Inside the Celtics Locker Room: Dysfunction Junction

Jimbodandy

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Do you know what will really lead to Marcus being more selective with his shots? Tatum not missing a large chunk of the year with covid, Brown being healthy, Fournier being available, and Al being able to stretch the floor. Last year on the very rare occasions that Boston had its guys available, Marcus barely shot the ball. Because it wasn’t necessary and he’s basically the Swiss Army Knife guy.

(This wasn’t directed at you personally. A lot of people keep repeating the claim that Smart is ruining their offense by taking shots away from other players. He does, but the guys he’s taking shots from are Semi, Thompson, Grant and other guys you’d probably not want shooting either.)
This 100%.

Also Brad never sits people for shot selection. He has spoken about it multiple times. He'll sit people because they're a liability on defense, but not because they launch.
 

Cellar-Door

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Moderately interesting. Yes it's probably mostly from unhappy players like Kemba and TT. On the other hand... some of this is things I have always felt was a concern, in particular how Smart has been handled.

Brad loves Marcus, but I can see why guys in the lockerroom might be pissed. Marcus fucks up a lot. He makes bad plays on offense, he wastes key possessions, he gets dumb techs and dumb fouls, he ruins defensive possessions with flops. And Brad and Danny have very much positioned him as "the heart of the Celtics" and "a leader" in a way that probably grates on some players, particularly Brown and Tatum who are not much younger, and are at least as accomplished. Guys will take a certain amount of crap from guys who have rings, guys who have been in the league a long time and stars. When a guy with 2 more years than you, no more success and who shoots 30% is in your face screaming about you missing a rotation after he bricked 4 threes in a row and gave up a layup after a flop you're not gonna be happy about it.

I think the fans think Marcus is the heart of the team, maybe Brad does too, I think the lockerroom decidedly does not, and having the coach and GM tell you who your locker room leader is... well that's not how locker room leaders usually work. I bet TT has more cache with Brown and Tatum and the rest than Marcus, and trying to force it the other way isn't going to work. You can move them both and hope a new leader emerges, you could hope Al's quiet leadership works, but those are two loud voices in the locker room and I think it's clear which one is winning, and it's not the one Brad wants, and likely never will be.
 

benhogan

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so from this thread & planted article I've learned we have an overrated, brick laying, locker room cancer replacing Kemba? That was irrationally favored by both Danny & Brad...

Can we rescind the trade? :eek:

Smart doesn't deserve this.
 

Jimbodandy

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so from this thread & planted article I've learned we have an overrated, brick laying, locker room cancer replacing Kemba? That was irrationally favored by both Danny & Brad...

Can we rescind the trade? :eek:

Smart doesn't deserve this.
Yeah it's ridiculous.

Of course we have a high percentage of Smart stans here, but we also have the pointz uber alles folks here. None of that shit ever changes.

On the plus side, Kemba had gotten bad enough on offense too that we're not seeing a huge beef with this trade. But that still won't stop the pointz! guys from taking a shot at Marcus.
 

lars10

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I don’t want to speculate on why. I’m saying a different coach may make headway either by emphasizing the issue more or presenting it differently or something else.

I mostly think this is not the solution. He needs a coach who can make him understand why he is a better player, and the Celtics are a better team, if he changes his approach. Sitting for mistakes may work for rookies, but for vets it is just going to piss players off and create locker room problems. Plus, the Celtics are a worse team benching Smart for inferior players.
Yeah, I'm of two minds on this: on the one hand Marcus takes an outrageous number of three pointers given the rate at which he makes them, on the other, he's often been the only guy on the court willing to create his own shot at all. He has and always will play with confidence.

In the end I find nighthob's argument very convincing although Ive said the opposite in the past. You only have to look at 2018-2019 to see Smart is willing to defer to other teammates. Only 7 fga a game that year, less than Kyrie, Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Horford, Morris, and Rozier.

Assuming Pritchard can attempt 5 or 6 3's of his own a game next year, one of Nesmith or Langford steps up, or someone new and shiny is brought in at their expense, Smart will get to play point and defer.
My thought is more that Smart is open because he's such a bad shooter and he's so willing to take his own shot. He shoots so often from 3 wide open that it feels like it's an intentional strategy of the other team most nights. Meanwhile Jaylen and Jayson can be double teamed at times or the paint can be guarded because Marcus' man can drop off of him into passing lanes or the lane cutting off access to the hoop. He's simply not dangerous enough to be not left wide open.

I also think he dribbles too much and he's not a good enough consistent passer to be your PG. It's felt, to me, like he ends up with the ball a lot at the end of the shot clock because he's wasted half of the possession setting up the offense or not moving the ball. I don't think his defense makes up for how he melds with the offense or allows the other team to play on defense because of the shots he's often willing to settle for... especially on any night that he makes a three early.
 

lars10

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Yeah it's ridiculous.

Of course we have a high percentage of Smart stans here, but we also have the pointz uber alles folks here. None of that shit ever changes.

On the plus side, Kemba had gotten bad enough on offense too that we're not seeing a huge beef with this trade. But that still won't stop the pointz! guys from taking a shot at Marcus.
It's my opinion that Marcus makes you play a certain way on offense that is limiting. I don't personally think that his defense makes up for that. I don't see that as taking a shot at him? I just want a well rounded Celtics team that plays together and I often find him being on the floor a reason why that isn't happening. Can't it just be cool to have differing opinions?

edit: also.. this being Sosh.. are there any stats that prove your case one way or the other? Looking at the year before last Marcus shot a pretty significantly worse percentage on both FGs and 3PA than Rose, Tatum, Walker and Hayward... he did shoot less attempts.

I, for one, am also happy with the Kemba trade.. I wonder if he'll ever have another full healthy season and the Celtics, if they want to get farther in the playoffs, need to have a PG that is taller and doesn't limit the defense in the same way..unless they also improve in other areas on D.
 
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Cellar-Door

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Yeah it's ridiculous.

Of course we have a high percentage of Smart stans here, but we also have the pointz uber alles folks here. None of that shit ever changes.

On the plus side, Kemba had gotten bad enough on offense too that we're not seeing a huge beef with this trade. But that still won't stop the pointz! guys from taking a shot at Marcus.
I don't think you have to be a pointz guy to be down on Marcus. I think a lot of people would argue Marcus isn't the type of PG you want long term.
He's a guy with a suboptimal offensive game who needs to be an All-Defense contender to make up for it, at times this year he looked like he'd lost a step on D, and at some point he will, it's inevitable as players age.
If anything Marcus' supporters often fall into the "Captain Intangibles" realm that props up a lot of high energy guys who have limited skillsets.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Do you know what will really lead to Marcus being more selective with his shots? Tatum not missing a large chunk of the year with covid, Brown being healthy, Fournier being available, and Al being able to stretch the floor. Last year on the very rare occasions that Boston had its guys available, Marcus barely shot the ball. Because it wasn’t necessary and he’s basically the Swiss Army Knife guy.
Yes. I was about to say that Marcus doesn't shoot nearly as often as everyone seems to think he does. I'll grant that he takes some spectacularly bad shots that stick in memory, and when the Celtics are missing a bunch of guys he tries to do too much, but I don't think that he shoots all that often.
 

jmcc5400

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A lot of this goes away when this team goes back to the 50-53 win team it should be and will be with a reasonable modicum of health and desire. Chemistry problems always arise when the overarching question is “what’s wrong?”

They’ll be energized by the new coach and we’ll hear all about newfound maturity, camaraderie and Ubuntu-type stuff. Winning cures all.
 

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A lot of this goes away when this team goes back to the 50-53 win team it should be and will be with a reasonable modicum of health and desire. Chemistry problems always arise when the overarching question is “what’s wrong?”

They’ll be energized by the new coach and we’ll hear all about newfound maturity, camaraderie and Ubuntu-type stuff. Winning cures all.
I once heard Billy Beane speak, and he said that people never talk about the great chemistry on losing teams.
 

Jimbodandy

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It's my opinion that Marcus makes you play a certain way on offense that is limiting. I don't personally think that his defense makes up for that. I don't see that as taking a shot at him? I just want a well rounded Celtics team that plays together and I often find him being on the floor a reason why that isn't happening. Can't it just be cool to have differing opinions?

edit: also.. this being Sosh.. are there any stats that prove your case one way or the other? Looking at the year before last Marcus shot a pretty significantly worse percentage on both FGs and 3PA than Rose, Tatum, Walker and Hayward... he did shoot less attempts.

I, for one, am also happy with the Kemba trade.. I wonder if he'll ever have another full healthy season and the Celtics, if they want to get farther in the playoffs, need to have a PG that is taller and doesn't limit the defense in the same way..unless they also improve in other areas on D.
I don't think you have to be a pointz guy to be down on Marcus. I think a lot of people would argue Marcus isn't the type of PG you want long term.
He's a guy with a suboptimal offensive game who needs to be an All-Defense contender to make up for it, at times this year he looked like he'd lost a step on D, and at some point he will, it's inevitable as players age.
If anything Marcus' supporters often fall into the "Captain Intangibles" realm that props up a lot of high energy guys who have limited skillsets.
It was noted upthread that Marcus had 7.1 FGA in 18-19, coming in 9th in FGA/G and 8th in FGA. He trailed Kyrie, Tatum, Morris, Brown, Horford, Rozier, and Haywood, despite playing more games than any of them and slotting in third in total minutes played.

When the team had lots of qualified guys taking those shots, he didn't. Marcus doesn't force the team or offense to do anything.

I'm all for moving him for an upgrade. The man is not untouchable. But this Kemba spite because CBS was up his ass and not Smart's is stupid, and we shouldn't indulge it.

Kemba needs to save face after being dumped off. Brad, Wyc, et al. know this and have likely spent less time digesting this piece today than we have.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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The Port Cellar's version of Godwin's Law is that regardless of the topic, all discussions inevitably end with a debate over Marcus Smart.
 

Cellar-Door

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It was noted upthread that Marcus had 7.1 FGA in 18-19, coming in 9th in FGA/G and 8th in FGA. He trailed Kyrie, Tatum, Morris, Brown, Horford, Rozier, and Haywood, despite playing more games than any of them and slotting in third in total minutes played.

When the team had lots of qualified guys taking those shots, he didn't. Marcus doesn't force the team or offense to do anything.

I'm all for moving him for an upgrade. The man is not untouchable. But this Kemba spite because CBS was up his ass and not Smart's is stupid, and we shouldn't indulge it.

Kemba needs to save face after being dumped off. Brad, Wyc, et al. know this and have likely spent less time digesting this piece today than we have.
It's not clear this is a Kemba sourced piece, but also... this is not a new discussion. We've been discussing whether to trade Marcus for over a year. We've also been discussing Marcus' frequent immaturity and bad decision making for several years, and Brad's unwavering support and refusal to criticize has been discussed.
This story has legs because regardless of who put it out and why, it also conforms with things people already thought and speculated about.

Marcus is a great guy in the community, he has a great connection to the fanbase, he's a high effort defender who when he's at his best in knocking on the door of All-NBA Defense.

he's also a guy who makes frustratingly bad decisions, loses his cool in key spots, antagonizes officials, and has a lot of flaws as a player. I mean, the "We love and trust Marcus" came out of people asking Brad... "hey, Marcus fucked up 100 things in the last week, what are your thoughts?" Some of that is Brad in general, he doesn't criticized individuals a lot, and he's consistently cared more about defensive effort than good shot selection or smart decision making. That's one reason he's on his way to the front office and there is gonna be a new coach, because players are gonna tune out eventually, and it happens faster when they feel that some mistakes by some people are accepted and others aren't.
 

Jimbodandy

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75% of what you just wrote comes from the Kemba piece, i.e., from Kemba or more likely his agent.

25% is the conversation to which you refer--the flopping, ill-timed turnovers, etc.

The "and that's how Brad ended up in the front office" is clownery.
 

lars10

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It was noted upthread that Marcus had 7.1 FGA in 18-19, coming in 9th in FGA/G and 8th in FGA. He trailed Kyrie, Tatum, Morris, Brown, Horford, Rozier, and Haywood, despite playing more games than any of them and slotting in third in total minutes played.

When the team had lots of qualified guys taking those shots, he didn't. Marcus doesn't force the team or offense to do anything.

I'm all for moving him for an upgrade. The man is not untouchable. But this Kemba spite because CBS was up his ass and not Smart's is stupid, and we shouldn't indulge it.

Kemba needs to save face after being dumped off. Brad, Wyc, et al. know this and have likely spent less time digesting this piece today than we have.
Then in 19-20 he had the third most 3PA per game after Kemba and Tatum with 6.6 attempts per game with a .347%.. in front of Jaylen and Hayward. He had 11.4 FGA per game...5th most on the team with a .375%...easily the worst out of anyone getting significant minutes.

edit: and this year with 5.9/.330% and 10.6/.398%
 

Cellar-Door

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75% of what you just wrote comes from the Kemba piece, i.e., from Kemba or more likely his agent.

25% is the conversation to which you refer--the flopping, ill-timed turnovers, etc.

The "and that's how Brad ended up in the front office" is clownery.
1. That's a wild assumption (I bet half the source on those is the TT's camp by the way)
2. We aren't in the locker room, we don't know how it plays there, but Jaylen and Marcus have had it out several times that we have either seen or had reports of
3. No it really isn't. We had a discussion all year of whether the players were tuning Brad out, after he got kicked upstairs there were articles clearly sourced from the front office saying Brad felt the team needed a new voice.
 

Cellar-Door

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Yep, Thompson sourced this stuff the day after Kemba gets stapled to a first for Uncle Al. That makes sense.
I mean ... yes, considering the first thing everyone said is... TT is next. I'm sure it's multiple sources, you don't run that article on one guy, you get the outline from one guy then shop it around.
1. The note that trading TT would make Tatum unhappy is definitely from TT's camp
2. Marcus and TT don't appear to get along, notably Marcus was not one of the guys who defended TT when Vernon claimed he wasn't liked in the locker room (and interesting story that one, the suspects on who leaked it are Ainge, Brad, Smart). If you told me someone talked to a media member about Marcus not being liked, TT and Jaylen would be 2 of the higher guys on the list.

You keep jumping to conclusions that fit the narrative you want on basically nothing.
 

Jimbodandy

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I mean ... yes, considering the first thing everyone said is... TT is next. I'm sure it's multiple sources, you don't run that article on one guy, you get the outline from one guy then shop it around.
1. The note that trading TT would make Tatum unhappy is definitely from TT's camp
2. Marcus and TT don't appear to get along, notably Marcus was not one of the guys who defended TT when Vernon claimed he wasn't liked in the locker room (and interesting story that one, the suspects on who leaked it are Ainge, Brad, Smart). If you told me someone talked to a media member about Marcus not being liked, TT and Jaylen would be 2 of the higher guys on the list.

You keep jumping to conclusions that fit the narrative you want on basically nothing.
Says the guy discounting a clearly planted story the day after a guy was sent out with bus fare.

Who had something to gain here?
 

Cellar-Door

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Says the guy discounting a clearly planted story the day after a guy was sent out with bus fare.
Your insistance that a story, with multiple sources from a well connected guy is an agent plant is childish. This has been a story all year with different groups getting out different sides.
 

Jimbodandy

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Your insistance that a story, with multiple sources from a well connected guy is an agent plant is childish. This has been a story all year with different groups getting out different sides.
It's a reputable organization. Of course they vetted the claims.

Source 1 was Kemba's people. He is the one with the tarnished reputation, being stapled to a first for Al Horford. Your refusal to entertain this possibility is utter nonsense.

I'm done. Have your last word on the subject.
 

nighthob

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I think Thompson's agent is also a source here. Honestly I'm also 100% certain that the Demon Kyzuzu was another source (that part about a "Celtic" telling Griffin that he'd hate Boston had Irving's greasy fingerprints all over it).
 

nighthob

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Then in 19-20 he had the third most 3PA per game after Kemba and Tatum with 6.6 attempts per game with a .347%.. in front of Jaylen and Hayward. He had 11.4 FGA per game...5th most on the team with a .375%...easily the worst out of anyone getting significant minutes.
Was it exhausting moving those goalposts? Marcus Smart taking the fewest FGA amongst the starters is exactly what you want to see, no? Shooting threes was exactly his role in the offense where the shots were being parceled out to four other guys. To be brutally frank, you'd want Smart shooting more treys and fewer twos when he's hitting them at around league average.
 

lars10

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Was it exhausting moving those goalposts? Marcus Smart taking the fewest FGA amongst the starters is exactly what you want to see, no? Shooting threes was exactly his role in the offense where the shots were being parceled out to four other guys. To be brutally frank, you'd want Smart shooting more treys and fewer twos when he's hitting them at around league average.
I’m not trying to move any goalposts at all.. I was replying to a post that quoted his stats from 2018 where he didn’t take a ton of shots. In the past two years he’s taken a ton more.. and his shooting has got worse on a team that has four other players on the floor almost all the time that shoot a higher percentage.

His role on this team shouldn’t be shooting threes.. especially last year when he was taking more attempts than both Kemba and Heyward...and where his shooting has gotten worse. Imo given how good he is at getting to the ball he should be distributing (he does have good assist numbers) and then going for offensive rebounds.. but I could be wrong since I guess he’s playing the 1 or 2?

My argument is that I think the article is right that BS has a soft spot/ blind eye for Marcus and I could see him improving/ being used differently under a different coach.
 

BringBackMo

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I wouldn't, Tatum strikes me as petulant and entitled, both of which can be attributed to youth IMO but time will tell.
Tatum has worked his ass off since he came into the league. The opposite of entitled. He wants to be great and he is willing to do the work to get there.
 

nighthob

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I’m not trying to move any goalposts at all.. I was replying to a post that quoted his stats from 2018 where he didn’t take a ton of shots. In the past two years he’s taken a ton more.. and his shooting has got worse on a team that has four other players on the floor almost all the time that shoot a higher percentage.
And that Smart didn't take a lot of shots the year after, so you ran to "But look at all the three pointers!!!". But that was his role on that team, space the floor shooting threes as Walker and Hayward were the playmakers.

When Boston has shooters available, Smart is near the end of the line shooting. But in '20 Hayward and Walker missed significant time. So when they didn't have scorers available it became Marcus's job to try and pick up the slack. This was one of the problems that I expressed concern with early last year, relying on Marcus for more scoring was suboptimal. But what were they supposed to do, make Grant Williams the other scorer?
 

lars10

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And that Smart didn't take a lot of shots the year after, so you ran to "But look at all the three pointers!!!". But that was his role on that team, space the floor shooting threes as Walker and Hayward were the playmakers.

When Boston has shooters available, Smart is near the end of the line shooting. But in '20 Hayward and Walker missed significant time. So when they didn't have scorers available it became Marcus's job to try and pick up the slack. This was one of the problems that I expressed concern with early last year, relying on Marcus for more scoring was suboptimal. But what were they supposed to do, make Grant Williams the other scorer?
The first post quoted him as being like 12th amongst all shooters.. I was just saying he moved up to 5th the next year and that he also took a ton of threes... so his shooting increased.

I do t think we’re too far away from agreement. I realize Marcus has to shoot at times just because of how the team had to deal with injuries and also how he was used. I do also think that he often puts himself in the position to have to shoot (even when there are better shooters on the floor
) when he’s the primary ball handler, by either taking a quick shot that doesn’t seem to be part of the offense or not finding a pass quickly enough and being forced to take a shot late in the clock.

It just feels to me that he stops a lot of the ball movement at times... but I’m ok with being wrong, too. I find his game to be confusing and frustrating to watch, but that may also be because the Celts have two younger stars that have been more deferential in their young careers.

At the end of the day I hope the C’s get more shooters in general so they can all share the load a bit more.
 

nighthob

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The first post quoted him as being like 12th amongst all shooters.. I was just saying he moved up to 5th the next year and that he also took a ton of threes... so his shooting increased.
Yes, after they churned half the roster (with Horford, Irving, and Rozier outbound) and left Marcus further up the food chain he took more shots. Were you expecting the 6’6” rookie center to make up the points? Or Semi? Or the injured Langford? Maybe Theis?

Hopefully Nesmith lives up to his career pattern and takes a big step forward next year so that Marcus can go back to being merely the Swiss Army Knife guy. Hey, @Sam Ray Not, do Warriors fans blame Draymont Green for shooting too much when the team forces him up the food chain?
 

BringBackMo

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Here's hoping he gets shipped out with Marcus and we can all focus our ire where it truly belongs...Semi.
How dare you? Semi Ojeleye is…oh, wait, thought you were talking about Grant for a minute there. Carry on
 

joe dokes

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I doubt Kemba got a hard time because he was bad at defense. That would be like giving a guy a hard time because he can't jump.
Isn't it more likely the coach gave him a hard time because Kemba was doing it wrong? (For example, because I'm a simpleton, switching everything when he wasn't supposed to/they keep telling him not to.)
 

DJnVa

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I wouldn't, Tatum strikes me as petulant and entitled, both of which can be attributed to youth IMO but time will tell.
Entitled guys don't work to improve themselves every offseason like Tatum has.

You need oven mitts to hold that take.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Entitled guys don't work to improve themselves every offseason like Tatum has.

You need oven mitts to hold that take.
Yeah such a bizarre opinion based on what we already know about Tatum’s offseason regimen.......or maybe he needs to learn more about Tatum’s history which would surely change that opinion.
 

lovegtm

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Yeah such a bizarre opinion based on what we already know about Tatum’s offseason regimen.......or maybe he needs to learn more about Tatum’s history which would surely change that opinion.
Yeah, seems like a standard dumb casual fan take. It happens.
 

lexrageorge

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Tatum played through a lingering post-CoVid recovery that required him to take inhalers before every game. He still manage to average 36 minutes a game in a compressed season in which he missed only 8, and led the team in just about every category worth measuring. Jimmy Butler missed 20 (!!) games while having a statistically inferior season to Tatum for a team that badly underperformed and somehow made All-NBA team. Tatum's attitude is not the problem with this team.
 
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Tatum's attitude is not the problem with this team.
True, but whatever the problem is they'd better find it and remove it soon.

I don't think the team has yet recovered from Kyrie. At this point I'm beginning to think nighthob's idea of a midcourt exorcism ceremony might have something to it.....
 

lexrageorge

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True, but whatever the problem is they'd better find it and remove it soon.

I don't think the team has yet recovered from Kyrie. At this point I'm beginning to think nighthob's idea of a midcourt exorcism ceremony might have something to it.....
Well, there's a new President of Basketball Ops, and soon to be a new coach. And the team's most albatross-like contract was just moved. Seems like action is being taken to fix the real problems.
 
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there's a new President of Basketball Ops, and soon to be a new coach. And the team's most albatross-like contract was just moved. Seems like action is being taken to fix the real problems.
Which begs the question. If Coach Brad and disgruntled overpaid Kemba were the underlying problem(s), then OK. Otherwise it is rearranging so many deck chairs. We'll soon see.
 

bigq

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I’m fairly certain lost time to COVID and injuries were a significant part of the problem. I’m bullish on the Jays plus whatever deck chairs are rearranged around them this coming season. My green tinted glasses are firmly in place.
 

lexrageorge

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Which begs the question. If Coach Brad and disgruntled Kemba were the problem(s), then OK. Otherwise it is rearranging so many deck chairs. We'll soon see.
The #1 problem was roster fit, which was exacerbated if not outright caused by Kemba's injury struggles. And until Robert Williams emerged in the 2nd half of the season (and before getting hurt again), the big rotation was vomit-inducing. Jaylen Brown's injury was the cherry on top.

Every single one of those problems has since been fixed or is well on their way to being fixed.

I am very much on Team Brad; I really don't think he was part of the problem. Neither he nor Ainge were "fired" or anything remotely close; it was 100% obvious that Ainge was getting worried about his health and needed to move on. But a new voice behind the bench cannot hurt; sometimes working relationships have a life span, and Stevens may have exceeded it with some of his players really through no fault of his own.

Just remember that Doc Rivers was considered a very much fungible coach and Paul Pierce was considered to be a malcontent until KG arrived.
 

benhogan

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Which begs the question. If Coach Brad and disgruntled overpaid Kemba were the underlying problem(s), then OK. Otherwise it is rearranging so many deck chairs. We'll soon see.
Kemba was a bad defensive player when he came here 2 years ago. With a bad knee, it was exponentially worse. He put the team in rotation whenever he was on the floor. Well-organized offenses rained open 3s on the Celtics all season. When not in rotation Kemba basically floated on defense, never able to challenge the 3pt shooter he was responsible for. While guarding nobody in particular he sometimes did a decent job of sliding into the lane to take a charge, grab the occasional steal. He also half-heartedly picked up on-ball defense under the 3pt line and let the opponent get into their offense with zero resistance.

Add in an overweight/injured Smart, a banged-up Brown, and JT using an inhaler:

Even on rare occasions, they were healthy at the same time, the team’s four perimeter starters were ineffective together. They only played 292 minutes together all season because of injuries and other absences but had the worst defensive efficiency of any four-man group in the NBA with that much playing time.

Hunting Kemba down on defense was pretty easy for prepared teams (see Miami/6 seed games). The degenerative knee by definition isn't getting any better. That deck chair needed to be thrown overboard.

The only surprising thing was how quickly the Celtics' struck, which tells you volumes on how Brad felt.

https://theathletic.com/2660548/2021/06/18/kemba-walkers-out-al-horfords-in-and-brad-stevens-has-a-lot-of-work-left-to-do/
 
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lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
12,000
I suspect they did......and moved him upstairs to where his knowledge of the game can be best utilized while having a better communicator/leader handle the on-court stuff.
The other thing, the more I think about it, is that Brad might be the best person for this exact type of teardown. He knows the players involved, but isn't attached to them (and may have had frustrations/disagreements about whom got signed drafted).
 

JM3

often quoted
SoSH Member
Dec 14, 2019
14,285
Brad too easy on player who plays defense.

Brad too hard on player who doesn't play defense.

Kemba is amazing blah blah blah. Seems likely 85%ish from Kemba-related sources.

Let the IME era commence.
Who knows how accurate the rest of this post is, but at least I got the IME thing right.