Celtics 2023 - 2024 Discussion

[RobertWeathers]

It's hard to do both of these things in tandem. They're going to have to pick one, I think.

Without knowing what it's like to be an aging pro athlete, I will say the Celtics have been going deep into the playoffs for 6 years, adding a significant total number of games played to Horford's portfolio. He's been great but I just don't know if we can continue to hang our hat on this. Bam had some pretty good games in Round 1 before things fell apart for Miami. I feel like defending high energy big men is a weakness for the Celtics that Indy and MN can exploit.

I dunno. I think they can do it. The finished 13th in ORB per game and #1 in transition defense (points per transition, op FG % and op eFG% against)

Teams Transition | Stats | NBA.com

A table featuring transition information for each team in the league based on selected filters.

www.nba.com

I see what you're saying about Kornet and Queta, but man I sure hope they aren't counting on those two to make big contributions the rest of the way.

I've always liked Queta. He gives them shot blocking, rebounding and a big-ass, athletic body in the frontcourt. However Kornet is just a better all-around player and is better with the ball in his hands than Queta. Just more polished...

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I think the stuff about age and late season/playoffs is largely a myth. Horford’s overall game has diminished with age, but I don’t see how plays like 100 games but games 100-105 are where he just hits an “age wall.” I see a lot of analysts use this questionable logic to explain performances.

This was said about Brady in 2018 because of his relatively low output in the Super Bowl against the Rams, ignoring that he took out a flamethrower the week before against the Chiefs and two weeks before that against the Chargers. Sometimes it’s just the matchup and randomness.

These guys are pro athletes. They play year around, training, staying in peak shape, with optimal rest. Horford is fine. If he struggles it isn’t because of over usage.

 

[Kdo5]

We need KP back. Small sample size so far but I don’t like Kornet in this series at all.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Best game I’ve seen Brown play in his career. All over the place on defense and setting the table on offense.

If Brown and Tatum can continue playing disciplined like this, and taking what the defense gives them, no one will beat them.

Disclaimer: it’s still the 3rd quarter.

 

[Kdo5]

Best game I’ve seen Brown play in his career. All over the place on defense and setting the table on offense.

If Brown and Tatum can continue playing disciplined like this, and taking what the defense gives them, no one will beat them.

Disclaimer: it’s still the 3rd quarter.

they’re playing alright.

The bench has been ****ing awful. Worse than a non-factor.

 

[aluminum seats]

Best game I’ve seen Brown play in his career. All over the place on defense and setting the table on offense.

If Brown and Tatum can continue playing disciplined like this, and taking what the defense gives them, no one will beat them.

Disclaimer: it’s still the 3rd quarter.

Just has to hit his goddamn free throws

 

[ausbacker]

As we've come to expect from the Celtics, Indiana has given them the paint they but play right into their hands. Unbelievable.

 

[ausbacker]

Got the OT get out of jail free card now. C'mon Boston. Redeem yourselves.

 

[Kdo5]

Great play in the biggest moments. Thank you to Jaylen ****ing Brown. That’s why he is special.

 

[aluminum seats]

Holiday and Brown in this one, Tatum woke up just in time

 

[ausbacker]

OT showed the value of bringing Jrue in over Smart. Also, Jaylen's performance cannot be understated and Tatum turned into a superstar when we needed it. Phew.

 

[Kdo5]

OT showed the value of bringing Jrue in over Smart. Also, Jaylen's performance cannot be understated and Tatum turned into a superstar when we needed it. Phew.

Tatum was coming up small at the end of the fourth and had a few WTF moments but obviously we don’t win without him. Huge three.

Tonight also showed it’s okay for another guy to shoot the last shot. Jaylen made all the huge plays. Got the turnover at the end to give us a chance, hit the three at the end, got the crucial steal in OT.

Jrue has seriously turned it up in the playoffs.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Got nothing for JB hate tonight. Unreal play by him throughout the game..defensive wrecking ball. That steal and 3 were amazing.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Jrue has seriously turned it up in the playoffs.

It seems now that he’s been playing 75% intensity during the season. He’s a different player, more speed and power.

 

[Kdo5]

It seems now that he’s been playing 75% intensity during the season. He’s a different player, more speed and power.

Yep he’s been good all year but he’s playing like an All-Star right now, providing an significant spark on offense to go along with the D.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

The steal by Brown really can’t be understated in its magnitude. Pacers win probability must have been > 95% inbounding with a 3 pt lead and 10 seconds.

It wasn’t even a bad pass, he just closed so freaking fast on that ball. Best single play since White’s tip in buzzer beater last year.

Although Siakam thought it was off him, the replay was less certain. He shouldn’t have bothered touching it since he guaranteed Celtics possession (he stepped over line before touching, and had no chance to save it.) At least a reasonable chance ref would have ruled Indiana ball had he not tried to chase it down.

 

[Kdo5]

We need better from the bench for Game 2. Hopefully Joe can make an adjustment (not sure what) otherwise those guys simply need to be better than they were. All three were getting taken advantage of.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

9 minutes for Hauser…? Are they thinking Pacers are too quick on the perimeter? They had a lot of open 3s.

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

I think the stuff about age and late season/playoffs is largely a myth. Horford’s overall game has diminished with age, but I don’t see how plays like 100 games but games 100-105 are where he just hits an “age wall.” I see a lot of analysts use this questionable logic to explain performances.

This was said about Brady in 2018 because of his relatively low output in the Super Bowl against the Rams, ignoring that he took out a flamethrower the week before against the Chiefs and two weeks before that against the Chargers. Sometimes it’s just the matchup and randomness.

These guys are pro athletes. They play year around, training, staying in peak shape, with optimal rest. Horford is fine. If he struggles it isn’t because of over usage.

Maybe. Time will tell as this series goes on. Horford was 3-12 from 3 point range and 5-15 overall, missing a lot of open looks. A bad shooting night, or fatigue? Turner, Siakam, and Toppin had their way inside. Had the Celtics lost this game, this would be where many would be pointing.

Horford has played in 54 playoff games (and 252 games overall) in the last 3 seasons. This is not a few extra games, it's about 2/3 of an entire season. The Brady comparison doesn't hold much water for me. Comparing an old QB and what they're asked to do vs an old center in the NBA, the physical demands are just different. Besides, we all know Brady was an outlier. What he accomplished and how he managed to stay on the field for all of it is extremely difficult to replicate.

I'll be happy to be wrong about this if it doesn't come to pass, but for now I will continue to worry that fast games like the one played tonight will take their toll on Horford if KP doesn't come back soon.

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

Anyone who thought the Celtics would walk through this series likely have more respect for what the Pacers bring. It took everything to win this game, including one of Jaylen Brown's best all around games of the year (including the ridiculous 3 to send it to OT) and Jrue's best game as a Celtic.

Tatum faded in the 4th a bit but I loved the way he played tonight. Consistently driving and finishing plays instead of settling for 3s that weren't falling, and the rest of the team followed suit. 30 free throws to Indy's 10 was one of the huge differences tonight.

This has all the makings of an excellent series.