Celtics 2024-2025 Discussion

[ViperGTS]

And now losing..to the Pistons. Good to have game like this maybe it will wake them up.

 

[jimnance]

I give the Pistons a lot of credit. They're playing hard.
C's need to really buckle down if they're gonna win

 

[jimnance]

Both teams playing with intensity. Good game

 

[jimnance]

Another great clutch block from White!
Followed by Tatum midrange jumper so C's up 4 with 29 secs

 

[ViperGTS]

Well they won this one. I bet Mazzulla loved this game lol

 

[jimnance]

Gut - check game!
Theres gonna be games like this even for the World Champs.
Just win baby!
Much respect for Pistons.
Cunningham is the real deal.
A lot of elite teams wouldve folded down the stretch on the road in this game.
Not the C's.
It's funny, I enjoyed this win more than the 2 blowouts

 

[Kdo5]

Every star contributed at the end. Jrue two huge threes after a rough game to erase the 6 point deficit. DWhite with a big block. Tatum had a clutch jumper bounce in. Brown tough shooting night but excellent from the line.

Detroit played really hard especially after the first quarter. There’s something to be said for winning close battles like this one.

 

[jimnance]

Well they won this one. I bet Mazzulla loved this game lol

He's got a little Belichick in him.
Loves those opportunities to bring the team back down to earth and improve focus

 

[jimnance]

He's got a little Belichick in him.
Loves those opportunities to bring the team back down to earth and improve focus

I should say the good Belichick- not what we saw the last few years

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

They put the clamps down defensively down the stretch. The usual suspects in White, Holiday, and Brown suffocating the perimeter.

Tatum and Brown shooting 50 times is always a recipe for sub-optimal results. One thing I don’t like is that when these two start the game cold, they keep shooting. When White / Holiday are cold, the team is like “well, it isn’t their night” and stop patiently moving the ball to find the open guy and just jack up shots. Part of it is on White and Holiday too; sometimes they’re too passive. Clearly Holiday was fine at any point as he stepped up and nailed two threes in crunch time. White’s shot was fine, too. 0/6 on threes but just wasn’t getting rim luck, a few in-and-outs.

But all in all, Celtics emerged with their newly minted identity as the team that knows how to win, so I’m happy. And good to see Tatum and Brown remained poised in crunch time.

I didn’t think effort was the issue at any point. They played hard and so did Detroit. Nice game from Detroit...they’re not a terrible team now. It was fun to watch.

Celtics 26/30 from the line, even after a few early misses by JT, was the biggest x factor.

 

[jimnance]

To your point, Brown has joined White and Jrue as an elite defender. He's always had the ability maybe just not the focus. He's played the best ball of his career ?after the big contract, which speaks volumes about his character.
Pretty much the whole team are great defenders, Tatum is superb - but the above- mentioned 3 are elite- and that's huge since they all guard wings- and wings dominate the NBA.
DWhite certainly is no worse than the 3rd best player on this star-laden team- but he has a case for being#2.
But I don't really care about that stuff- and I honestly don't think any of the players do either- and that's something I couldn't have said even a year ago.
Remarkable how they ?all subjugated their egos and realized by doing so they could accomplish incredible things.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

To your point, Brown has joined White and Jrue as an elite defender. He's always had the ability maybe just not the focus. He's played the best ball of his career ?after the big contract, which speaks volumes about his character.
Pretty much the whole team are great defenders, Tatum is superb - but the above- mentioned 3 are elite- and that's huge since they all guard wings- and wings dominate the NBA.
DWhite certainly is no worse than the 3rd best player on this star-laden team- but he has a case for being#2.
But I don't really care about that stuff- and I honestly don't think any of the players do either- and that's something I couldn't have said even a year ago.
Remarkable how they ?all subjugated their egos and realized by doing so they could accomplish incredible things.

Derrick White is uncategorized greatness. The whole league now realizes this and other fanbases too. You can only call him a role player if it’s to point out he’s maybe the greatest role player in NBA history or the term becomes an insult. You can legitimately argue Derrick White is a top 15 player to build an entire NBA team around due to his versatility, lack of ego, and having no weakness.

I think the Celtics have become even greater because they no longer have a pecking order. I get annoyed listening to opponent broadcasters trying simplify the Celtics: “they have a legit #3 option in Derrick White” and then list his points per game. Actually the Celtics have had other “number 3” options in the past who were higher in PPG. Kyrie, IT, Hayward, Kemba, Brogdon. These guys were good players, sometimes all-star level. We all know Derrick White is better than any of them. He’s the ultimate ****ing winner. I love reading the comments on Twitter from other fans. Basically just acknowledged jealousy, envy, and respect for White’s game. Everyone loves the way this guy plays the games and the way he handles himself.

 

[1960Pats]

Rewatched game. Celtics appear to have changed their offense inn a great way. Maybe it’s just opponent but it looks purposeful.

33 assists, 3 turnovers. I doubt they had any games last season close to this.

-The offense runs through Derrick White. That is, he is the point guard (or Holiday if White is out.) Upon getting a rebound/inbound, every other Celtic hits White and he pushes the ball down the court. There’s no more “by committee” point guard situation.

-The offense runs through the top of the key. Usually this is initiated by Tatum or Brown receiving a pass and getting an immediate high screen from the big, creating space to dribble and create.

-When a player receives the ball and isn’t near center of court, he immediately shoots, and if there’s no shot, passes. Very sparse dribbling. When there is dribbling, it’s down the center. The offense resets at top of the key.

-There is basically no more midrange or elbow or midrange perimeter offense where Tatum or Brown backs down a defender with an iso, often getting trapped. It’s more of a last resort bailout.

-The tempo is much faster.

I've been a C's fan since the early 60s but I was away from the NBA for a while when my oldest talked me back in a few years ago. At first I wasn't a fan of today's game but that changed while watching the way the C's do it. It used to bother me when I'd see a player heading to the hoop on a drive, only to pass it out for a clunked three. Now I like it and understand how deadly it can be with so many good 3-point shooters.

This team is as classic as any Celts team I've seen and I've seen them all. The difference now is that the game is different but the C's are still a force, just as they've been for most of my life.

 

[1960Pats]

Wow!!!

 

[Boston Boxer]

He's got a little Belichick in him.
Loves those opportunities to bring the team back down to earth and improve focus

all he has to do from time to time is remind Brown he didn't make the Olympic team and remind Tatum he wasn't the Finals MVP and rode the bench in the Olympics. Play up the snub card and they will be good.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Let’s not forget about this one…changed all the momentum.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

 

[Kdo5]

All of our starters have played like very mediocre on offense in the first half. JB has stunk in particular.

Thank goodness for PP tonight but the starters need to turn it up. Fortunate to only be down by 3.