Official Celtics 2022 Off-Season Thread

[Fencer reregistered]

The Boston Celtics are 15-12 against teams above .500. Every other team in the conference has a losing record against winning teams. So much for the we only beat bad team crew. They must have us confused with the Chicago Bulls.

Among the top 8 East teams, Celtics have the best record (13-7) against the top 8 teams in the East w/ the fewest games (5) left against that group.



We also have a winning record (8-7) against the current top 8 teams in the league.

Too bad we don't get to have more!

[Shak_Celts]

Read on Twitter

?s=20&t=CWj7TcLxwqeRmMzxLY4vqw

wait, this is real? our entire starting team???? better than the entire league??? hahahahahaahahahahahahaaha

has that ever happened?

I know it's a short-ish time but woah.

[Feed Your Head]

Read on Twitter

?s=20&t=CWj7TcLxwqeRmMzxLY4vqw

wait, this is real? our entire starting team???? better than the entire league??? hahahahahaahahahahahahaaha

has that ever happened?

I know it's a short-ish time but woah.

I know the schedule has been on the easier side, but this is next level.

Read on Twitter

?s=20&t=v4ZnxYkEi8H5H8HzkiDywg

[Feed Your Head]

[Fencer reregistered]

The 1970-71 Bucks did pretty well in the postseason.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_NBA_playoffs

[Fencer reregistered]

Our season-long point differential is nothing special, by current (1st in the East, 4th in the league) or historical standards. We've just had a great stretch.

And the teams in the East that are looking forward to roster bouncebacks include but are not limited to Philly, Chicago and most of all the Nets.

So we'll see ...

[Fencer reregistered]

Most top teams in the East (we're an exception) have a favorable home/road split the rest of the way.

[sam_I_am]

Our season-long point differential is nothing special, by current (1st in the East, 4th in the league) or historical standards. We've just had a great stretch.

And the teams in the East that are looking forward to roster bouncebacks include but are not limited to Philly, Chicago and most of all the Nets.

So we'll see ...

The Celtics are only doing this against Division 3 college teams.

[zoyathedestroya]

Wing Combo ON-OFF:

• Tatum ON, Smart OFF, Brown OFF: +9.9
• Smart ON, Tatum OFF, Brown OFF: +9.7
• Brown ON, Tatum OFF, Smart OFF: -8.1

Would still prefer to have Smart and/or Tatum on the court at all times. Keep Jaylen in his finisher role instead of making him a primary or even secondary ballhandler. Score within the flow of the offense/via ball movement or have someone set him up 80-90% of the time.

Data via cleaningtheglass.

[Feed Your Head]

Wing Combo ON-OFF:

• Tatum ON, Smart OFF, Brown OFF: +9.9
• Smart ON, Tatum OFF, Brown OFF: +9.7
• Brown ON, Tatum OFF, Smart OFF: -8.1

Would still prefer to have Smart and/or Tatum on the court at all times. Keep Jaylen in his finisher role instead of making him a primary or even secondary ballhandler. Score within the flow of the offense/via ball movement or have someone set him up 80-90% of the time.

Data via cleaningtheglass.

This 100% sums up what my eyes have been telling me. Not a knock on Jaylen, it’s just not his game to be the lead initiator.

[Fierce1]

Jaylen's a very intelligent person.

But he's not a very bright basketball player.

The good news is he can still improve.

[zoyathedestroya]

Wing Combo ON-OFF:

• Tatum ON, Smart OFF, Brown OFF: +9.9
• Smart ON, Tatum OFF, Brown OFF: +9.7
• Brown ON, Tatum OFF, Smart OFF: -8.1

Would still prefer to have Smart and/or Tatum on the court at all times. Keep Jaylen in his finisher role instead of making him a primary or even secondary ballhandler. Score within the flow of the offense/via ball movement or have someone set him up 80-90% of the time.

Data via cleaningtheglass.

This 100% sums up what my eyes have been telling me. Not a knock on Jaylen, it’s just not his game to be the lead initiator.

The sample with just Smart on the court is still small-ish.

• Smart ON, Brown ON, Tatum OFF: +7.1 (562 possessions)
• Brown ON, Smart OFF, Tatum OFF: -8.1 (558 possessions)

So far, team has performed better with Smart playing alongside Brown when Tatum sits.

I still worry in the postseason when opponents load up on Tatum and we don't have a secondary playmaker. Smart can do some stuff off the dribble but isn't a shooting/scoring threat. Same with White. Jaylen is a great scorer but is inconsistent at best against added defensive pressure. CP3 has Booker. Embiid has Harden. KD has Ben if he's right. Butler has Lowry. Giannis has Jrue. Curry has Draymond. I guess we do it "by committee"?

[Feed Your Head]

Wing Combo ON-OFF:

• Tatum ON, Smart OFF, Brown OFF: +9.9
• Smart ON, Tatum OFF, Brown OFF: +9.7
• Brown ON, Tatum OFF, Smart OFF: -8.1

Would still prefer to have Smart and/or Tatum on the court at all times. Keep Jaylen in his finisher role instead of making him a primary or even secondary ballhandler. Score within the flow of the offense/via ball movement or have someone set him up 80-90% of the time.

Data via cleaningtheglass.

This 100% sums up what my eyes have been telling me. Not a knock on Jaylen, it’s just not his game to be the lead initiator.

The sample with just Smart on the court is still small-ish.

• Smart ON, Brown ON, Tatum OFF: +7.1 (562 possessions)
• Brown ON, Smart OFF, Tatum OFF: -8.1 (558 possessions)

So far, team has performed better with Smart playing alongside Brown when Tatum sits.

I still worry in the postseason when opponents load up on Tatum and we don't have a secondary playmaker. Smart can do some stuff off the dribble but isn't a shooting/scoring threat. Same with White. Jaylen is a great scorer but is inconsistent at best against added defensive pressure. CP3 has Booker. Embiid has Harden. KD has Ben if he's right. Butler has Lowry. Giannis has Jrue. Curry has Draymond. I guess we do it "by committee"?

While I think the team is legitimately very good, I do think people are buying too much into the current run. Come playoff time, I think we’re going to see the lack of offense be more of an issue. It’s why I’m an advocate for Beal, while acknowledging his shortcomings. To me this team is one really good offensive player short of title contender.

Jaylen is an excellent secondary scorer, but it’s no secret that he struggles against loaded up defenses. If teams are consistently trapping Tatum in the regular season, and forcing Jaylen/the rest of the guys to beat them, what do we think will happen in the playoffs? I love this team, but I don’t think we are equipped to deal with what the top teams will throw at us, on the defensive end.

[zoyathedestroya]

This 100% sums up what my eyes have been telling me. Not a knock on Jaylen, it’s just not his game to be the lead initiator.

The sample with just Smart on the court is still small-ish.

• Smart ON, Brown ON, Tatum OFF: +7.1 (562 possessions)
• Brown ON, Smart OFF, Tatum OFF: -8.1 (558 possessions)

So far, team has performed better with Smart playing alongside Brown when Tatum sits.

I still worry in the postseason when opponents load up on Tatum and we don't have a secondary playmaker. Smart can do some stuff off the dribble but isn't a shooting/scoring threat. Same with White. Jaylen is a great scorer but is inconsistent at best against added defensive pressure. CP3 has Booker. Embiid has Harden. KD has Ben if he's right. Butler has Lowry. Giannis has Jrue. Curry has Draymond. I guess we do it "by committee"?

While I think the team is legitimately very good, I do think people are buying too much into the current run. Come playoff time, I think we’re going to see the lack of offense be more of an issue. It’s why I’m an advocate for Beal, while acknowledging his shortcomings. To me this team is one really good offensive player short of title contender.

Jaylen is an excellent secondary scorer, but it’s no secret that he struggles against loaded up defenses. If teams are consistently trapping Tatum in the regular season, and forcing Jaylen/the rest of the guys to beat them, what do we think will happen in the playoffs? I love this team, but I don’t think we are equipped to deal with what the top teams will throw at us, on the defensive end.

I'm excited about this current run because it laid a solid foundation and defined a blueprint for how this team can be successful moving forward. This defensive identity is for reals. So contention likely doesn't happen this postseason but you got something to build on already. The ball movement and fast pace are somewhat muzzled in the playoffs so you do really need elite offensive talent at the top of your rotation. Our ability to break zone now and our high efficiency in half court offense (after made shots) is giving me cautious optimism.

The question is how much of the continuity will be lost if we go after Beal or someone similar. And can Ime replicate/approximate this level of defensive excellence with lesser role players. His hesitance to expand his rotation and overreliance on proven defensive players make me a bit skeptical. Health has also been on our side lately but at some point, you need to get your 9th to 12th guys ready to play (at least for reg season).

[Feed Your Head]

The sample with just Smart on the court is still small-ish.

• Smart ON, Brown ON, Tatum OFF: +7.1 (562 possessions)
• Brown ON, Smart OFF, Tatum OFF: -8.1 (558 possessions)

So far, team has performed better with Smart playing alongside Brown when Tatum sits.

I still worry in the postseason when opponents load up on Tatum and we don't have a secondary playmaker. Smart can do some stuff off the dribble but isn't a shooting/scoring threat. Same with White. Jaylen is a great scorer but is inconsistent at best against added defensive pressure. CP3 has Booker. Embiid has Harden. KD has Ben if he's right. Butler has Lowry. Giannis has Jrue. Curry has Draymond. I guess we do it "by committee"?

While I think the team is legitimately very good, I do think people are buying too much into the current run. Come playoff time, I think we’re going to see the lack of offense be more of an issue. It’s why I’m an advocate for Beal, while acknowledging his shortcomings. To me this team is one really good offensive player short of title contender.

Jaylen is an excellent secondary scorer, but it’s no secret that he struggles against loaded up defenses. If teams are consistently trapping Tatum in the regular season, and forcing Jaylen/the rest of the guys to beat them, what do we think will happen in the playoffs? I love this team, but I don’t think we are equipped to deal with what the top teams will throw at us, on the defensive end.

I'm excited about this current run because it laid a solid foundation and defined a blueprint for how this team can be successful moving forward. This defensive identity is for reals. So contention likely doesn't happen this postseason but you got something to build on already. The ball movement and fast pace are somewhat muzzled in the playoffs so you do really need elite offensive talent at the top of your rotation. Our ability to break zone now and our high efficiency in half court offense (after made shots) is giving me cautious optimism.

The question is how much of the continuity will be lost if we go after Beal or someone similar. And can Ime replicate/approximate this level of defensive excellence with lesser role players. His hesitance to expand his rotation and overreliance on proven defensive players make me a bit skeptical. Health has also been on our side lately but at some point, you need to get your 9th to 12th guys ready to play (at least for reg season).

I love what Ime has done, and even Tatum has only played 35.1 mpg in 2022. That said, he can’t keep running an 8 man rotation. There was absolutely zero reason not to get Theis and Nesmith into that game on Thursday, that was a misstep by Ime.

If Beal stays in Washington, we need to find another solid scorer. In that scenario, we NEED Tatum to keep leveling up, and I think he can.

[sam_I_am]

The Boston Celtics are 15-12 against teams above .500. Every other team in the conference has a losing record against winning teams. So much for the we only beat bad team crew. They must have us confused with the Chicago Bulls.

Among the top 8 East teams, Celtics have the best record (13-7) against the top 8 teams in the East w/ the fewest games (5) left against that group.



We also have a winning record (8-7) against the current top 8 teams in the league. The Bulls are 1-10 lol.

The other contenders have a lot more games left against each other than Celtics do as well which could help propel Celtics up standings.

Top-6 East teams remaining schedules vs. each other:

BOS: MIA, @ CHI, @ MIL

PHI: @ MIL, CLE, @ MIA, CHI, @ CLE, MIA, MIL, @ CLE

CLE: @ PHI, @ MIA, @ CHI, PHI, CHI, PHI, MIL

MIL: PHI, MIA, @ CHI, CHI, @ PHI,
@ CHI, BOS, @ CLE

CHI: @ MIA, MIL, @ PHI, CLE, @ MIL, @ CLE, MIA, MIL, BOS

MIA: CHI, @ MIL, PHI, CLE, @ PHI, @ BOS, @ CHI

[Smart2Nesmith43]

The Boston Celtics are 15-12 against teams above .500. Every other team in the conference has a losing record against winning teams. So much for the we only beat bad team crew. They must have us confused with the Chicago Bulls.

Among the top 8 East teams, Celtics have the best record (13-7) against the top 8 teams in the East w/ the fewest games (5) left against that group.



We also have a winning record (8-7) against the current top 8 teams in the league. The Bulls are 1-10 lol.

I don't know how to say it without sounding like I'm putting down DeRozan but the guy always had the most extreme splits in W/L ratio against bad teams vs good teams.

I remember one year he was in Toronto and they finished with the number one seed despite losing more than half their games against teams above .400 because they had gone something ridiculous like 32-2 against teams below .400.

I don't understand how someone that can dispatch bad NBA teams like he is prime Jordan, can also struggle so much against good teams.

[Hal14]

Our season-long point differential is nothing special, by current (1st in the East, 4th in the league) or historical standards. We've just had a great stretch.

And the teams in the East that are looking forward to roster bouncebacks include but are not limited to Philly, Chicago and most of all the Nets.

So we'll see ...

The Celtics are only doing this against Division 3 college teams.

haha good one

[Hal14]

if cleveland loses to washington tonight, we'll be tied for the 5th seed.

go wizards!

[Fencer reregistered]

Standings weirdness: #3-6 in the East have 36 wins each, but 23, 24, 25 and 26 losses respectively.

At least on ESPN. Another site still has Milwaukee at 24 losses.