Celtics 2023 - 2024 Discussion

[jimnance]

I had no idea about any of that. Good stuff…thanks !

Yeah I just read all that stuff like a month ago. A real eye-opener.
Jerry West only lit people up who he cared about. Obviously he saw something
in Joe and pushed him to help maximize his talent.

 

[jimnance]

Additionally I hear Kevin Durant is interested in joining the Celtics

Seriously? How the hell would they pay him? Durant's game fits any style offensively but his defense is mediocre.
Tatum is a better player than Durant now and all 5 starters are two-way players which is one of the C's biggest strengths.
Jaylen Brown might also be better than KD now and I never thought I'd say that.
Matter of fact, DWhite is better. And I wouldn't trade Jrue straight up for KD. No f'n way. So KD would be no better than the 5th best player on the C's.
There are other stretch bigs I'd rather have who also play D.
But KD on this team would be wide open all the time and kill teams. They sure as hell couldn't double him with all the talent on this team.
But JT is getting the supermax and DWhite is also getting a well-deserved major raise so I don't know where the $ comes from unless KD plats for the vet minimum. How bad you want a ring KD?

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Seriously? How the hell would they pay him? Durant's game fits any style offensively but his defense is mediocre.
Tatum is a better player than Durant now and all 5 starters are two-way players which is one of the C's biggest strengths.
Jaylen Brown might also be better than KD now and I never thought I'd say that.
Matter of fact, DWhite is better. And I wouldn't trade Jrue straight up for KD. No f'n way. So KD would be no better than the 5th best player on the C's.
There are other stretch bigs I'd rather have who also play D.
But KD on this team would be wide open all the time and kill teams. They sure as hell couldn't double him with all the talent on this team.
But JT is getting the supermax and DWhite is also getting a well-deserved major raise so I don't know where the $ comes from unless KD plats for the vet minimum. How bad you want a ring KD?

Sorry if I wasn’t clear it was a joke…KD joining a 64 win stacked team would be hilarious after he joined the Warriors in a similar fashion.

 

[jimnance]

Sorry if I wasn’t clear it was a joke…KD joining a 64 win stacked team would be hilarious after he joined the Warriors in a similar fashion.

Yeah kinda thought that while I was writing that post but decided to continue anyway to put KD in his proper place lol.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Yeah I just read all that stuff like a month ago. A real eye-opener.
Jerry West only lit people up who he cared about. Obviously he saw something
in Joe and pushed him to help maximize his talent.

Next to Red, Jerry West might be the most astute evaluator of not only basketball talent but basketball IQ in this history of the game.

 

[1960Pats]

IIRC the 81 and 84 teams ended up at Government Center and Bird's famous comment about Moses Malone. I don't remember duckboats and I left before '86.

100 Things Celtics Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die

I remember listening to Bird on the radio at work. I didn't like his comment.

So, it isn't because of the celebrations that the titles weren't counted before 2001 in that post.

Hmmmm, what gives?

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I remember listening to Bird on the radio at work. I didn't like his comment.

So, it isn't because of the celebrations that the titles weren't counted before 2001 in that post.

Hmmmm, what gives?

Malone had started the trash talking before the championship series, saying he could take 4 guys off the street from his home town and beat the Celtics.
https://www.basketballnetwork.net/o...ad-of-the-1981-nba-finals-against-the-celtics

 

[Zuma]

 

[bresna]

I guess he'd rather go to a crappy team that will play him more than warm the bench on a championship team?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I guess he'd rather go to a crappy team that will play him more than warm the bench on a championship team?

I think it is about straight cash homey.

 

[Kdo5]

I guess he'd rather go to a crappy team that will play him more than warm the bench on a championship team?

He might get a little more money and more minutes on a mediocre team. Easily replaceable IMO. Dude plays hard on defense but he’s pretty useless offensively.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

He might get a little more money and more minutes on a mediocre team. Easily replaceable IMO. Dude plays hard on defense but he’s pretty useless offensively.

Useless on offense to the point that I wondered why Stevens signed him. Having said that, NBA players get ridiculous money so maybe Brissett can sign for more even although he is still a "defensive specialist" bench player.

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

Been off the board for a few days. Still basking in the glow.

The conversation about Smart is an interesting one. I have a bit more fondness for him than most.

I believe he was a good guy to have on this team for the time he was here. He set an example by playing great defense at a time when that didn't seem as important to the Celtics as it is now. I would like to think the J's had some of that rub off and it helped transform them into the defensive players they are today.

Smart was willing to take on the pressure of crunch time on offense (obviously with mixed results). Perhaps he was blocking Tatum and Brown from developing, but maybe they just weren't ready for that role yet.

Was it time for him to go? Yes. I think he was good to have while the team grew, but he would no longer have fit. They would likely not have won a title if he was here and Jrue was not. But I do think he played a key role in the development of the team along the way.

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

Florida Panthers providing us with the what-if dread had the Celtics fallen apart again in G5.

This is why I never believe teams up 3-0 lose on purpose on the road so they can close it out at home. I just don't believe any championship team would ever do this.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Been off the board for a few days. Still basking in the glow.

The conversation about Smart is an interesting one. I have a bit more fondness for him than most.

I believe he was a good guy to have on this team for the time he was here. He set an example by playing great defense at a time when that didn't seem as important to the Celtics as it is now. I would like to think the J's had some of that rub off and it helped transform them into the defensive players they are today.

Smart was willing to take on the pressure of crunch time on offense (obviously with mixed results). Perhaps he was blocking Tatum and Brown from developing, but maybe they just weren't ready for that role yet.

Was it time for him to go? Yes. I think he was good to have while the team grew, but he would no longer have fit. They would likely not have won a title if he was here and Jrue was not. But I do think he played a key role in the development of the team along the way.

Agree. Culture-wise by no means was Smart detrimental like Kyrie was.

I think moving him had more to do with becoming more efficient and versatile on offense.

If he had a smaller role and came off the bench they would have won a title.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I guess he'd rather go to a crappy team that will play him more than warm the bench on a championship team?

Exactly

 

[Kdo5]

Exactly

Yeah and I completely understand. For an example look at Javonte Green. Left us where he was a bench warmer to go to mediocrity in Chicago but he gets at least 10 more minutes a game, doubles his stats and makes more money.

 

[jimnance]

Yeah and I completely understand. For an example look at Javonte Green. Left us where he was a bench warmer to go to mediocrity in Chicago but he gets at least 10 more minutes a game, doubles his stats and makes more money.

Can't fault these guys. Most have very short careers and need to maximize their earnings while they can.
I take issue with the superstars who become mercenaries , not the average players.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Can't fault these guys. Most have very short careers and need to maximize their earnings while they can.
I take issue with the superstars who become mercenaries , not the average players.

I’m happy about this. Brissett is not going to add anything important. It’s possible the Celtics can get a decent, proven player, for ~ vet’s minimum. There are players who want to win a championship and might take a little discount.

 

[Zuma]