Celtics 2023 - 2024 Discussion

[RobertWeathers]

I agree that's how high school sports were, in the 80s too.

Yep. I was heavy into hoops (HS, AAU, club in college) in the 80s and back then you just played through it...future be damned.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Derrick White to Team USA!!!!

Kawhi out for Olympics; Team USA tabs White

Kawhi Leonard will not play in the upcoming Paris Olympics for Team USA, which has replaced the Clippers star with Celtics guard Derrick White.

www.espn.com

 

[Captain Cliche]

Derrick White's emergence was brilliant coaching.
Recognizing the talent and giving him confidence.

 

[Captain Cliche]

As for Baylor Scheierman...teams have gotten into the habit of drafting younger players with very little track record hoping (gambling) they will become the next Kobe.
Floor vs. ceiling??
Much safer (and less sexier) to draft a known quantity...especially when you're drafting lower and have a set roster.
These players can also be overlooked.

 

[1960Pats]

I thought the same thing about the 86 Celts.

The 86 team had Philly, Detroit and the Lakers to deal with so I didn't feel that way then.

The best of all was the 60 C's teams. Imagine being Jerry West and playing every season as an all star and only getting 1 ring while Russell got 11. That was some really bad timing for West.

 

[1960Pats]

I agree that's how high school sports were, in the 80s too.

Our oldest played in the 90's and I used to ask him about that. He said that he never saw anything suspicious.

 

[jimnance]

Jaylen Brown's reaction to DWhite
getting selected for Team USA is very disappointing.
He responded like a pouty, entitled brat.
How about being happy for your teammate, who, by the way, makes you a better player? How about showing some leadership? If you're that unhappy about him getting it instead of you, how about being a man and just keep quiet about it?
You just helped your team win a championship, played team ball for the first time in your career, why the hell do you do something that could mess with team chemistry? I hope like hell he apologizes to Derrick. I guarantee every single one of his teammates is thinking the same thing as me. But they're too mature to say anything.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Jaylen Brown's reaction to DWhite
getting selected for Team USA is very disappointing.
He responded like a pouty, entitled brat.
How about being happy for your teammate, who, by the way, makes you a better player? How about showing some leadership? If you're that unhappy about him getting it instead of you, how about being a man and just keep quiet about it?
You just helped your team win a championship, played team ball for the first time in your career, why the hell do you do something that could mess with team chemistry? I hope like hell he apologizes to Derrick. I guarantee every single one of his teammates is thinking the same thing as me. But they're too mature to say anything.

Agree…would not be a bad reaction in itself but because White is a teammate, he should have held that one back. It’s a bad look given the situation.

White is a great choice for Team USA. There’s so much scoring on that team that he’ll complement the team better.

I do feel like Brown is deserving of being one of the best 10-12 players in the USA…but it’s kind of the same rabbit hole I’ve been going down all year. Brown is better “in a vacuum” whereas White will better improve the team’s efficiency since none of his skills are redundant with other players and he has the compounding effect.

 

[Clonamery]

Jaylen Brown's reaction to DWhite
getting selected for Team USA is very disappointing.
He responded like a pouty, entitled brat.
How about being happy for your teammate, who, by the way, makes you a better player? How about showing some leadership? If you're that unhappy about him getting it instead of you, how about being a man and just keep quiet about it?
You just helped your team win a championship, played team ball for the first time in your career, why the hell do you do something that could mess with team chemistry? I hope like hell he apologizes to Derrick. I guarantee every single one of his teammates is thinking the same thing as me. But they're too mature to say anything.

Yeah, considering it's likely Lebron and Nike picking the team, he really should let it go. It's political not about talent.

 

[jimnance]

Yeah, considering it's likely Lebron and Nike picking the team, he really should let it go. It's political not about talent.

When I just read your post, my first reaction was " how the hell did Belichick's dog get a gig selecting the Team USA men's hoops team?!?"
I haven't had coffee yet. I need some.

 

[1960Pats]

Jaylen Brown's reaction to DWhite
getting selected for Team USA is very disappointing.
He responded like a pouty, entitled brat.
How about being happy for your teammate, who, by the way, makes you a better player? How about showing some leadership? If you're that unhappy about him getting it instead of you, how about being a man and just keep quiet about it?
You just helped your team win a championship, played team ball for the first time in your career, why the hell do you do something that could mess with team chemistry? I hope like hell he apologizes to Derrick. I guarantee every single one of his teammates is thinking the same thing as me. But they're too mature to say anything.

I think Brown has a right to be upset but, yes, he should have kept quiet.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Jaylen Brown's reaction to DWhite
getting selected for Team USA is very disappointing.
He responded like a pouty, entitled brat.
How about being happy for your teammate, who, by the way, makes you a better player? How about showing some leadership? If you're that unhappy about him getting it instead of you, how about being a man and just keep quiet about it?
You just helped your team win a championship, played team ball for the first time in your career, why the hell do you do something that could mess with team chemistry? I hope like hell he apologizes to Derrick. I guarantee every single one of his teammates is thinking the same thing as me. But they're too mature to say anything.

I don't think his reaction was meant to be or taken by White as a diss.

It was an emotional reaction to clearly a political/commercially-based decision.

Was it a bit self-centered and lacking self-awareness? Yep.

Did he deserve to be on the team? Yep.

It'll be fine between those two.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

It was an emotional reaction to clearly a political/commercially-based decision.

I don’t see how this a political/ commercial decision. Grant Hill explained why he chose White.

Was Jaylen Brown left off Team USA because of Nike? Grant Hill responds to "theories"

Team USA executive director Grant Hill denied speculation that NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown was left off of the Olympic team because of the Celtics star's past criticism of Nike.

www.cbsnews.com

In addition, Holiday was already selected for the team over players like Brown, Brunson and Kyrie. Holiday and White are similar players. And Holiday was a starter in game 1, which should tell you how much Kerr likes the unselfish defensive minded point guard / ball distributor.

I think using Nike as an explanation has many flaws. Brown wore Nikes all last season. I don’t even think Nike sponsors White. And Nike sponsors many NBA events and manufactures uniforms but that didn’t prevent Brown from winning numerous awards and honors the last two seasons.

The following players were initially “snubbed” from the Olympic team after being considered. This is more about White being a fit than it is about Jaylen Brown, who is one of many deserving players.

Jarrett Allen, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, Alex Caruso, De'Aaron Fox, Paul George, Aaron Gordon, James Harden, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Ingram, Kyrie Irving, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson, Derrick White and Trae Young

 

[jimnance]

I don't think his reaction was meant to be or taken by White as a diss.

It was an emotional reaction to clearly a political/commercially-based decision.

Was it a bit self-centered and lacking self-awareness? Yep.

Did he deserve to be on the team? Yep.

It'll be fine between those two.

I like Jaylen Brown. I thought his transformation as a player from what he was in last year's playoff debacle/early part of this past season to what he became by mid-season on was remarkable and deserves big credit for that.
Off the court, I've always liked his thoughts on some subjects,including political ones. His reasoning was thoughtful, never knee-jerk.
I guess I just expected more from him.
Yes, he could be privately irked he wasn't chosen but c'mon man, use that as fuel.Don't mess with team chemistry.
We have always made fun of Herman Edwards but he still had the best advice
for this younger generation of social media addicts: " Don't hit send!"

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don’t see how this a political/ commercial decision. Grant Hill explained why he chose White.

Was Jaylen Brown left off Team USA because of Nike? Grant Hill responds to "theories"

Team USA executive director Grant Hill denied speculation that NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown was left off of the Olympic team because of the Celtics star's past criticism of Nike.

www.cbsnews.com

Sorry- I don't buy Hill's explanation.

In addition, Holiday was already selected for the team over players like Brown, Brunson and Kyrie. Holiday and White are similar players. And Holiday was a starter in game 1, which should tell you how much Kerr likes the unselfish defensive minded point guard / ball distributor.

I think using Nike as an explanation has many flaws. Brown wore Nikes all last season. I don’t even think Nike sponsors White. And Nike sponsors many NBA events and manufactures uniforms but that didn’t prevent Brown from winning numerous awards and honors the last two seasons.

The following players were initially “snubbed” from the Olympic team after being considered. This is more about White being a fit than it is about Jaylen Brown, who is one of many deserving players.

Jarrett Allen, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, Alex Caruso, De'Aaron Fox, Paul George, Aaron Gordon, James Harden, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Ingram, Kyrie Irving, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson, Derrick White and Trae Young

Sure but they chose Kawhi for his pot'l contribution to the team (points, D, etc) which is aligned with JB's skill-set.

The logic for subbing JB for Kawhi is more logical than subbing White for him.

White is a fine choice- that is not the issue.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Imagine if another guy drops out and Brown gets on the team. Four Celtics

 

[jimnance]

Imagine if another guy drops out and Brown gets on the team. Four Celtics

That would actually be very cool and
well-deserved

 

[jimnance]

Sorry- I don't buy Hill's explanation.

Sure but they chose Kawhi for his pot'l contribution to the team (points, D, etc) which is aligned with JB's skill-set.

The logic for subbing JB for Kawhi is more logical than subbing White for him.

White is a fine choice- that is not the issue.

Hmmm. Makes you think.
RW, do you think Nike had some influence on this?

 

[RobertWeathers]

Hmmm. Makes you think.
RW, do you think Nike had some influence on this?

According to Grant Hill, the decision was make by USA Basketball.

It's possible there may be members of Team USA freezing out JB (see Jordan/Isaiah 1992) but I don't think so.

Why Is Jaylen Brown Feuding With Nike Over the Olympics?

The Celtics star has a long history with Nike, including defending Kyrie Irving and wearing its shoes with the swoosh removed.

frontofficesports.com

Report: Nike sign US Olympics deal for LA 2028 - SportsPro

Deal includes merchandise and volunteer uniforms for LA Games.

www.sportspromedia.com

 

[jimnance]

According to Grant Hill, the decision was make by USA Basketball.

It's possible there may be members of Team USA freezing out JB (see Jordan/Isaiah 1992) but I don't think so.

Why Is Jaylen Brown Feuding With Nike Over the Olympics?

The Celtics star has a long history with Nike, including defending Kyrie Irving and wearing its shoes with the swoosh removed.

frontofficesports.com

Report: Nike sign US Olympics deal for LA 2028 - SportsPro

Deal includes merchandise and volunteer uniforms for LA Games.

www.sportspromedia.com

I didn't know about Brown's beef with Nike.
That puts his tweet that I criticized in a slightly different light.
I still think it's a bit of a diss to White( not intentional on JB's part)but nowhere near
as bad as I thought before I knew about his Nike beef.
Obviously he's insinuating that Nike lobbied to keep him off the team.
I'm a little relieved.
I still think he shouldn't have tweeted anything and realized it is a bit of a diss to his teammate, even though it looks unintentional. But tge longstanding feud with Nike seems to have clouded his judgement.