Celtics 2024-2025 Discussion

[Kdo5]

Celts are back and showing that the winter slump was just that. Now we just need Jrue to get healthy and JB to get some mojo back after the break.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Celts are back and showing that the winter slump was just that. Now we just need Jrue to get healthy and JB to get some mojo back after the break.

I understood that JB's issue is a badly sprained ankle (I think it was his right ankle). He needs to get healthy too. I hope he is resting over the All-Star break.

JH's injury must be pretty bad if he stopped shooting with his right arm. I am not sure we can depend on Jrue this year - shoulder surgery takes a long recovery.

 

[jimnance]

I understood that JB's issue is a badly sprained ankle (I think it was his right ankle). He needs to get healthy too. I hope he is resting over the All-Star break.

JH's injury must be pretty bad if he stopped shooting with his right arm. I am not sure we can depend on Jrue this year - shoulder surgery takes a long recovery.

It's a sprained knee. It's pretty swole up

 

[jimnance]

Impressive 1st half at Philly.
Sixers are at full strength and motivated/ desperate to make playoffs.
C's pretty much dominated. Great energy, hustle and playing with intelligence.
15-25 lights -out 3ball shooting. Payton 5-7.
Tatum with the Bird/Magic passing game, dishing dimes left and right including a couple pretty no-lookers. His ballhandling and passing skills have improved so much. Tatum has as good as case for MVP as anyone.
He's handsdown the 3rd best player in the NBA after Joker and Yannis.
But he has as good a case as either of them for MVP. He makes everyone better on the floor.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Pritchard is the high score with 28. I thought some PP fans would be posting about the game.

 

[bresna]

Sorry 76ers fans, but your guy Embiid needs to get that knee fixed now and not wait until it's totally shot. He looked terrible last night. The only reason he had so many points is because the refs, as usual with him, gave him so many cheap fouls. The one in the 2nd quarter on Pozingas was ridiculous. KP was just standing there with his arms up - not moving, not leaning - when Embiid just plowed into him. That was either a "play on" or an offensive foul, not a defensive blocking foul.

 

[jimnance]

Pritchard is the high score with 28. I thought some PP fans would be posting about the game.

We're ALL Pritchard fans. If you don't like PP, you don't like or understand hoops.
Kid is awesome.
What he's done consistently, ballhandling,passing,shooting well from all 3 levels, playing tough,scrappy and effective defense vs.larger players is incredible.
But what impresses me the most is his
rebounding!! This 6'1" dude is a freakin'  demon on the boards.
Might have the best work ethic Ive ever seen maybe in any pro athlete.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

.He's handsdown the 3rd best player in the NBA after Joker and Yannis.
But he has as good a case as either of them for MVP. He makes everyone better on the floor.

The SGA glazing is kind of nauseating. Jokic is the best player in the NBA and probably having the highest peak since Jordan. After that, no NBA player should be ranked above Tatum. I’m fine if SGA and Giannis are in the same tier as Tatum, but it’s absurd that the media has separated SGA from Tatum due to SKiLzz.

 

[jimnance]

The SGA glazing is kind of nauseating. Jokic is the best player in the NBA and probably having the highest peak since Jordan. After that, no NBA player should be ranked above Tatum. I’m fine if SGA and Giannis are in the same tier as Tatum, but it’s absurd that the media has separated SGA from Tatum due to SKiLzz.

I like SGA but he's not really close to Tatum. JT affects the game positively in so many more ways.
I think we all agree Joker is by far the best player on the planet and he's going to be on the very short list of GOAT candidates. I would also take Tatum over Giannis in a heartbeat. He's a much more complete player.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I like SGA but he's not really close to Tatum. JT affects the game positively in so many more ways.
I think we all agree Joker is by far the best player on the planet and he's going to be on the very short list of GOAT candidates. I would also take Tatum over Giannis in a heartbeat. He's a much more complete player.

I just hate watching Giannis. He’s effective and a great overall player, but I just hate his game, whining, brute force offense style.

Glad we have Tatum. The more Tatum embraces the role of all-around player instead of alpha dog shot creator, the better it is for everyone especially him.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

KAT is the softest NBA player I’ve ever seen.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Celtics schedule is really easy the rest of the way. 19-6 or better gets them 60 wins. I think they’ll get there, probably 61-63.

 

[RobertWeathers]

KAT is the softest NBA player I’ve ever seen.

Yea I can't figure him out. Guy is pulling down 13 boards a game and is 260lbs but god forbid he uses that physicality to intimidate.

 

[jimnance]

We're seeing the real C's. Like I've said all year, injuries are the only thing that stops them from winning the title again.
Cavs and OKC are tough but C's are tougher.
Mazzulla has grown into one of the very best HC's in the NBA.
He's easily top 3.
And so young. He's only going to get even better.
Love how he read JT the riot act for not getting back on D in this game. He does that all the time.
Speaking of young, I totally forgot how young Jason Tatum is(26)! Are you f'n kidding me?! Seems like he's been here forever.
Scary for the rest of the NBA.

 

[RobertWeathers]

We're seeing the real C's. Like I've said all year, injuries are the only thing that stops them from winning the title again.
Cavs and OKC are tough but C's are tougher.
Mazzulla has grown into one of the very best HC's in the NBA.
He's easily top 3.
And so young. He's only going to get even better.
Love how he read JT the riot act for not getting back on D in this game. He does that all the time.
Speaking of young, I totally forgot how young Jason Tatum is(26)! Are you f'n kidding me?! Seems like he's been here forever.
Scary for the rest of the NBA.

I resigned myself to them playing .500 ball until the playoffs. Glad I was wrong.

You are spot-on. Mazz got them to come around. That's great coaching.

KP is playing well. Took a bit of time to get him back in the flow. Jru's shoulder is a concern but he looked fine today.

CLE and OKC are solid teams. I'm more concerned with OKC.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Coaches don’t really do anything. Celtics 3 point shooting has normalized and they’re no longer throwing games away to lesser teams. It wasn’t on Mazulla when they were playing poorly nor is it on him now that they’re back to their expected level. This is the best (or at least top 2) NBA roster.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Coaches don’t really do anything. Celtics 3 point shooting has normalized and they’re no longer throwing games away to lesser teams. It wasn’t on Mazulla when they were playing poorly nor is it on him now that they’re back to their expected level. This is the best (or at least top 2) NBA roster.

Agree. It wasn't on Mazz that they were in a slump. But what is on Mazz is to keep the team's temperament and locker room vibe healthy. Not to get too down, complacent, or anxious. Stay true to itself and style of play it wins with. It is his job to put players in the right spots to be successful stort and long term. Like resting Jru. Getting on JT for slacking on D. Tweaking substitution patterns, etc

Knowing when to and not press buttons is the job and he's doing it.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Yea I can't figure him out. Guy is pulling down 13 boards a game and is 260lbs but god forbid he uses that physicality to intimidate.

He’s a ****y.

Now you know.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I have a feeling the east goes through Boston again this year. I don’t think the Cavs over the Bucks or Knicks is any sure thing.

 

[ViperGTS]

I have a feeling the east goes through Boston again this year. I don’t think the Cavs over the Bucks or Knicks is any sure thing.

Sounds more and more like it. Thing is, the other teams might have a Brown type. Or a KP type. They don't have a Tatum for sure and definitely not a Tatum, Brown and KP. Thats doing a disservice to White and Holliday as well. Not to mention Hauser and Pitch.