OT/Humor: Celtics bench defeat Magic in game 82

[Patsfan1645]

Something I mentioned in another thread is that I’d like to see the Pats take a page put of Brad’s playbook…

Specifically he’s really done a nice job of understanding that where they pick in the draft, you won’t get well-rounded studs.

So instead, they choose specific traits and roles to fill out the roster around the stars they do have.

Walsh has become a nasty defender and any offense is bonus. Schierman is a tough matchup from 3 pt range, Queta was super athletic but raw so they had to develop him and define a role.

I think Pats could do similar. Find guys who maybe are “meh” at run defense but can rush the hell out of the QB in sub packages, TE who you’ll never ask to block but is hard to cover, Running back who will never break a long run but has an uncanny knack for picking up 3 yards when you gotta have it etc.

In theory that sounds good but I think it would be a tough balancing act given you only have 53 slots. You couldn't afford to have but a few players who can only really do well one particular aspect of the position they play. The starter gets hurt and your forced to keep a guy who is limited in areas on the field would cause them to be exposed. But it certainly wouldn't hurt to have a couple guys who could be used in this regard but they would have to be game changing when called upon.

 

[condon84]

Brad has assembled a team who's players are willing to drink the cool-aid Mazz has been serving.

Credit to Brown and Tatum, who as we saw with the Belichick/Brady, the coach can try to create a culture, but it takes buy-in from players who are leaders of the team for the entire team to follow.

And we're seeing it with Vrabel's Patriots now. Last year, all the leaders bought in and everyone else fell in line.

 

[1960Pats]

Didn’t this game have serious playoff implications on the line for the Magic too? So they absolutely needed a win, and still somehow got cooked by the Celtics bench.

It wasn't just the bench. It was the end of the bench.
The Celtics have to be the deepest team in the NBA.

 

[TommyD4207]

It wasn't just the bench. It was the end of the bench.
The Celtics have to be the deepest team in the NBA.

It reminds me so much of the 80s it's scary.
The "Green Team" in those days led by Walton and company would have won 50 games easy.

Brad Stevens proves every day he's a better GM than Trader Danny, who was a hell of a GM. Although he hired Stevens originally, so he gets credit for that.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

That was an excellent game

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That was an excellent game

Yup. Everyone who played should be proud of that victory.

 

[1960Pats]

It reminds me so much of the 80s it's scary.
The "Green Team" in those days led by Walton and company would have won 50 games easy.

Brad Stevens proves every day he's a better GM than Trader Danny, who was a hell of a GM. Although he hired Stevens originally, so he gets credit for that.

Danny Ainge and Gerald Henderson were the only two C's that I remember who cried at their pressers when they were traded.

 

[1960Pats]

Hopefully, Tatum will get the kinks out during the playoffs. He's not quite there yet.