Celtics 2023-24, Season Thread, (con't)

[Parliament10]

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[zoyathedestroya]

Five-game lead? 10+ point differential? Without any of the ff: an MVP candidate, a third all-star, an NBA-level coach, and a semblance of a bench. What a trash team.

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

Five-game lead? 10+ point differential? Without any of the ff: an MVP candidate, a third all-star, an NBA-level coach, and a semblance of a bench. What a trash team.

Yes, but we have this dude:

[Riverwalk2021]

With essentially an 8 game lead over the Cavs due to the tie break, the C’s should start trimming the starters minutes sans Porzingis who is appropriately managed. Older guys like Horford and Jrue shouldn’t be playing 30 minutes a night until the playoffs. It’s a perfect time to get some bench guys real minutes and see who we can trust in the POs: PP, Hauser, Tillman, Kornet, Springer should all be given expanded roles maybe even close with them especially during rest games for the core 6. I’m thinking Tillman’s defensive versatility against elite bigs could be huge (Jokic, Giannis, Bam, etc) but we need to seek him out there in real minutes.

[Fencer reregistered]

I'm not a gambler, but if I understand correctly what +110 and +250 mean, then as of the (recent) time https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/39588833/2024-nba-betting-three-picks-make-boston-celtics was written:

-- The Cs were seen as having a little under a 50% of winning the East. (+110 equates to 10/21 probability, correct?)
-- The Cs were seen as having a little under 30% chance of winning the championship. (+250 equates to 2/7 probability, correct?)
-- Thus, their estimated probability of winning the Finals CONDITIONAL upon them getting there is seen as somewhere in the 60% range. (I'm doing the arithmetic in my head, so that could be a bit off.)

Is this basically correct? Does anybody with gambling knowledge and/or the patience to calculate actual numbers feel like cleaning it up?

[ConstableGeneva]

With essentially an 8 game lead over the Cavs due to the tie break, the C’s should start trimming the starters minutes sans Porzingis who is appropriately managed. Older guys like Horford and Jrue shouldn’t be playing 30 minutes a night until the playoffs. It’s a perfect time to get some bench guys real minutes and see who we can trust in the POs: PP, Hauser, Tillman, Kornet, Springer should all be given expanded roles maybe even close with them especially during rest games for the core 6. I’m thinking Tillman’s defensive versatility against elite bigs could be huge (Jokic, Giannis, Bam, etc) but we need to seek him out there in real minutes.

Agreed, with a slight tweak...

I want Joe to use playoff rotation/minutes against teams that we might face in the postseason.

[steefP2]

Celtics first 28 games of the season; 22-6 with a 10.7 net rating. 3rd in offense, 3rd in defense.

Celtics last 29 games of the season 23-6; 9.9 net rating; 2nd in offense (0.1 behind nr 1) and 3rd in defense.

Remarkable consistency and excellence.

[steefP2]

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/photo/1

[Bar Fight]

We're approaching the point where anything short of a title will be massively embarrassing

[31to6]

We're approaching the point where anything short of a title will be massively embarrassing

I'm only in it for satisfaction or disappointment; you have to care what other people think to care about 'embarrassed.' F everyone else! 18 here we come:)

[bigboi]

Barring injury, we should be able to cake walk to the finals. Only team that really concerns me is the Heat, maybe Bucks if they start heating up post ASB. I’m not afraid of any west team and still think we would’ve beat the nuggets last year. Hopefully we don’t become the 9ers of the NBA

[31to6]

I'd currently rank our biggest threats as:
1. LAC or DEN
3. PHO
4. MIA
5. MIL
6. CLE/NYK

ain't worried about any of them if the Celtics stay healthy and play good basketball.

[165bows]

We're approaching the point where anything short of a title will be massively embarrassing

I'm only in it for satisfaction or disappointment; you have to care what other people think to care about 'embarrassed.' F everyone else! 18 here we come:)

Agreed, shamelessness is a blessing of getting old!!!

[ITYSL]

The Heat are only worrisome because they might injure some of our players. Could see that happening with the Bucks too. Both teams get recklessly physical when the going gets rough. The Heat should be awarded the Most Punchable Faces Backcourt.

Clippers and Nuggets in the West are the biggest concerns. Jokic has the ability to dominate and Murray can go off, and if the Clippers stay healthy they're a really tough out. The Thunder would be tough too, I just think their relative lack of experience means they won't make the Finals.

Overall I think the West will be more of a bloodbath than what the Celtics should have if they stay healthy, and that could benefit the Celtics when they make the Finals. And yes, I said when. Confidence.

[Riverwalk2021]

The Celtics have no business losing to any East teams. They are right favored over the field to reach the Finals. The 76ers are definitely slipping to the play in just a matter of where. I wouldn’t mind a first round matchup with them or the Heat. Better to have a tougher draw if you ask me. But I think we end up with the Magic or Bulls in R1. I think it ends this way

1-Celtics
2-Cavs
3-Bucks
4-Knicks
5-Pacers
6-Heat
7-Sixers
8-Magic
9-Bulls
10-Hawks

[Fencer reregistered]

Celts now have both the best home record and the best road record in the league.

[zoyathedestroya]

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Is that "where my dawgs at? *teammates bark in response*" bit a Celtics original?

[TheMartian]

With essentially an 8 game lead over the Cavs due to the tie break, the C’s should start trimming the starters minutes sans Porzingis who is appropriately managed. Older guys like Horford and Jrue shouldn’t be playing 30 minutes a night until the playoffs. It’s a perfect time to get some bench guys real minutes and see who we can trust in the POs: PP, Hauser, Tillman, Kornet, Springer should all be given expanded roles maybe even close with them especially during rest games for the core 6. I’m thinking Tillman’s defensive versatility against elite bigs could be huge (Jokic, Giannis, Bam, etc) but we need to seek him out there in real minutes.

Agreed, with a slight tweak...

I want Joe to use playoff rotation/minutes against teams that we might face in the postseason.

I also agree, but i don't want to reach a point where they're sacrificing wins to rest the players. They should still gun for HCA throughout the playoffs, the same way the 2008 title team did.

[TheMartian]

Celts now have both the best home record and the best road record in the league.

I honestly thought they've had this for a while now. So, who had the best road record before this win?

[zoyathedestroya]

With essentially an 8 game lead over the Cavs due to the tie break, the C’s should start trimming the starters minutes sans Porzingis who is appropriately managed. Older guys like Horford and Jrue shouldn’t be playing 30 minutes a night until the playoffs. It’s a perfect time to get some bench guys real minutes and see who we can trust in the POs: PP, Hauser, Tillman, Kornet, Springer should all be given expanded roles maybe even close with them especially during rest games for the core 6. I’m thinking Tillman’s defensive versatility against elite bigs could be huge (Jokic, Giannis, Bam, etc) but we need to seek him out there in real minutes.

Agreed, with a slight tweak...

I want Joe to use playoff rotation/minutes against teams that we might face in the postseason.

I also agree, but i don't want to reach a point where they're sacrificing wins to rest the players. They should still gun for HCA throughout the playoffs, the same way the 2008 title team did.

For me, it's less about HCA (though it would be really really nice to have it all throughout the playoffs) as it is about the main guys getting reps against the really good teams. They can rest against the Blazers, Bulls, and Hawks, etc. but I need to see them full strength against the Bucks (2x), Suns (2x), OKC, Dubs, Nuggets, Mavs, Cavs, and hopefully healthy Knicks.