2021-2022 NBA Game Thread!
- Thread starter ElUno20
- Start date
Oh wow, 3 times this week he's done it. 2 steals/layups and the travel forced:
View: https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1507178452293627905
View: https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1507178452293627905
Isn't "peaking early" (in Jan) and then continuing to be good ever since just called...being good?
Somebody has to explain how Boston went from mediocre to great almost overnight in January. The trade for White seems like a simple answer but it has gotta be more than one player. Did they have a ceremony honoring the game where they flipped the reset button?
Healthy after tons of covid+injury issues. The defense got more time together and figured out how to communicate. Offense improved execution. Moved Tatum from the post to the perimeter.
That and they finally got consistently healthy for like the first time in three years.
Shifting where TL plays on defense made a huge impact as well as the above I believe.
Like many it appears we’re all kind of wondering on some level.
Tempting, but they were rolling before the White trade already though I do think he’s helped them continue down the path.
For my money it’s three things coming together:
1) Cs realizing that their individually strong defense could combine to be greater than the sum of the parts
2) Finally getting the Ime/Pop offense implemented.
3) The team hitting threes and reinforcing to the Js (mostly Jason) that making the right pass would actually produce the best outcome.
From The Athletic:
Boston has the NBA’s best defense, though which player should get sufficient credit to be recognized as the best defender in the league this year? Six of the Celtics’ top seven (Smart, Williams, White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford) players rate in the 84th percentile or higher in dEPM. Smart’s candidacy is hurt by the fact that it’s been so long since a guard won the award that I’m not sure we would recognize what DPOY-level guard play even looked like. As Smart himself put it, those are the rules…
How much of this is simply Tatum and Jaylen making shots they weren’t making earlier in the year? Our team assist numbers are down each of the last two months from other months. More makes = More energy, fewer transition opportunities for opponent, better defensive energy, and the resulting Wins = greater confidence with each game.
Got this from Reddit but it's pretty funny to see in one place. EC standings from January to March:
Yeah, having really good individual defenders is an important component, but BOS's defense really took off right around the time that Ime moved TL to a "free safety" (or "rover," as some people have described it) position. I don't have any film for backup (it would be interesting if someone were to do a blog post on the difference in defense between, say, November and March) but it is my sense that offensive players are super cognizant of TL on the back-end which makes it easier for guys to play perimeter defense. Plus there is consistency on how to rotate if someone gets beat.
As Scal said on Lowe's podcast about a month ago, it's hard to see how an offense can attack the Cs defense unless they have a couple of players who can thrive on ISO ball.
Ironically, it seems like the Cs defense are turning other teams into the version of the Cs that Embiid called "easy to guard."
Here's my list, not in order:
- A lot of progression to the mean with jump shooting, on both offense and defense. Kevin Arnovitz (I think) pointed out that Tatum's true shooting% was far below what would be expected considering his skill level and shot quality. Opponent 3-point shooting has also dropped, but still at sustainable levels.
- No more losing close games. The Celtics had a bad record in close games to start the season and that has somewhat normalized, although they hardly play close games anymore, so this is still an area of concern whether losing close games is luck or Celtics' shortcoming.
- Finally having everyone healthy. Time Lord and Jaylen Brown missed a lot of games to start the season
- Not playing players who do not contribute winning. Obviously related to the last point, but Langford, Freedom, Parker, and Hernangómez were on the court for a disturbing amount of time to start the season. Also, Schroeder's minutes were starting to shrink even before the trade, so I might include him in this group.
- Fully buying in to the Pop/Ime system
- Figuring out how to use their two superstar defenders Marcus Smart and Robert Williams most effectively (not playing Smart with Schroeder and playing Williams as a free safety.)
It’s Definitely a virtuous cycle with more makes leading to better spacing/looks/confidence, etc.
@terrynever had the Atlantic link highlighting the D and I think it started with recognition they could win with D, which needn’t ever have an off night. Whether the next level triggered with them ‘grok-ing’ .5sec or less offense, the Js making shots, or maybe we underestimate CornerOffice and Lil’ PP (to me PP=Pierce) raining threes at league leading conversion rates.
Realizing that rush of kicking to Grant for a heartbreak 3 makes it instinct to kick it the next time.
It's a make or miss league but how are team assist numbers down the last 2 months from other months? What stat are you using? Raw numbers, team assists are up.
APG/Assist %
October: 24.8 (7th), 59.8 (9th)
November: 21.9 (24th) 57.6 (22nd)
December: 22.7 (24th) 57.4 (26th)
January: 23.8 (21st) 60.4 (17th)
February: 27.4 (5th) 65.0 (6th)
March: 27.1 (7th) 63.3 (8th)
The raw numbers are so drastically better. Are there more advanced numbers saying team assist numbers are down the last 2 months from other months? Hard to believe.
I'm sure a lot of it is simply making shots. Some if it is better passing and better respect of the ball (less TO).
Up until 1/22:
Assist %: 58.4 (22nd)
TO%: 14.3 (18th)
Assist TO ratio: 1.62 (22nd)
APG: 22.8 (22nd)
TO: 14.1 (18th)
FG%: 44.7 (22nd)
3p%: 33.7 (24th)
1/23 to current
Assist %: 63.7 (9th)
TO%: 13.0 (12th)
Assist TO Ratio: 2.14 (4th)
APG: 26.9 (6th)
TO: 12.6 (8th)
FG%: 48.7 (5th)
3p%: 37.5 (5th)
I think the struggles the first half were a combination of poor shooting and learning pains (Jays learning to compliment each other and involve playmates more, new coach, new gm).
Unless you mean team assists are down on defense? Reading your post, maybe that is what you meant.
This is why he shouldn't be in the MVP consideration. He's going to be at 58 or 59 games played for the year.
Yes I’m the master of the autocorrect typo. Referring to how our males have positively affected not only our offense but defense as well.
I thought HRB meant up but maybe I was wrong about that.
edit: beaten to the punch.
I don't disagree but hard to make any type of argument for a guy at 58 or 59 games. What's the least amount of games played for an MVP winner in a full 82 game season?
To answer my own question: https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/least-amount-of-games-played-by-nba-mvp It's 58 by Walton, then 62 by James.
Morant is currently at 56 and Memphis has 8 games left. 6 of those are in the next 2 weeks. He is also not Walton or LeBron.
Also Walton was a pretty bad pick, KAJ got jobbed, modern MVP voting is much better honestly, more smart people, and more people watch a decent amount of other players' games.
Heat blow a 17pt Q4 lead against the NYK. Complete meltdown.
Grimes/Quickley/McBride took over (nice combo of young guards)
No Tyler Herro, the man is going to get paid this summer
Grimes/Quickley/McBride took over (nice combo of young guards)
No Tyler Herro, the man is going to get paid this summer
All the new players that were run through Boston the the past year, and the team finally found success when just playing then players who have been here, plus Udoka binky Derrick White, who is very good with meshing with different types of lineups.
I am looking forward to seeing White when he is fully integrated with this team. He is going to see a ton of open shots, and hopefully he will start making them more often. Besides being a quality sixth man, he has the ability to step into the starting lineup at three positions, if needed. Theis and White with another month of experience with Udoka’s defense is going to make this team even tougher to score against.
I am looking forward to seeing White when he is fully integrated with this team. He is going to see a ton of open shots, and hopefully he will start making them more often. Besides being a quality sixth man, he has the ability to step into the starting lineup at three positions, if needed. Theis and White with another month of experience with Udoka’s defense is going to make this team even tougher to score against.
They look like they have already packed it in for the season. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving franchise.
And Milwaukee down 20 late in the 3rd. Could be tied with the Bucks and and a half game behind Philly and Miami after tonight.
Toronto is looking good too. They are likely to depose Cleveland for the 6th slot at this point and Cleveland will be in the play-in group. A lot of tough games remaining on that Cavs schedule- Dallas, Atl, Philly, Nets, Bucks
CHI was up 18 at the half (19 was biggest lead). CLE has it down to 6 with over 8 minutes left to play.
How many teams can lose their PG and have a starting PG step right in? I can’t think of a stronger bench in the league than Tyus, Melton and Slo-Mo. All 3 are going to get paid to start somewhere very soon.
Has anyone thrown out the idea of the Lakers hiring Spoelstra if the Heat fall apart and he gets fired?
No bc the Heat could lose out the rest of the way and get swept in the first round……and his seat would still be cool.
IT playing crunch time. Hit a 3, then pretty good D on KI.
Game on nbatv.
Edit: and the nets lose.
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