. Kareem with those damn sky hooks that I hated along with those damn fastbreak Lakers. But I cannot remember seeing an entire freaking team get hot, with their shooting, passing, blocking, rebounding....everything together...virtually all facets. It's truly an awesome and awe inspiring thing to see. If this team stays this hot, or even a bit less hot, they're going to do real damage to teams coming up soon.

***Oh and I neglected the key to winning. The tremendous D being played. They can perhaps stand to cool off a bit if they maintain that committment to D. That is paramount to everything regarding going far in the playoffs.

[sam_I_am]

I won't pretend to understand what switch got flipped that's resulted in this current Celts team. It's almost like magic happened. I've seen some great ball, great teams, great players. People overlook or forget perhaps the greatest celts team ever being the one year Walton played healthy with us. I go back to Cowens/Hondo/JoJo times. This celts team is doing something I've never seen before in snatching the freaking souls out of other teams. Deflating them. Demoralizing them. Can't ever recall seeing that happen before. Playing like they're Div 1 playing Div 3 teams.

If whatever this switch is on stays turned on I'd say the celts will win the championship.

Hi Dave great post. I remember the late Hondo years a bit but what you describe is also how the Bird-led team operated. Those guys, especially on the road, loved CRUSHING THEIR OPPONENTS WILL TO WIN. Bird talked about it once. And the Celts, as a team, knew the moment it happened and that was their greatest satisfaction. Forcing them to quit. True.

Yes that is correct. I can remember those days. Bird turning unstoppable with support from others. Dominique, Jordan, Dr. J. just taking over games, with support and with the aim of taking the heart of other teams.

What I'm seeing here is something else though. It's like a team of unstoppables. I've never seen anything like it where an entire team gets hot. Backdoor bounce passing between legs for layups and dunks. Everyone taking shots and not missing. I've seen individuals get hot and go nuclear, again with help and support. Perhaps two guys. The top guy and the support guy. Jordan and Pippen both lighting it up. Bird killing them outside with McHale killing them inside. Kareem with those damn sky hooks that I hated along with those damn fastbreak Lakers. But I cannot remember seeing an entire freaking team get hot, with their shooting, passing, blocking, rebounding....everything together...virtually all facets. It's truly an awesome and awe inspiring thing to see. If this team stays this hot, or even a bit less hot, they're going to do real damage to teams coming up soon.

***Oh and I neglected the key to winning. The tremendous D being played. They can perhaps stand to cool off a bit if they maintain that committment to D. That is paramount to everything regarding going far in the playoffs.

The rest of the league seems unprepared for them much like the early GSW runs. Is there enough time for a coach/team to figure them out in a series? Will they have enough offensively if other teams manage to stifle 3 pt shooting - ie. do we really need that 3rd star?

[Asian Celtic]

Winning a championship with a core from the draft rather than bought mercenaries feels sooooooo much better than any other championship.

**** the Lakers and Lebron.

[Fencer reregistered]

Winning a championship with a core from the draft rather than bought mercenaries feels sooooooo much better than any other championship.

**** the Lakers and Lebron.

How did you feel about the 2008 banner?

[Asian Celtic]

Winning a championship with a core from the draft rather than bought mercenaries feels sooooooo much better than any other championship.

**** the Lakers and Lebron.

How did you feel about the 2008 banner?

That was the Year I started to become a Celtic fan (KG Bandwagon). So I wasn't really a team fan that time to be honest. When they got traded I didn't find myself becoming a Nets fan.

[zoyathedestroya]

While everyone is focused on our league-leading defense, I think it's time to give some love to the Celtics offense which has been top 5 in the NBA (best in the East) since NYE.

Watch on YouTube

Vid above giving credit to Smart and Timelord as primary cogs to our offense but none of this would be possible if Tatum wasn't playing at an insane level for the last two months.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Jaylen keeps fulfilling his role as a great secondary scorer while also adjusting his game to this new offense, making reads/passes he couldn't/wouldn't make just months ago. Horford remains to be the ultimate unselfish glue guy who sets the best screens, makes timely passes, and has now raised his 3-pt shooting %. What else can be said about Grant's improvement from being just a corner three spot-up shooter to a more well-rounded scorer. Pritchard's role and minutes have increased since the trade deadline giving him confidence to just play his game. Having a knockdown shooter like him from way deep adds another layer to that offense. White and Theis have seamlessly integrated themselves into the team and have given a boost to our bench offense esp when they play alongside Tatum. And they've only scratched the surface.

[Fencer reregistered]

Winning a championship with a core from the draft rather than bought mercenaries feels sooooooo much better than any other championship.

**** the Lakers and Lebron.

How did you feel about the 2008 banner?

That was the Year I started to become a Celtic fan (KG Bandwagon). So I wasn't really a team fan that time to be honest. When they got traded I didn't find myself becoming a Nets fan.

Got it.

That team had 3 homegrown starters, and a mixed homegrown vs. imported bench.

The later Bird/McHale teams had 3 homegrown starters; Parish frankly felt as if he were homegrown as well.

The others were before my time, but it's obvious they were very heavily homegrown.

The current team is something of a throwback in that regard.

[zoyathedestroya]

The Celtics, if you eliminate any minutes played by anyone no longer on the roster, have a 17.7 net rating in almost 2400 possessions. That’s ABSURD

You'd think this would normalize to a lower number but no -- it's now at 18.1 net rating in 2552 possessions.

[zoyathedestroya]

Most Assists, PG-to-Wing Combos:
1) Ball to Bridges, CHA - 113
2) Paul to Bridges, PHX - 109
t-3) Harden to Durant, BKN - 97
t-3) Murray to Johnson, SAS - 97
5) Westbrook to James, LAL, 85
6) Smart to Tatum, BOS, 84

Updated:
1) Paul to Booker, PHX - 130
2) Ball to Bridges, CHA - 123
3) Paul to Bridges, PHX - 112
4) Murray to Johnson, SAS - 111
t-5) Smart to Tatum, BOS - 97
t-5) Harden to Durant, BKN - 97

Dunno how I missed Paul to Booker on the first posting lol.

[Fencer reregistered]

Updated:
1) Paul to Booker, PHX - 130
2) Ball to Bridges, CHA - 123
3) Paul to Bridges, PHX - 112
4) Murray to Johnson, SAS - 111
t-5) Smart to Tatum, BOS - 97
t-5) Harden to Durant, BKN - 97

Dunno how I missed Paul to Booker on the first posting lol.

What I get from that includes:

-- Paul throws a lot of assists.
-- Harden/Durant probably connected often per minute, given their respective availability issues, trades, etc.
-- Spurs coaches spur passing.
-- Bridges make connections.

[Parliament10]

It's doesn't matter who we meet in the Playoffs.
I couldn't care less.

We need to go through 4 teams. = 16 Playoff Wins.
Period.

[bisme37]

Zach Lowe on the latest Lowe Post:

"Philly is scary. Brooklyn is scary. Miami is scary... But Boston is kicking the absolute crap out of everybody ... I mean these games are not even close ... No one can score on them... The last 30 games they are basically the 96 Bulls"

[bisme37]

Owner Wyc Grousbeck joined “The Greg Hill Show” Friday and expressed his unfettered enthusiasm about the Celtics’ turnaround. He said he envisions this core staying around for a long time, with more pieces coming in.

“We are trying to make sure Jayson, Jaylen, Rob, Marcus want to re-sign here, and they’ve all recently re-signed here. We want to build around those guys,” Grousbeck said. “We love having Al [Horford] back, we love having [Daniel] Theis back. Derrick White is a good addition. We’ve got him locked up for multiple years. It’s working now, and it’s gotta keep going, but we’ve got the makings here of something that’s really exciting.”

The Celtics locked down Jayson Tatum to a maximum contract in November 2020, and Jaylen Brown signed a four-year, $107 million extension prior to the 2019-20 campaign. They also re-signed Marcus Smart to a multi-year contract.

Grousbeck loves how the team's young stars are playing together.

“We love Jayson. We’ve obviously maxed him out — Jayson, Jaylen, Al, Marcus, Rob. Our starting five is unbelievable, and then you can add another five onto that,” he said. “It’s so great, you want to keep it together. But there’s no question, [Tatum has] a team concept. It’s not the Jayson Tatum concept, it’s the team concept. It’s winning, it’s doing everything he can, and everyone else is pitching in. It’s the kind of leadership the Celtics are known for from their past, and I’m seeing it now.”

https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/celtics/wyc-grousbeck-suggests-the-celtics-arent-done-building

[zoyathedestroya]

Wyc: Not having to pay the tax for a surprise contender doesn't hurt either. We're officially extending POBO Brad for another 10 years to an undisclosed amount of Costco, Arby's, and Dick's Sporting Goods gift certificates.

[stretch]

From Mike Gorman: At one point during the Jazz game, Donovan Mitchell went over to DWade and told him, "We can't figure out what [the Celtics] are doing defensively. We don't have a clue."

[sam_I_am]

Winning a championship with a core from the draft rather than bought mercenaries feels sooooooo much better than any other championship.

**** the Lakers and Lebron.

How did you feel about the 2008 banner?

1. Paul Pierce, Rondo and Perkins were home grown.
2. We gave up a lot to get KG and he was a unique personality that was easy as a fan to enjoy.
3. Ray Allen was UConn kid so felt local.

That said, if this team wins it all it will be even better given that the starting 5 all have 4+ years struggling in Boston.

[Tyakack]

Winning a championship with a core from the draft rather than bought mercenaries feels sooooooo much better than any other championship.

**** the Lakers and Lebron.

How did you feel about the 2008 banner?

1. Paul Pierce, Rondo and Perkins were home grown.
2. We gave up a lot to get KG and he was a unique personality that was easy as a fan to enjoy.
3. Ray Allen was UConn kid so felt local.

That said, if this team wins it all it will be even better given that the starting 5 all have 4+ years struggling in Boston.

Meh, pierce finally winning a ring means more to me than anyone on this team winning one. KG too, I'm a BIG KG fan. Alot of these "struggles" you speak of involved deep playoff runs This would would be great though because of how it happened. 08 was expected. We went into that season as favorites and championship contenders. We went deep into this season a complete train wreck.

The homegrown thing to me is a bit overrated. It's nice and all, but at the end of the day it's about winning titles. That is ultimately what I give a f*** about. Homegrown or not I want to get back to putting banners in those rafters. The home grown thing is simply a bonus I could easily do without.

[moonie_mcgee]

Hi Dave great post. I remember the late Hondo years a bit but what you describe is also how the Bird-led team operated. Those guys, especially on the road, loved CRUSHING THEIR OPPONENTS WILL TO WIN. Bird talked about it once. And the Celts, as a team, knew the moment it happened and that was their greatest satisfaction. Forcing them to quit. True.

Yes that is correct. I can remember those days. Bird turning unstoppable with support from others. Dominique, Jordan, Dr. J. just taking over games, with support and with the aim of taking the heart of other teams.

What I'm seeing here is something else though. It's like a team of unstoppables. I've never seen anything like it where an entire team gets hot. Backdoor bounce passing between legs for layups and dunks. Everyone taking shots and not missing. I've seen individuals get hot and go nuclear, again with help and support. Perhaps two guys. The top guy and the support guy. Jordan and Pippen both lighting it up. Bird killing them outside with McHale killing them inside. Kareem with those damn sky hooks that I hated along with those damn fastbreak Lakers. But I cannot remember seeing an entire freaking team get hot, with their shooting, passing, blocking, rebounding....everything together...virtually all facets. It's truly an awesome and awe inspiring thing to see. If this team stays this hot, or even a bit less hot, they're going to do real damage to teams coming up soon.

***Oh and I neglected the key to winning. The tremendous D being played. They can perhaps stand to cool off a bit if they maintain that committment to D. That is paramount to everything regarding going far in the playoffs.

The rest of the league seems unprepared for them much like the early GSW runs. Is there enough time for a coach/team to figure them out in a series? Will they have enough offensively if other teams manage to stifle 3 pt shooting - ie. do we really need that 3rd star?

2 stars, 3 stars, 4 stars
Sounds like generals.

How about 2 stars,
and no weaknesses

Smart JB JT and RW3 are playing like stars.
And Horf is a star that refuses to fade.

At this point the mantra should be
Keep improving as needed but
DONT DO ANYTHING STUPID!!

[Homerclease]

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Tacko chose violence