2019-2020 Celtics Regular Season Thread
- Thread starter Devizier
- Start date
I recall some folks pining for Wanamaker over Terry during the playoffs last year and I think his recent run of play backs up that notion. He's basically the anti-Terry: he can actually dribble a basketball, he's got court vision, solid passer, solid defender, etc.
Semi is having a historic season. In the history of the NBA, there are only 6 players who have played more than 80 minutes and scored seven points or less. The list.
Erick Dampier (2011-12) = 83 mp / 2 pts
Charles Jones (1996-97) = 93 mp / 4 pts
Mark Madsen (2008-09) = 116 mp / 6 pts
Semi Ojeleye (2019-20) = 84 mp / 7 pts
Ronnie Brewer (2013-14) = 160 mp / 7 pts
Aaron McKie (2005-06) = 121 mp / 7 pts
Funny thing, only one (Mark Masden) had a negative WS (he was at -0.1).
http://bkref.com/tiny/2jPNy
BTW, this second, the only guys who have played 80 or more minutes and have under 20 points beside Semi is David Nwaba (80 minutes; 14 points - kind of surprising to me); Sefolosha (86 minutes; 16 points); and Kurucs (92 minutes; 19 points).
Small sample size, but I have been surprised at how little GW and Edwards have contributed offensively this season, based on what they showed in the pre-season. I realize GW wasn't asked to shoot threes in college, but it's a shame that he hasn't been able to knock down a few of the wide open 3PAs that he's had this year.
Yeah, based on Grant’s touch and college FT%, it’s likely just one of those things. It usually takes everyone a bit to extend range, but it’s fairly projectable.
Semi and Wanamaker are fine deep bench pieces (#10-13). Cheap. Experienced. Don't complain.
Semi should only be used as a back-up versus strong, point forward scorer types, that are not great shooters. While that's a narrow category definition it also happens to contain some important players: Bron, Giannis, Simmons, etc
I'm not sure what people want from Wanamaker. He was solid last season and he seems a bit better now. 3rd string PGs at less than a $1.5MM that shoot 3s, FTs, FG% at a good level and play strong defense are value-added on a roster
Semi should only be used as a back-up versus strong, point forward scorer types, that are not great shooters. While that's a narrow category definition it also happens to contain some important players: Bron, Giannis, Simmons, etc
I'm not sure what people want from Wanamaker. He was solid last season and he seems a bit better now. 3rd string PGs at less than a $1.5MM that shoot 3s, FTs, FG% at a good level and play strong defense are value-added on a roster
agree. Grant will be fine, he's finding his way.
Edwards just looks so flustered. He has to learn how to come off the bench and be a low volume shooter. Maybe a few games in Maine
to regain his shot in-game would be useful. He also could add value by picking up the ball on defense full court, try to be a pest, drain the opponents shot clock and make it difficult for teams to get into their halfcourt offense.I really like Grant/Carsen a lot and expect they'll be important rotational pieces by season end. I expect Brad will figure out a way to get them minutes and build up their confidence while not hurting the C's chances of winning.
The Celtics have four players averaging 9.6 or more drives to the basket so far this season. Last season, they had only one, Kyrie at 11.4, and no one else even averaged 6.
Kemba 11.9
GH 11.5
Brown 10.7
Tatum 9.6
The three that were with the Cs last year have doubled their amount of drives to the hoop this season. It was a lot easier for other teams to play defense last season when the Celtics stood around like statues and let Kyrie fiddle and diddle. BTW, little Kemba shooting .692 at the rim so far. Celtics 20th in FTA and 17th in FTs, after being 29th and 28th last season. 25% more FTs and FTAs per game this season with these driving fools.
Kemba 11.9
GH 11.5
Brown 10.7
Tatum 9.6
The three that were with the Cs last year have doubled their amount of drives to the hoop this season. It was a lot easier for other teams to play defense last season when the Celtics stood around like statues and let Kyrie fiddle and diddle. BTW, little Kemba shooting .692 at the rim so far. Celtics 20th in FTA and 17th in FTs, after being 29th and 28th last season. 25% more FTs and FTAs per game this season with these driving fools.
With GH out, my concern of late is that there are often times when there seems to be hardly anyone on the floor that can put the ball in the basket. Kemba's great, but if he's on the floor with TL, GW, Wannamaker, and Green it's pretty obvious who is going to be taking a shot. GW's obviously a rookie with less than 10 games of experience, but I'd like to seem him bet a bit more aggressive with getting involved in the offense. Sometimes Kemba is able to just take over a game and come down and hit a 3 every trip down the floor, but nobody can do that all the time.
This really isn’t much worse than the group around Kemba when he led the 11th-ranked offense in Charlotte last year.
Good pull on the stat. Observationally this is the huge difference I see---both running sets that enable more penetration, and also more aggressivenvess from the players (Brown and Hayward in particular). This will be tougher against the best teams and in the playoffs, but it's a huge sign of progress for the offense thus far.
You realize every team has jags at the end of the bench, yes?
Might as well use it on young guys who can occasionally get hot from 3 or defend a guy like Giannis when needed.
Brad told us before the season began that he would experiment with many different rotations to start the season. He's followed through with that promise.
Brad has been completely on point this season
Nice article on Javonte Green in Glob today: https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2019/11/12/javonte-green-has-real-opportunity-with-celtics/Pv82kibxaVzJz1FU3IFdDO/story.html.
If he can turn into an above-average defensive player (or better), that would really be something. He certainly has the athletic ability but to my eye, he has to learn positioning and get better at anticipating actions to be a defensive stopper. But he's definitely learning so fingers and toes crossed.
If he can turn into an above-average defensive player (or better), that would really be something. He certainly has the athletic ability but to my eye, he has to learn positioning and get better at anticipating actions to be a defensive stopper. But he's definitely learning so fingers and toes crossed.
View: https://twitter.com/sportingnews/status/1194344216958316544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1194344216958316544&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Fceltics-8-game-win-streak-211032268.html
"In 605 games with the Hornets, Kemba Walker's longest win streak was 7 games. In 9 games with the Celtics, Kemba Walker's longest win streak is 8 games (and counting)."
"In 605 games with the Hornets, Kemba Walker's longest win streak was 7 games. In 9 games with the Celtics, Kemba Walker's longest win streak is 8 games (and counting)."
I'm willing to admit that I was Team Strus in the preseason, on the theory that whichever of the two made it wasn't going to play anyway so better to go with the upside guy. The fact that there's a need for Green to play a bench role NOW completely undoes the logic of my prior opinion.
Tonight's game is going to be an adventure of sorts.
View: https://twitter.com/RedsArmy_John/status/1194743679363276800?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/RedsArmy_John/status/1194749222974873600?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/RedsArmy_John/status/1194751004891332608?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/RedsArmy_John/status/1194743679363276800?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/RedsArmy_John/status/1194749222974873600?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/RedsArmy_John/status/1194751004891332608?s=20
IT starting PG for Washington, but by the look of his stats he is not the same guy - he barely gets to the line these days.
ha. Jaylen Brown is the 4 now and MaMo isn't here anymore so all is good in my book with Brad's lineups/
Plus I'm on Team Edwards this season
Updated C's opponent +/- after this game
Philadelphia (a lonely "L"): +2.6/11th
Toronto: +5.8/6th
NYK: -10.8/30th
Milwaukee: +8.1/3rd
Cleveland: -0.9/18th
Charlotte: -6.9/27th
San Antonio: -0.5/16th
Dallas: +3.0/10th
Washington: -4.4/24th
So they have beaten three current top ten teams in +/- and taken care of the dregs decently enough. Looking ahead at the next few games:
Golden State: -9.5/29th
Sacramento: -4.7/25th
Phoenix: +6/2/4th
LAC: +3.7/9th
Denver: +2.3/13th
BKNY: -2.2/20th
The back end of this road-trip looks pretty grueling, especially if the injuries persist. That said, at present, your top team in the NBA by record and +/- is Boston Celtics at +9.2. Pretty damn impressive start.
Philadelphia (a lonely "L"): +2.6/11th
Toronto: +5.8/6th
NYK: -10.8/30th
Milwaukee: +8.1/3rd
Cleveland: -0.9/18th
Charlotte: -6.9/27th
San Antonio: -0.5/16th
Dallas: +3.0/10th
Washington: -4.4/24th
So they have beaten three current top ten teams in +/- and taken care of the dregs decently enough. Looking ahead at the next few games:
Golden State: -9.5/29th
Sacramento: -4.7/25th
Phoenix: +6/2/4th
LAC: +3.7/9th
Denver: +2.3/13th
BKNY: -2.2/20th
The back end of this road-trip looks pretty grueling, especially if the injuries persist. That said, at present, your top team in the NBA by record and +/- is Boston Celtics at +9.2. Pretty damn impressive start.
Just kidding.
There were a couple of times tonight where their abject shortness hampered them, but they rebounded and defended well from a height POV. Nice team rebounding night, with everyone getting 2-5 rebounds after Kanter's 9.
Porous defense overall though, particularly off ball. Won't win against good teams defending like that. Theis and TL shouldn't be allowed to travel together. Between them and Hayward being out, it looked like a Western Conference game for much of the night.
Couldn't catch the game live so I (re-) discovered FreeDawkins recaps. Just a bang-up job of editing, basically done live during the game and posted very shortly thereafter.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smnx7ARZ948
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smnx7ARZ948
Dawkins and others like him (MLG Highlights, House of Highlights) are basically how I watch most of the NBA.
I've continued to be impressed by the team's ball movement. I feel like that starts with Kemba not pounding the ball as much as Kyrie, who despite being an efficient scorer would often kill 10-12 seconds before getting into the offense. With a more sharing atmosphere, it is not surprising we are seeing more perimeter passing which in turn is allowing the J's (and Hayward) to drive more frequently to the basket.
watching an older, slower IT4 get posted by Marcus Smarf last night was sad.
I have to believe the cold, heartless Danny Ainge drew up that play.
oh yea, I know I have the label of wanting to ALWAYS play BIG because I liked Baynes/Horford BUT playing "small" isn't a problem when guys play consistent defense, exert effort and rotate.
MaMo, Kyrie, Rozier couldn't or didn't want to do that last season.
No big deal because the smartest, most successful teams in the NBA, the NY Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats, Brklyn Nets, decided it was smart to pay each of them big money
The debate over Carsen Edwards has been moved to its own thread:
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/putting-the-c-in-arsen.28829/
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/putting-the-c-in-arsen.28829/
Walker taking 10 threes a game and banging home 44 percent of them is terrific. Kyrie was a good outside shooter, but never took more than 6.8 per game in Boston. 10 threes a game at 44 percent is Steph Curry territory. The only guy to average 10 three attempts per game and shoot higher than 44 percent is Curry, who did it once in his famous 15-16 season.
NiceNo big deal because the smartest, most successful teams in the NBA, the NY Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats, Brklyn Nets, decided it was smart to pay each of them big money
Zach Lowe with some love for the Celtics D in his first item today:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28067196/ten-nba-things-like-including-supercharged-celtics
He chose one of my favorite Kemba defensive possessions this year: that stunt/recover at the end of the clip is completely ludicrous athletically.
Of course Lowe finishes with the obligatory "if they upgrade the frontcourt, look out," which seems to be one of those national media narratives that's lagging a couple weeks behind the actual situation.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28067196/ten-nba-things-like-including-supercharged-celtics
He chose one of my favorite Kemba defensive possessions this year: that stunt/recover at the end of the clip is completely ludicrous athletically.
Of course Lowe finishes with the obligatory "if they upgrade the frontcourt, look out," which seems to be one of those national media narratives that's lagging a couple weeks behind the actual situation.
Predictions for the coming road trip? Miami, Philly, Toronto and the Bucks have all had significant west coast swings, so I think we'll have a better idea of where we really stand after this trip. I'm going 3-2, with losses in Phoenix and Denver. Clippers are a real wild card because you never know who's going to play.
when anyone says this:
"Daniel Theis has made a strong case to start even with Kanter healthy."
We know they are not paying attention to what Brad has said numerous times since the preseason.
BUT he does an outstanding job of pointing out rotation/help defense. Something MaMo or Kyrie didn't do at ALL last season
We haven't had much of an opportunity to see Brad's crunch time lineup with everyone healthy, but I wonder how much he'd go super small with Tatum at the 5 against most matchups. If that's the plan, which allows the Celtics to put their best 5 guys on floor (with Marcus Smart in place of the typical 5), then I don't see a need to upgrade the center position, even putting aside the fact that Williams, Theis and Kanter are all playing pretty well and bring complementary skills sets to the table.
While not a true rim protector, Tatum's weakside help defense has come far enough that I think that lineup has potential. Obviously certain matchups (Embiid, etc.) would force the Celtics to play a traditional big, but I think it gets some run once Hayward is back.
It's hard to think of a center who's going to be available who really moves the needle much. The team doesn't need scoring from the 5 spot; the strength of this team is built around 4 or 5 guys who all attack the basket from the perimeter, and can all shoot, pass and defend. A Valenciunas type doesn't fit with that. Steven Adams' contract is an albatross and the C's can't match that salary anyway. Capela maybe, but would the Celtics give up significant assets to pay Capela on that contract, when they have a guy who might become Capela on the roster already? I don't see it. I suppose Favors is interesting if New Orleans decides they want to free up minutes for Jaxson Hayes, but Favors is a guy who needs touches on offense that this team shouldn't probably be giving him.
While not a true rim protector, Tatum's weakside help defense has come far enough that I think that lineup has potential. Obviously certain matchups (Embiid, etc.) would force the Celtics to play a traditional big, but I think it gets some run once Hayward is back.
It's hard to think of a center who's going to be available who really moves the needle much. The team doesn't need scoring from the 5 spot; the strength of this team is built around 4 or 5 guys who all attack the basket from the perimeter, and can all shoot, pass and defend. A Valenciunas type doesn't fit with that. Steven Adams' contract is an albatross and the C's can't match that salary anyway. Capela maybe, but would the Celtics give up significant assets to pay Capela on that contract, when they have a guy who might become Capela on the roster already? I don't see it. I suppose Favors is interesting if New Orleans decides they want to free up minutes for Jaxson Hayes, but Favors is a guy who needs touches on offense that this team shouldn't probably be giving him.
The only guys who really make sense that I've seen are Favors or Tristan Thompson, and you can't match them without trading all other centers or Smart. Thompson on the buyout market is an interesting possibility.
Basically Theis has played so well that you can't just throw him in for a minor upgrade, especially since the team probably thinks they have a good chance to keep him around at reasonable money for the next 3-4 years. And Smart is fast becoming the best contract in the NBA--this version of him is untradeable except as part of a package for a true star.
Do you really think Tristan would choose Boston over LeBron, Klutch, and the Lakers? C'mon now. You may as well pencil TT in right now on the Lakers playoff roster.
Yea he'd head West but TT isn't getting bought out. The EC is so bad that the Cavs have a legit shot at #8
I'd still have no interest in TT with the Celtics. I've seen too many times where PG Tristen comes out.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0b8gvASOSs
Probably a combination of Brad's continuing to experiment with different bench combinations; Semi's claiming 21 minutes by not being a black hole on offense; Grant struggling the past couple of games; and Brad trying to get minutes for Kanter on the 2nd unit, where he's most effective.
I'm guessing here, but I think with a back to back Brad likes to give a guy a game off and bring him back for bigger minutes. So it would not shock me if Grant played over 20 minutes tonight.
Maybe he views Grant as a better match up with the Suns. The Celtics will need to have a big, perimeter defender to stop their stretch BIG 3pt alpha scorer, Aron Baynes, for over 20 minutes tonight
Kanter can't effectively guard Baynes or Kaminsky
The offense really seems to suck a bit without Hayward. Brown has been pretty consistent, but it seems like Tatum and Walker have been very inconsistent without GH. They certainly have periods of ball movement, but they also seem to devolve into "my possession, now your possession" pattern with Tatum forcing things.
Glad to hear that. Watched the replay four times and never really saw him roll it, at least not the classic way. Was worried that it might be a high sprain, achilles, or foot.