The bolded sounds right to me for the overall feel of the team, even if I think the win total is high.I feel strong Ewing theory vibes with Kyrie leaving. A step forward for Jaylen and Tatum. Better ball movement and team basketball.
Still likely a first or second round playoff exit, but Portland Trailblazers esque 54 ish win season, a competitive playoff series then out at the hands of Sixers or Bucks
This is where I'm at plus Hayward takes another big step forward. The team will enjoy having fun again- just watching the Summer League squad the enthusiasm level will be more like the IT years. So, 50.I feel strong Ewing theory vibes with Kyrie leaving. A step forward for Jaylen and Tatum. Better ball movement and team basketball.
I think (or hope) that Tatum and Brown don't feel like they're liberated or something and return to form..as well as Hayward feeling better and maybe taking a bit more control of the offense or his own offense at least. I also think that Kemba, while being a lesser player than Irving is a better fit for this team.. and will also hopefully slot in better.This is where I'm at plus Hayward takes another big step forward. The team will enjoy having fun again- just watching the Summer League squad the enthusiasm level will be more like the IT years. So, 50.
Aron opted in. The Celtics wanted him but Danny had to trade him in order to create cap space to sign KembaI think (or hope) that Tatum and Brown don't feel like they're liberated or something and return to form..as well as Hayward feeling better and maybe taking a bit more control of the offense or his own offense at least. I also think that Kemba, while being a lesser player than Irving is a better fit for this team.. and will also hopefully slot in better.
I feel like they'll miss Horford more on offense..since he spread the floor a bit more and was a good passer. I feel like his defense and rebounding is definitely in decline, but perhaps there's something about his rotations that I wasn't seeing. His defense down low especially didn't seem to be particularly dominant, but again I may be wrong. I'm not sure why they didn't re-sign Baynes...but his injury history may be part of it. He seemed like a good fit.
Ah..I see. I've been a bit out of it the loop/not totally understood all of the moves that have gone on.Aron opted in. The Celtics wanted him but Danny had to trade him in order to create cap space to sign Kemba
Kyrie may be a jerk and may have helped derail the Celts season, but by nearly every single measure, Kyrie is a decently better basketball player than Kemba.and Kemba is a slight upgrade against Kyrie.
True--the thing is that the first part of that sentence is getting close to "other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?" territory. Kemba also did rate higher offensively by RPM (lower defensively) than Kyrie.Kyrie may be a jerk and may have helped derail the Celts season, but by nearly every single measure, Kyrie is a decently better basketball player than Kemba.
One of the many big question marks will be how a ball dominant PG fits into CBS' offensive scheme. It didn't work last year, but I'm highly suspicious of how much CBS' guidance was listened to by Kyrie. All indications seem to be that Kemba is more coachable. I expect CBS will be spending a lot of time over the summer figuring out how to do it better.I just think Kemba will run the team better then Kyrie. Other then working with Al he didn't really work well with any other player and became one dimensional especially in the second half of the season. The one on five hero moves got tiresome.
One where Kemba is better: getting to the line, a Celtics weakness last year. But over all I think we are looking at a worse player but better fit - for both personality and basketball reasons.Kyrie may be a jerk and may have helped derail the Celts season, but by nearly every single measure, Kyrie is a decently better basketball player than Kemba.
I don't worry about this at all. The Celtics have had ball-dominant PGs running Brad's system for 4+ years now. (Since the trade for IT). By all accounts, Kemba is a bit more like IT than Kyrie in terms of his ability to work off-ball. There some good video of him here showing some of the stuff he can do for the Celtics.One of the many big question marks will be how a ball dominant PG fits into CBS' offensive scheme. It didn't work last year, but I'm highly suspicious of how much CBS' guidance was listened to by Kyrie. All indications seem to be that Kemba is more coachable. I expect CBS will be spending a lot of time over the summer figuring out how to do it better.
I think we'll definitely see that in the frontcourt, where the Celtics have a bunch of rookies and role player types guys vying for minutes. It will probably be les true with their 5 guard/wings: Kemba, Smart, Brown, Tatum, Hayward, who will probably have more of a set rotation.One thing I really hope CBS does better this year is being more flexible with substitutions. It looks way to time scripted to me and not based on what is actually happening in the game. If you have a good matchup and taking advantage of it don't sub out the "hot" player just because of some time maintenance you are doing. Continue to take advantage of it until the opposing coach responds. Obviously an injury time restriction is another matter.
Despises hero ball.I just think Kemba will run the team better then Kyrie. Other then working with Al he didn't really work well with any other player and became one dimensional especially in the second half of the season. The one on five hero moves got tiresome.
We should all be mocked for not demanding a 60-win categoryResults will be public, you will be mocked.
50 wins, a lot has to go right, so put me down on team Green Goggles
1. Jays' step up.
2. Healing Gordon is much better than last season.
3. Brad devises schemes/matchups to hide a weak frontcourt for the first half of the season.
4. Rookies add value.
5. EC is worse
6. Kemba is 2nd coming of healthy IT
7. Danny makes upgrades at the trade deadline
2/3s of the folks around here are below 49.5, skeptical movement alive and well in the Port Cellar
Let's see what it looks like at the end of Brad's Load Management January. Right now we're on a 60 win pace.aging well
Yep. Triple OT seems to have nailed it. In fact, if the Celtics continue to win 75% of their games, that's 61+ wins.aging well
The Celtics keep climbing that wall of worry.2/3s of the folks around here are below 49.5, skeptical movement alive and well in the Port Cellar
I’m not surprised by improved chemistry with Kemba. I’m not surprised by Brown’s leap. I’m not surprised Hayward has looked better. I’m not surprised Tatum has improved. I watched them play in USA bball and read up all summer; I was pretty optimistic these things would happen to boost the offense and overall team effort.Could it be that some prognosticators underestimated the positive effect of Kyrie's departure? Just sayin'.... And Horford's departure hasn't had the negative effect that some NBA media types predicted.
Actually, bringing them both back would be diminishing returns because Brad isn't taking two of GH, JB, JT, KW, and MS off the court for those two for any important stretch within a game.I feel like if they brought Baynes and Al back they’d be even better. It has to be true, right? But is it?
While I agree with you completely, I too am surprised that both the defense and the offense didn't take a bigger hit with Al's departure. Especially the defense.Actually, bringing them both back would be diminishing returns because Brad isn't taking two of GH, JB, JT, KW, and MS off the court for those two for any important stretch within a game.
While Baynes or Horford might help in certain matchups, I have to say that the The Is / Kanter / TL rotation has been pretty interesting to watch. Just between The Is and Kanter, the C position is averagin 15.1 points / 13.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. There's a video about the Cs offense posted in (I think) the general thread that shows that The Is really knows how to run the offense and he's still 12th in the league in blocked shots per game.
As for Kanter, I know how everyone rags on him but he's posting his highest DBPM in his career and believe it or not (or useless stat or not), he's leading the team in WS/48. Plus, as others have noted, it's great option to have to be able to dump the ball down to him to generate offense when needed.
One other note. Not having to pay Al this year really helps out ownership. Hopefully it's not an impediment in the playoffs but from a financial and developmental perspective, the Cs are better with the guys they have than with Horford and maybe even with Baynes.
I was definitely in the camp of thinking we would miss Horford the most.Actually, bringing them both back would be diminishing returns because Brad isn't taking two of GH, JB, JT, KW, and MS off the court for those two for any important stretch within a game.
While Baynes or Horford might help in certain matchups, I have to say that the The Is / Kanter / TL rotation has been pretty interesting to watch. Just between The Is and Kanter, the C position is averagin 15.1 points / 13.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. There's a video about the Cs offense posted in (I think) the general thread that shows that The Is really knows how to run the offense and he's still 12th in the league in blocked shots per game.
As for Kanter, I know how everyone rags on him but he's posting his highest DBPM in his career and believe it or not (or useless stat or not), he's leading the team in WS/48. Plus, as others have noted, it's great option to have to be able to dump the ball down to him to generate offense when needed.
One other note. Not having to pay Al this year really helps out ownership. Hopefully it's not an impediment in the playoffs but from a financial and developmental perspective, the Cs are better with the guys they have than with Horford and maybe even with Baynes.
agreedI was definitely in the camp of thinking we would miss Horford the most.
i'm not a fan of DBPM or WS, but other advanced stats are showing the same for Kanter. RPM, PIPM and On-Off numbers are excellent as well, even the defensive side of them. He still looks terrible defensively, but somehow it's not affecting team results. I give Brad a lot of credit for utilizing Theis and Kanter wisely.
As was I until I noticed that the Celtics were getting top 10 defensive ratings before Horford showed up. And that was with Zeller, Sullinger and Olynyk manning the middle.I was definitely in the camp of thinking we would miss Horford the most.
i'm not a fan of DBPM or WS, but other advanced stats are showing the same for Kanter. RPM, PIPM and On-Off numbers are excellent as well, even the defensive side of them. He still looks terrible defensively, but somehow it's not affecting team results. I give Brad a lot of credit for utilizing Theis and Kanter wisely.
for what its worth, Horford putting up the best off/def net rating amongst the 76ers startersAs was I until I noticed that the Celtics were getting top 10 defensive ratings before Horford showed up. And that was with Zeller, Sullinger and Olynyk manning the middle.
Funny aside, but when I clicked your link and sorted by NRtg to see who was on top, who should have the best NRtg in the entire NBA other than . . . .for what its worth, Horford putting up the best off/def net rating amongst the 76ers starters
https://stats.nba.com/players/advanced/?sort=TEAM_ABBREVIATION&dir=1
But FWIW, I would have to attribute this to Horford playing against a lot of second units. PHI's second unit is way better than most everyone else's. For example, I finally got to watch some of the MIL-PHI game and as the rotations are currently set, PHI's second unit would kill MIL's second unit in a seven-game series.for what its worth, Horford putting up the best off/def net rating amongst the 76ers starters