Funny how things changed thes past couple of games when he no longer has to defend two players all night. There may not be a more overrated player in the league than Trae.Good call. He's atrocious.
Another one that just doesn't do it and could is Dejounte Murray. Guy had it all, went to Atlanta and literally stopped playing defense altogether. Like, yeah they suck on defense there, but he's pouring gasoline on the problem.
Oh I bet we could get a decently long list together of players more overrated than TraeThere may not be a more overrated player in the league than Trae.
Could we get an Ewing Effect with Young out over the next month?Funny how things changed thes past couple of games when he no longer has to defend two players all night. There may not be a more overrated player in the league than Trae.
I think that he changed when he got his bag too, but no argument on Trae. He's an extremely gifted offensive player, but the worst defensive player in the league.Funny how things changed thes past couple of games when he no longer has to defend two players all night. There may not be a more overrated player in the league than Trae.
CJM is running player rotation, match-up, and style experiments over the next 24.I know there’s an impulse to just want the playoffs to start now. Part of me just wishes we could fast forward to a Nuggets finals so we could get on with it.
But I’m going to do my best to savor these last 24 games. You never know when we might get the stars aligned like this again, and games like the last two, where the Cs just seem to put themselves in another gear and assert their will and just brush inferior opponents aside are just so fun to watch. I don’t want to miss a minute of it.
I’m also getting to be very high on Coach Joe. He just seems to have complete buy-in across the board and the team is happy and on-message in a way that’s pretty remarkable.
Who has been asked to carry a team while an MVP is out.Maxey isn’t a one-way shooting guard though. He’s a 23-yr old kid who has figured out a lot on the defensive end his first few years in the league and still has more to do as a playmaker.
That would imply that Young is actually a winning basketball player. More addition by subtraction imo.Could we get an Ewing Effect with Young out over the next month?
Ha, I like the subtle pile-onThat would imply that Young is actually a winning basketball player. More addition by subtraction imo.
Agree, it's all performance art with Kyrie....Those Kyrie guarding Giannis scars run deep, it was a full on middle finger to Danny/Brad/fans/teammatesMy favorite little guy defender to hate on is Kyrie because, well, fuck him, but also because he is such a phony about it. When he’s getting backed down, he makes a big show of doing lots of business to make it look like he’s trying but ultimately if his lazy swipes at the ball don’t result in a lucky steal he is completely indifferent.
Feels like he’s more solid at making the most of any contact/flopping if the latest Celts game is any indication.. felt like he was constantly on the floor.Agree, it's all performance art with Kyrie....Those Kyrie guarding Giannis scars run deep, it was a full on middle finger to Danny/Brad/fans/teammates
OTOH Jalen Brunson is that short PG who is really smart. Not only does he have the girth to push back 4/5s for 3-4 seconds but he is solid at taking charges.
I would like to see at least some Xavier Tillman over the next 24. I think he's played maybe 2 minutes since the trade?CJM is running player rotation, match-up, and style experiments over the next 24.
These games are gold for an analytically driven HC/team.
The Celtics have been excellent with KP/Al shrink wrap/load mgmt all season. Just hope they lean into that more with Tillman/Luke getting more minutes
Once we hit the road and have some B2B’s where there is opportunity. Nobody is going to lose rotation minutes for the purpose of getting a guy some run until we are a little shorthanded which will be coming soon.I would like to see at least some Xavier Tillman over the next 24. I think he's played maybe 2 minutes since the trade?
Kemba Walker EffectThat would imply that Young is actually a winning basketball player. More addition by subtraction imo.
Brunson is 2nd in charges drawn this year. Podz is leading the category by quite a bit. Great draft pick by the WarriorsFeels like he’s more solid at making the most of any contact/flopping if the latest Celts game is any indication.. felt like he was constantly on the floor.
Bingo. After living the IT/Kemba experience, you just don't want to pay MAX $$$ for pointZ + no defense.Kemba Walker Effect
Word. We are witnessing something unique here. There have been many great teams but I can‘t recall one with the combination of skill, versatility, and intelligent play across the entire starting five that these guys have shown most of this season. Plus they’re very likable. Let’s sit back and enjoy the ride.But I’m going to do my best to savor these last 24 games. You never know when we might get the stars aligned like this again, and games like the last two, where the Cs just seem to put themselves in another gear and assert their will and just brush inferior opponents aside are just so fun to watch. I don’t want to miss a minute of it.
It's kind of funny to see Brunson getting credit for being 2nd in total charges drawn while remembering Kemba's ineptness on defense in the same post. Kemba was 3rd in charges drawn in 2019, 7th in 2020 and tied for 1st in 2021, even as he played just 43 games. Drawing charges is nice but like steals, it doesn't come close to capturing how effective someone is defensively.Brunson is 2nd in charges drawn this year. Podz is leading the category by quite a bit. Great draft pick by the Warriors
https://www.nba.com/stats/players/hustle-leaders
Bingo. After living the IT/Kemba experience, you just don't want to pay MAX $$$ for pointZ + no defense.
Your halfcourt playoff defense is only as strong as its weakest link
Just the other day I heard Rick Kamla on NBA radio propose a Laker trade for Trae YoungThere may not be a more overrated player in the league than Trae.
Hollinger posted an article that posited soemthing like Reaves, Russell, filler and three firsts for Trae.Just the other day I heard Rick Kamla on NBA radio propose a Laker trade for Trae Young
(multiple firsts and Reeves or something) that would, he said, immediately make them the best team in the league.
Kemba floated in the lane & drew charges. The bigger problem was Kemba's knee was so shot that he put up zero resistance when matched up against a BIG/Wing in the paint for more than a second. CookedIt's kind of funny to see Brunson getting credit for being 2nd in total charges drawn while remembering Kemba's ineptness on defense in the same post. Kemba was 3rd in charges drawn in 2019, 7th in 2020 and tied for 1st in 2021, even as he played just 43 games. Drawing charges is nice but like steals, it doesn't come close to capturing how effective someone is defensively.
Maybe like one fewer draft pick but I think we're discovering that mid-low draft picks are worth less than they were a few years ago.Hollinger posted an article that posited soemthing like Reaves, Russell, filler and three firsts for Trae.
I doubt it takes that much to get Trae.
https://theathletic.com/5305111/2024/02/28/trae-young-injury-return-atlanta-hawks-future-lakers/. Assuming ATL's front office has half a brain, unprotected 2029 and 2031 would be non-negotiable but the 2024 pick is not a great one given what people think of the draft so more like 2.5 firsts.Hollinger posted an article that posited soemthing like Reaves, Russell, filler and three firsts for Trae.
I doubt it takes that much to get Trae.
I haven't been all that impressive with Brunson defensively, other than the charges drawn there really doesn't seem to be too much there. I honestly didn't see enough of Kemba in Charlotte to comment on his defense, but DARKO makes it look like Kemba was solidly better defensively than Brunson at the same age:Kemba floated in the lane & drew charges. The bigger problem was Kemba's knee was so shot that he put up zero resistance when matched up against a BIG/Wing in the paint for more than a second. Cooked
OTOH Brunson immediately gets physical with BIGs/Wings, when they push back he tries to draw a charge. Right out of the Marcus Smart playbook.
Their approach is/was completely different. I mean Kemba lasted 4 weeks with Thibs, while Brunson barely leaves the floor.
Watching Kemba Walker play defense for Boston turned us all into Exasperated Guy
When it comes to Kemba I only speak of his Boston years, he was a helluva of a player until MJ decided to pass on MAXing him.I haven't been all that impressive with Brunson defensively, other than the charges drawn there really doesn't seem to be too much there. I honestly didn't see enough of Kemba in Charlotte to comment on his defense, but DARKO makes it look like Kemba was solidly better defensively than Brunson at the same age:
View attachment 78847
Kemba only lasted a few weeks with Thibs, but this is in large part because he was 31 and already wracked with injuries. Brunson has missed 18 games in a little under two seasons with Thibs, but at the same age, (26-27), Kemba missed just 5 games in two full seasons.
Kemba's defensse, or lack of the, was ignored in Charlotte bc nobody really cared about the Bobcats/Hornets and opponents never gave them their A-game. He was always an awful defender similar to many small guards we've been discussing the past few days.I haven't been all that impressive with Brunson defensively, other than the charges drawn there really doesn't seem to be too much there. I honestly didn't see enough of Kemba in Charlotte to comment on his defense, but DARKO makes it look like Kemba was solidly better defensively than Brunson at the same age:
View attachment 78847
Kemba only lasted a few weeks with Thibs, but this is in large part because he was 31 and already wracked with injuries. Brunson has missed 18 games in a little under two seasons with Thibs, but at the same age, (26-27), Kemba missed just 5 games in two full seasons.
I like Brunson on that end better than most as he is very crafty, like a guard version of Jokic who has turned himself into a plus defender. I don't rate Brunson as a plus defender but what he brings is an effort that is different that Haliburton, Trae, Lillard and some others. He makes defensive plays with his IQ alone and he is one of the smartest players in the league imo.I won't defend Kemba's defense (here or in Charlotte), only to say that Brunson isn't much better than most of the small guards we think of as defensive liabilities.
Small guards aren't necessarily poor defenders. Van Vleet and Lowry stand out as 2 guys who get after it using their low body strength to compensate for being short. Brunson seems to fit that mode. PP (to shift this thread back to the C's) has been much better this year, I think because he's stronger than in past years. We'll see if it holds up in the playoffs.I won't defend Kemba's defense (here or in Charlotte), only to say that Brunson isn't much better than most of the small guards we think of as defensive liabilities.
Don’t forget Chris Paul who was elite his entire career.Small guards aren't necessarily poor defenders. Van Vleet and Lowry stand out as 2 guys who get after it using their low body strength to compensate for being short. Brunson seems to fit that mode. PP (to shift this thread back to the C's) has been much better this year, I think because he's stronger than in past years. We'll see if it holds up in the playoffs.
I know, there are some real good ones (Lowry especially). I meant that Brunson isn't much better than the smaller guards mentioned in this thread (Haliburton, Lillard, Young) defensively. I don't think he's in the same neighborhood as guys like Lowry/VanVleet/CP3, he's probably about as effective as Pritchard in that regard. That's not awful (it's more than serviceable during the regular season), but there are playoff matchups where it will cause the Knicks trouble. He's not going to be played off the court like Pritchard could potentially be because his offense is so good, but it's absolutely gonna matter at some point.Small guards aren't necessarily poor defenders. Van Vleet and Lowry stand out as 2 guys who get after it using their low body strength to compensate for being short. Brunson seems to fit that mode. PP (to shift this thread back to the C's) has been much better this year, I think because he's stronger than in past years. We'll see if it holds up in the playoffs.
, I’m leaning more toward adding a veteran to the buy-out market. Otto Porter Jr’s name appears to be the most prominent within social media circles. Patty Mills could emerge as bench depth at the guard position behind Payton Pritchard. And just to clear this up, recently-released forward Marcus Morris is not a target, as his $17 million contract was over the non-taxpayer veteran minimum, making the Celtics ineligible to acquire him due to the restrictions placed on second-apron teams.
He's already been posting here a few times recently,.From today's Celtics Chronicle Mailbag in response to a reader question about the last roster spot. Someone should get Adam a membership.
My posts sucks as I made a terrible joke and it landed how it should.He's already been posting here a few times recently,.
Was just a stupid mistake, they said the Celtics were welcoming back Grant Williams and the Mavs.Tweet deleted
I'd hope that Morris wasn't a target at any price.From today's Celtics Chronicle Mailbag in response to a reader question about the last roster spot. Someone should get Adam a membership.
I'm curious about this. This equates to +14.25 per 48 minutes. For an elite team, is that stat truly amazing? Like, what were the (for example) 2008 Celts starters per 48? The 86 Celtics? Some recent Warriors teams? 90s Bulls?(2) BOS's starters have a 124.0 ORtg when on the floor together. According to NBA.com, they've only played together 495 minutes over 30 games and they are +147 during that span. Amazing.
Someone who has Stathead can probably figure this out quickly but there's some information in this article about the greatest starting 5s in NBA history:I'm curious about this. This equates to +14.25 per 48 minutes. For an elite team, is that stat truly amazing? Like, what were the (for example) 2008 Celts starters per 48? The 86 Celtics? Some recent Warriors teams? 90s Bulls?
Thanks. That's helpful. +14.25 is obviously outstanding but it's not a historically good figure.Someone who has Stathead can probably figure this out quickly but there's some information in this article about the greatest starting 5s in NBA history:
For example, the article says that 2001-02 Spurs (Smith, Bowen, Duncan, Parker, Robinson) had a NRtg of 18.5 and the 2014-15 + 2015-16 OKC (Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Roberson, Adams) had a NRtg of 17.6 over two seasons in more than 1000 minutes.
@Brand Name can probably give you chapter and verse.
The minutes figure then makes me wonder if Joe doesn’t let this lineup stay in the game long with huge leads. Like if he’s quicker to break up that five with minutes from Pritchard/hauser/etc than those other teams, this stat might not tell the full story.Thanks. That's helpful. +14.25 is obviously outstanding but it's not a historically good figure.
Well, the lineups to which we are comparing them are historically great so at least they are in the company of historically great lineups.Thanks. That's helpful. +14.25 is obviously outstanding but it's not a historically good figure.
Another data point in support of your statement. You can get P/M numbers for this season (and lots of other season) here: https://www.pbpstats.com/totals/nba/lineup-opponent?Season=2023-24&SeasonType=Regular+SeasonThanks. That's helpful. +14.25 is obviously outstanding but it's not a historically good figure.