Celtics 2017/2018 Thread

[borg]

My 16 and Counting thoughts for the day.
Irving sure makes it look easy as he slices through the big men toward the bucket. Contrast this with Little IT who would be sliding on his ass after 90% of his drives.
Elsewhere....the Boston bench continues its wretched form spearheaded by their heart and soul and worst shooter...Marcus S.....cringeworthy. As of late, the bench offers nothing.
Dallas may have helped the league figure out the C's........the 2-3 zone. Last night, the Boston big men couldn't get close to the basket and were nearly shut out.....forcing perimeter shots from their guards most of the game....and Smart couldn't pass up so much open space....2-15 shooting. In the end, Kyrie bailed them out against the NBA's worst team...Boston's closer
Tatum on the wing during the fast break....reminds me a little of James Worthy. Can't wait to see this kid mature physically.
Note: I watched the Dallas feed of this game on the interweb and it is clear what Dallas' is trying to accomplish marketing-wise....All Dirk All the Time.....reminiscent of Jeter's last year as a Yank. What ever it takes to fill a stadium. Glad Ainge didn't get so sentimental, choosing to move on from legends while they had some tread/value left.

 

[rochrist]

Much as Smart makes me cringe when he starts jacking up some of those shots, there's a reason Brad continues to play him 30+ minutes a night and there's a reason he continue to be high in plus/minus.

 

[borg]

Much as Smart makes me cringe when he starts jacking up some of those shots, there's a reason Brad continues to play him 30+ minutes a night and there's a reason he continue to be high in plus/minus.

Reason 1 A...Stevens' bench lacks quality and experience
Reason 1 B...The loss of Hayward has forced Stevens to add minutes to players he otherwise would use as specialists
Reason 2....Smart's defense is legit
Regarding the +/-.........Smart happens to be on the floor when Irving is turning 11 point deficits into 9 point victories almost single-handedly. Sure, Smart's D helps....but lets not read too much into this stat.

 

[captain stone]

Marcus Smart is the NBA's worst shooter, so why is he so crucial to the Celtics' offense?

He isn't.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Streak is over - what a ride - time to start another streak I love this team.

The only issue with the streak is Stevens needs room to develop the 2nd unit so we'll see how it goes.

 

[rochrist]

Streak is over - what a ride - time to start another streak I love this team.

The only issue with the streak is Stevens needs room to develop the 2nd unit so we'll see how it goes.

Id like to see the DPE used on a scorer.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Id like to see the DPE used on a scorer.

They are going to have to do something - 1st unit needs lees minutes against easier opponents.

 

[borg]

Id like to see the DPE used on a scorer.

Despite the amazing record, this team has serious issues and it is just a question of "when will Trader Danny complete a trade." The loss of Hayward's shooting prowess and his ability to create his own shot are starting to be felt....teams are packing it in daring the Celtics to launch. Another night with zero inside scoring from their bigs and few assist opportunities for easy baskets. I'm thinking the teams shooting woes have everything to do with the brutal every other night schedule. When Horford and Irving missed games and then came back, they were fresh and energized. The teams lack of depth gives Stevens fewer options to give players extra rest.
The positives:
6 of 7 home games over next 2 weeks
The confidence these guys display in the 4th is amazing. They become a different team.
Tatum's outside shooting is lights out

 

[RobertWeathers]

Time to start another 16 game winning streak

 

[borg]

Celtic' streak: 1

Info that may only interest me:
The C's have played 1-3 more games this season than the rest of the top 8 in the conference....and Boston finishes a back to back tonight.
Boston will be playing 20 games in next 37 days...their brutal schedule never lets up in December.
Through December 31, Boston will have played 40 games while the Cavaliers will have played 36.
Boston only plays 12 games in January...11 in February.
Boston has played 14 games in conference so far while Philly has played 6.
Boston starters got much needed rest last night during the blowout with every starter playing 21-27 minutes.
40 points for the C's in the 1st quarter last ....clearly a much bigger hoop at home.
Rozier led the bench last night with a great shooting effort but Boston's bench turned a 30 point lead into a 15 point lead in half a quarter
Big Al is in a rough patch offensively but dished out 10 assists vs Orlando.
Tonight's opponent Indiana is playing solid basketball winning 5 in a row, finally gelling after the reshuffling of their roster over the summer.
Brown will likely miss tonight's Indiana game away because of a funeral.
As a card carrying member of the Lebron Haters Club, I have to give the guy some respect....literally carrying his team on his back averaging 38 minutes per game. Cleveland's early disfunction and Irving's Celtics success seem to have put Lebron in mission mode. The guy is a physical freak.

 

[IcyPatriot]

2

 

[rochrist]

Marcus Smart and Rozier were huge in this one, stepping up in the absence of Morris and Brown. Shot a collective 14-17 for 15 and 17 points.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Bring it on - Avery Bradley in the house.
Pistons are 12-6

 

[captain insano]

what a crazy game this is. back and forth we go. the free throw shooting is killing the Celtics in this game. the pistons only outrebounded the Celtics by 4. 40 to 36. the Celtics have been a good rebounding team all year.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Well we have more work to do ... we need a veteran low post scorer ... that would help.

22 rebounds for Drummond - ouch.

 

[captain insano]

if they just shoot 75 percent from the line they win the game. 57.1 percent isn't going to cut it. the pistons only outrebounded the Celtics by 4. 40 to 36. the celts have been rebounding well all year.

 

[borg]

Celtics had no answer for Drummond. 10-12 shooting / 22 boards.
Stevens gave up on Baynes, and Horford was just swallowed up.
Tatum couldn't handle his man defensively.
Brown disappeared.
Irving had a rough night on defense.
In other words...the Pistons starters were better across the board last night.
Pistons starters were a combined +60
Celtics starters were a combined -66
Sure....free throws were a major problem (9 misses) but I felt the Pistons missed so many open shots this game could have been a Detroit rout.
Detroit was impressive, incredibly smooth and poised -one step ahead of Boston on both ends....and if it wasn't for the worst shooter in basketball getting hot at the 3 point arc....

Another very slow start on offense...a trend that too often appears.
That was one quiet crowd.
A rare 2 full days off to reset/reset/practice before the C's play another monster in the middle -Philly- on Thursday

 

[DarrylS]

When watching the Celtics continued to be impressed with Tatum, Brown, Theis and to a lesser extent Ojeyele... these guys are all in their early years of their NBA careers, and all are better than expected..

When you look at the whole team outside of Morris, Hayward, Horford and Baynes everyone else is under 25 years old..

Looks like Jaylen Brown has hit some sort of wall lately, but he will be back..

 

[borg]

Looks like Jaylen Brown has hit some sort of wall lately, but he will be back..

Brown is in a Marcus Smart-like funk right now....but on both ends of the floor. Stevens disappeared him vs. Philly.
Brown's running style is unique to say the least and gives off the appearance he's loafing out there as he scuffs his free leg every stride.
His shooting accuracy seems to go in lock step with his defensive impact each night......and opposing #2's have been doing well of late.

Boston sent Nader and the French Panda up to Maine to get more minutes

 

[IcyPatriot]

Brown hasn't looked right since he came back from his friend's funeral - he'll get through it.