Tag Archives: Jayson Tatum

Al Horford

Boston Celtics Ups and Downs – Week 4

Leave a reply

Is anybody getting a bit bored with the Celtics racking up all of these wins? No? Nobody’s over it? Oh, alright cool me either. Another week, another perfect 4-0 record. Boston has now won 12 straight games, a streak twice as long as that of any other team this season. There were many ups this week, but unlike previous weeks, there were some things to be concerned about too. Let’s dive in, and check out all the Ups and Downs of last week’s Celtics action!

Jayson Tatum

The Ups

Jayson Tatum Has the Clutch Gene

Tatum is now an integral part of the Celtics’ offense. Although the volume of shots aren’t there yet, the rookie has forced his way into more opportunities. Brad Stevens, who isn’t necessarily known for putting his faith in younger players, has thrown Tatum into the fire, and he is responding in a big way. With the exception of an injury scare, that limited him to just nine minutes against the Lakers, Tatum averaged 16.6 points last week, with some very timely buckets down the stretch of each game. A couple cold-blooded threes against Atlanta, and tough layups as the clock ticked down against Charlotte and Toronto, have shown that Tatum isn’t afraid of the moment. He is playing like a seasoned vet, and has the moves to prove it.

Terry Rozier Leading the Celtic Bench

Before the season started, I wrote about how Rozier was begging for more minutes, based on his preseason play. After leading the Boston reserves, and becoming a huge energizer off the bench, Rozier is proving me right. Rozier averaged 13.2 points, and 6.5 rebounds in the team’s four wins last week. He was playing big minutes down the stretch. With Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, and Tatum missing games, the Celtics were looking for people to pick up the scoring. Rozier took that challenge, and continued to crash the glass like almost no other guard can. His efficiency needs work (he’s shooting just 36.4 percent from the field), but given the opportunity, Rozier can make winning plays.

The Grit-and-Grind Celtics?

With Horford sidelined with a concussion, and Kyrie taking an inadvertent elbow from Aron Baynes just five minutes into the game, the Celtics looked dead in the water against the Hornets on Friday night. The team scored just 11 points in the first quarter, and could have easily packed it in. That isn’t the identity of this team. With their three best players out with injuries, the Celtics clawed their way back into the game. Physical defense, timely shot making, and big contributions across the roster, allowed Boston to get back into the game. They came away with one of their more impressive victories of the season.

As of right now, the identity of this team is defense. Players like Kyrie, and Tatum, can make the offense look beautiful, but the Celtics need to play hard, smart basketball in order to win games.

Terry Rozier

The Downs

Enough With The Injuries!

It’s remarkable to see where the Celtics are, given how many injuries they have had to deal with. Gordon Hayward, Marcus Morris, and even Marcus Smart, have all missed games early in the season. This past week Kyrie (broken facial bone), and Horford (concussion), both went down. Horford missed two games and Kyrie is on his way back soon. It’s getting to the point where you hold your breath any time somebody hits the floor. Clearly the injuries haven’t slowed the Celtics down too much, but can we go a week without losing somebody else please?

Too Many Slow Starts

Blame this on the injuries if you so choose, but the Celtics have gotten off to some ugly starts this week. The offense has been slow and stagnant early on, and the team has dug themselves some early holes. Putting themselves down early like that, is eventually going to come back to bite them. Eleven points against the Hornets on Friday, and shooting just 33 percent in the first half against Toronto, are just a few examples. The Celtics play with such energy and passion, but they need to start bringing that at the beginning of games.

The Celtics Need More Offense

This may sound silly to say to a team currently on a 12-game winning streak, but the numbers don’t lie. The Celtics are winning with defense and effort, not with a high powered offense, or lights out shooting. Boston ranks 24th in points per game (102.2), and 28th in shooting percentage (43.1). Imagine if the Celtics can clean up the offensive execution, and match their defensive ranking. They would be a team nobody would want to face.

Boston is on a roll. A win against Brooklyn on Tuesday will send them into a matchup with the Warriors as winners of 13 straight. Stevens and the Celtics aren’t getting caught up in the hype. They just keep playing their game.

Brad Stevens Might Finally Win Coach of the Year

Leave a reply

NEXT MAN UP MENTALITY

Next man up. It’s a phrase we hear all the time in sports. For Coach Stevens and the Celtics, it’s becoming a part of the nightly game plan. First, it was Gordon Hayward going down for the season. Before that, Marcus Morris wasn’t ready at the start of the season, and is still battling some knee soreness. After scrambling to install some new things in the offensive and defensive schemes for the new rotation, plentiful in first year players, the team got off to a scalding hot, completely unforeseen, 9-2 start.

Nov 3, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; The Boston Celtics celebrate after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

“I don’t think anyone expected anything like this,” Al Horford said of the surprising start of the new-look Celtics.

Just when things started to settle down, and the Celtics could just play, Horford himself started showing signs of a concussion, from a blow he took in a previous game vs. the Hawks. He would have to sit out against the Lakers, putting the 9-game win streak in jeopardy. Making matters worse, Jayson Tatum left the game in the first half, with ankle soreness, and didn’t return. Did it matter? Nope, the C’s won comfortably anyway.

“Until we only have four left, I guess we’re just gonna keep playing,” Stevens said after the game.

IS THIS THE MAINE RED CLAWS?

The next game, against the Hornets, provided a bigger test. The Hornets should be a playoff team this year, and Al Horford was still out. Kyrie Irving suffered a blow to the head in the opening minutes of the game, and did not return. Now officially operating without a single member of the big 3 assembled in the offseason, Brad Stevens and the C’s now had a real situation on their hands.

What did they do? Exactly what Stevens said after the previous game against the Lakers– they kept playing.

Down 18 at one point, Stevens told his players at the beginning of the 4th quarter in the Hornets game, according to Terry Rozier, “We are going to win this game, and this place is going to go nuts.” 

The coach proceeded to roll out a lineup littered with players that have legitimately received more playing time in the G-league, and overseas, in their careers than in the NBA.

And they won the game.

CALM AS EVER

Afterwards, the coach could be found sitting at the podium, waiting on the media.

Seemingly always two steps ahead of the competition, the people who spend their lives hustling, to get things out for the public as quickly as possible, can’t even keep up with him. Despite the brilliant comeback, with the ragtag bunch put together, the opening questions remained the same as they have been most of the season.

“Brad, can you tell us what you know about  _______’s injury?”

Injuries have been one of the biggest storylines of the season for the Celtics thus far. Perhaps only second to the fact that this team has now won 12 straight games, the last two without Irving. It’s something I have had to double check every time I hear it. It’s simply surreal that this team, fighting through adversity from every possible angle, seems incapable of losing. What is happening? How are they doing this?

BRAD STEVENS, THE MAGICIAN

Maybe Rachel isn’t that far off. After all, the coach has proven his wizardry, time and time again, in pressure situations. When there is supposedly no way out of a bind, Brad Stevens doesn’t panic. He doesn’t back down. The coach looks further on down the bench, calm as ever, and he finds something that will work. He believes in his guys, all the way down to the last man. The coach fights for his players, and always puts the blame on himself. When asked about a mistake rookie Geurschon Yabusele made, intentionally fouling Dwight Howard under 2 minutes, the coach went to bat for his player.

“He’s new to the NBA…What that really boils down to is horrible coaching. Because he should know what he’s supposed to do when he goes in and he should know when he can’t do it. So that’s not his fault, it’s ours.”

TRUST GOES A LONG WAY

Stevens took the rookie out after the play, and was obviously frustrated with him. Yabusele has come along slowly, not getting much PT yet in his young career. He really shouldn’t be seeing the floor, but Brad Stevens went back to him in the 2nd half, and he played a role in the comeback. Brad’s players know he trusts them, and he is not going to let them fail alone. He is going to have their backs, even when he shouldn’t. Stevens is never going to publicly scold someone. He does it behind the scenes, and in a teaching manner, not a belittling way.

In almost every game, Stevens’ deep trust in his players is put on display in a unique way. In the same game vs. the Hornets, Marcus Morris made a critical mistake, shooting the ball up three, with 30 seconds left in the game. He was wide open, but the C’s had a full shot clock, and needed to hold the ball. Stevens kept Morris in, and he hit a huge shot the next possession to make it a 5 point lead, and all but seal it.

DOMINANCE ON THE HORIZON?

Brad Stevens is a master of X’s and O’s, but more importantly, he is a master of people. He knows exactly what buttons to push, to get the proper reaction he wants out of his players. This goes far beyond basketball, and his players are able to respect him as a man first. They see how he approaches life and basketball, and they admire it. He never gets too high or too low. He just stays the course, and keeps working, no matter how chaotic things get around him.

“The Celtics are going to be like the Patriots and dominate a conference for a decade,” Colin Cowherd said on his talk show recently.

It is becoming apparent, with each passing year, that Brad Stevens is going to be the coach of the Boston Celtics until he gets tired of it. All the way up to that day, they are going to keep playing, until they get down to 4 players. And unless that tragic scenario actually plays out, they are going to keep winning basketball games. It’s time to give this man his due credit, as the best coach in this league.

Boston Big Men

The Celtics Have A Big Man Problem In the Best Way Possible

Leave a reply

The Celtics have had to rely on their depth more than expected early this season. Players who, in all honesty, shouldn’t even be seeing the floor, are getting extended minutes. So far it’s working. The Celtics own the league’s best record at 10-2, and are currently riding a 10-game winning streak. Would you like to know why? It’s not Kyrie or Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, although they all have been spectacular thus far. The Celtics are winning because of their rugged group of big men.

The depth of Boston’s front court, and their ability to contribute, has been a huge factor over the first 12 games. The play of Al Horford has been well documented, but the contributions of Aron Baynes, Marcus Morris, and Daniel Theis have gone somewhat unnoticed. This group of bigs are one of the more diverse in the league, and each player knows his role. They complement each other well, and impact the offense and defense equally. Lets dive in and break down what makes them so impactful.

Aron Baynes

Aron Baynes is the Perfect Celtic

Baynes embodies knowing your role. There will almost never be an offensive play called for him. He willingly crashes the boards, and has no problem battling with opposing bigs that may give Horford problems. Baynes is a perfect foil for bigs like Horford and Morris. While Horford and Morris excel on the offensive end, Baynes holds down the defense and takes his shots whenever they come. He never forces anything, and plays whatever role Brad Stevens asks of him. He protects the rim, gives the Celtics a physical presence in the middle of the floor, and has no problem starting or coming off the bench. Baynes is a matchup player. Traditional bigs like Greg Monroe and Jonas Valanciunas are his specialty. When the game calls for it, Baynes can even carry the offense:

Marcus Morris

Marcus “Mook” Morris is the Celtics’ X-Factor

Morris has only played three games this season, but he is already showing what his capabilities. With a polished offensive game, Morris is a rare power forward who can get his own shot. So far, he hasn’t shown the ability to grab a lot of rebounds or get others involved, but he can score the ball. Let me remind you that he is still working his way back into game shape, and still scored 18 points against the Lakers, in just his third game this year.

Morris’ versatility fits nicely alongside many of Boston’s other bigs. Slide him in next to Horford, when an opposing team is going small, and he can guard anyone from a quick shooting guard, to a bruising power forward. If Stevens decides Baynes is the best matchup to start, Morris can head to the bench and become the number one offensive option with the second unit. We can now expect the offense to come from people like Kyrie, Horford, Tatum, and Brown. If Morris can become a good spot up shooter, and be a plus defender against opposing wings, he can make this Celtics team special.

Daniel Theis

Theis, Theis Baby!

Theis is quickly becoming a Celtics cult hero. He has proven to not only be a spark off the bench, but a reliable backup big man who can give the starters a break without giving up a lead. The 25-year old rookie has years of experience playing professionally in Germany, and it shows. His basketball IQ is through the roof, and for a backup big man, he plays solid defense. While his stats won’t wow you, Theis has been one of the more consistent players when given minutes. Theis is shooting 53.8 percent from the floor, and is averaging 1.7 offensive rebounds per game. He’s an energy player that can crash the glass, block shots, and has already created a great chemistry with bench guards, Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier.

The top four Celtics’ front court players are currently responsible for 39.6 points and 23 rebounds per game. This may not seem like a lot, compared to stacked front courts like New Orleans and Minnesota, but the improvement from last season is undeniable. With the injury to Gordon Hayward, every player will need to do more. So far, the Boston bigs have been helping to carry the load.

On “Lonzo Wednesday” Secondary Storylines Carry More Weight

Leave a reply

LONZO WEDNESDAY

Every year, the Celtics-Lakers match up has at least one game nationally televised. Why? Because it is quite possibly the greatest rivalry in all of sports. Together, the Celtics and Lakers have won 33 out of 71 NBA championships. That’s almost half of the history of this league, chalked up to the dominance of these two franchises. Thanks to Lavar Ball and his marketing schemes, all of that history now falls on the shoulders of Lonzo Ball.

ESPN has dubbed tonight “Lonzo Wednesday”. It didn’t matter to them that the Celtics are going for 10 wins in a row and hold the NBA’s best record. It didn’t matter that this might be the moment this rivalry gets renewed, because of BOTH teams having exciting, youthful talent. But most surprisingly, it didn’t matter to the sports giant that Lonzo is not the most captivating rookie playing in this mid-week rivalry game, and perhaps not even on his own team.

TATUM VS KUZMA

For real hoops fans, this is the most exciting storyline of this game. These two rookies have stood out as some of the brightest from what is looking like a strong 2017 class in the early going. Tatum was taken 3rd overall, and brought some hype and expectations, being such a high lottery pick. He has exceeded what anyone thought he would do in his first year. In all of the shuffling of the starting lineup, Tatum has been a constant. Amazingly, he has shown as much trust in the rookie as anyone, giving him 31.6 minutes per game thus far.

Tatum has been a huge surprise defensively, in the top 15 in the NBA in both defensive win shares & defensive rating. Offensively, he has yet to be fully unleashed, but is finding open looks and knocking down shots efficiently. He is shooting 50% from the field and 52.9% from 3, but is only taking 9.3 shots per game. He has had a couple 20 point games, including the last game in Atlanta. Even though Tatum has had some great games already, I would say he has yet to truly have a breakout game. After passing up a few too many open shots against Atlanta, he should be much more aggressive tonight.

STEAL OF THE DRAFT?

Kyle Kuzma was selected 27th overall, and is already considered the steal of the draft by some. It’s a little early, but through ten games he has established himself as a player that is here to stay. The kid nobody knew before the draft, Kuzma is displaying a wide array of offensive moves. Much like Tatum, he is able to dive deep into his arsenal to score from anywhere on the court. Kuzma has been given the starting nod ahead of Julius Randle in the absence of Larry Nance. He is playing well enough to make the Lakers think twice about sending him back to the bench.

Since this is a smaller lineup for the Lakers, it is possible Tatum starts at the 4. This would put him head-to-head with the rookie that most closely resembles his game. Both of these guys have gone above and beyond expectations set for them already this season. It will be fun to watch the two go at it with such similar styles of play. While Lonzo will be the main storyline ahead of the game, I expect to see the narrative shift to these two rookies by post-game.

WIN STREAK ON THE LINE

Perhaps the headline of this game should be the Celtics putting their win streak on the line. No other team in the NBA has reached 9 wins. The Celtics have put up 9 W’s in a row. On the surface, this looks like an easy one for them. They should be hyped for the game, as they make their return to TD Garden coming off a 3-game road trip. The fans should be equally hyped just to be a part of the win streak and watch the C’s go to work at home for the first time in a week. Translation: the Garden is going to be ROCKING.

We can’t discredit the fact that the Lakers are capable of pulling out a win on any given night. They have talented players that can get hot, paired with veterans to lead them to some extra wins. They have had some exciting moments in their season already and definitely have the building blocks for the future. However, on this night I expect the Celtics to feel a little slighted by the headline. While not typically the way a Brad Stevens team operates, it would be fun to see Kyrie and the other guards feed Tatum heavily to show the world that this night should be dubbed “Tatum Wednesday” if they insist on giving the spotlight to a rookie.

My prediction: Celtics win by 5-10 in a high-scoring game. Tatum steals the show on “Lonzo Wednesday” with his first career 30 point performance.

PREVIEW OF THINGS TO COME?

The Celtics are on the come up, and the Lakers are being sure not to fall too far behind their cross-conference rival. Both teams are plentiful in young players, each with an average age of just over 24. Further, they are talented, high draft picks expected to take their teams places in the future. I can’t stress enough that this is a long way down the road. Likely not until the end of the Warriors dominance, but these two teams are destined to meet each other again in the Finals one day.

Will it be with the cores each have put together now? For a Finals showdown, both teams need to keep their young talent and let them grow together. And then, they actually have to turn in to what they were drafted to be. It is going to be a long road until that day comes, but my guess is next time it happens, there will be a few key players left from the current Celtics and Lakers rosters. Hopefully when that time comes, ESPN again gives the Celtics a little extra motivation by leaving them out of the storyline entirely.

Nets/Lakers Played, And It Mattered

Leave a reply

TRADE VALUE TBD

Out of all the offseason moves made by Danny Ainge, the value of two trades is still largely unknown. First, the trade to acquire Kyrie. Isaiah Thomas was shipped to Cleveland, along with Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and two picks. One of those picks happens to be one of the most valuable around the league– the Nets unprotected 2018 pick, still left over from the Pierce/Garnett deal. The Nets look like they might not be the worst team in the league this year. We don’t know how Thomas will come back from his hip injury, so we still don’t fully know the value of this trade.

The other trade, whose value is still TBD, is the draft night trade of the 2017 #1 pick, sent to Philadelphia for the 2017 #3 pick (swap) and an additional 2018 1st round pick with protections. The pick is the Lakers 2018 pick, but only comes to fruition if it falls in between 2-5. This means the Lakers have to be pretty bad this year. If not, it becomes the higher of the 76ers & Kings 1st rounder in 2019, as long is it isn’t #1 overall. If it is, it becomes the lower of the two teams. This would be the worst situation, but also by far the least likely.

DID THE LAKERS WIN?

Last year, one of my favorite twitter accounts to follow was “Did the Nets Win?” It was a simple yes or no tweet, with the score after every game. Simple and somewhat pointless, it reminded me every time I saw it, how well-positioned the Celtics were for the future. Now, the account has changed to “Did the Lakers Win?” This year, the Celtics have the potential to benefit from the Lakers dropping as many games as possible, rather than the Nets. It’s a great card to hold over our greatest rival. Celtics fans have another reason to cheer for a Lakers implosion. We get to let the Nets go on with their lives. Danny Ainge put that franchise in such a fierce stranglehold, it almost felt wrong to be happy about.

Can the Lakers be bad enough this year to fall in the 2-5 range? Could they end up being worse than the Nets? If that happens, Ainge would look like a genius. Both the Lakers and Nets are starting to play a little better this season, than in previous years. They both added some veterans to help with the process, but so far it hasn’t resulted in anything crazy. The two teams played each other on Friday night, and the Lakers came out with the win. Let’s take a look at both teams, and see who has a better chance at a worse record this season.

LAKERS

Showtime in LA was seemingly back after the Lakers drafted Lonzo Ball. Through 10 games, he has yet to truly captivate the city, like some thought he would do right away. Despite some rough performances, he has shown the ability to get his teammates involved. The Lakers are starting to show a willingness to pass we haven’t seen with them since before the Kobe era. Ball’s presence is being felt, even if he isn’t posting gaudy scoring numbers.

The Lakers might have picked the steal of the draft 27th overall, in Kyle Kuzma. This guy is showing he can score at a high level, and he is ready now. While the team is still high on Brandon Ingram, it is becoming more apparent every game that Kuzma is more of an offensive threat than Ingram, at least right now. The Lakers are starting to catch on, giving him his first start on Friday against the Nets. He recorded a game-high 39 minutes, notching 21/13 on the night. Add Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant to Kuzma & Ball, and the Lakers might have had the best draft in 2017.

FOLLOWING THE CELTICS?

In addition to the top-notch draft the Lakers had, they added some true veterans they are hoping will help them win right now. All the while building something similar to what the Celtics are trying to do–a sustainable culture of winning with youth, that outlasts the Golden State era. The additions of Brook Lopez and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were very underrated. Lopez had an all-star caliber season last year with the Nets, and posted 34 points against his old squad on Friday. KCP has hit big shots throughout his career. He has already put his clutch gene to use this season, tying the game with a big time 3 late against the Blazers on Thursday. He is also a great defender, something the Lakers have been missing on the wings.

NETS

The Nets are far from showtime. Most of their fans probably can’t tell you when the game starts. However, they are finally starting to turn a corner. While their drafts have been sparse, due to selling their future to the Celtics, they did pick up Caris Levert in the 1st round last year. The team is very high on him, and he is looking like a potential 2nd scoring option for them. They have done their best to surround him with young, gritty players that want to win.

The backcourt in Brooklyn was supposed to be newly acquired D’Angelo Russell & Jeremy Lin. Much like the Celtics, one of their best players, Jeremy Lin, suffered a season-ending injury in their season opener. Russell has turned it on since, and is looking like a borderline all-star. How long can he keep it up? He is looking like the franchise cornerstone going forward. Even if it is the Nets, his development will be something to watch this season.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, I CAN DO WORSE

Who is going to be worse this year, the Lakers or the Nets? Things are back to normal when Celtics Nation would rather see the Lakers lose. They definitely have a brighter future than the Nets, and should separate themselves from the bottom feeders of the league in the next couple of years. They are leaning heavily on young guys to win now. It is going to be tough for them to compete for a playoff spot this season. The way they have been playing right now, sitting at 5-5, they do have an outside chance.

The Nets, however, have virtually no shot at the playoffs this year. They are finally good enough to compete, but not for a playoff spot, even in the East. We should expect them to have their best record since the infamous Pierce-KG trade, but nothing more.

THE VERDICT

The Lakers beat the Nets heads up, and I think they will end up ahead of them in the standings at the end of the season as well. The only thing that could be a factor is the conferences. Obviously, the Western conference is much tougher than the East. Teams play conference opponents four times a year, so the Lakers are going to be going through the gauntlet, while the Nets will have more opportunities to steal games.

At the end of the day, I don’t think the Lakers pick will fall between 2-5 in 2018. We will have to wait a year, and get the better of the Kings/76ers picks. It is somewhat unfortunate because this draft class is supposed to be stacked (again), but the Kings have only won 1 game so far this year, and are looking more than a year out from being a serious team. In all likelihood, we will end up with their pick in 2019, and it could very well be a top 5 pick. We just might have to wait for it. Let’s not forget this is in addition to trading down to draft Jayson Tatum. This is a win in itself.

Boston Celtics Ups and Downs – Week 3

Leave a reply

Another week, another handful of wins for the Boston Celtics. A blowout against the Kings, an 18-point comeback on the road against OKC, and the first win against San Antonio during the Brad Stevens Era highlighted a perfect 4-0 week. Kyrie was amazing, Al Horford was a force on both ends of the floor, and Marcus Morris made his team debut. Let’s take a look at all the Ups and Downs from last week’s Celtics action!

Kyrie Irving

THE UPS

Kyrie Irving Dazzles

Kyrie, understandably, took some time to adjust to leading Boston. With a ton of new, young players around him, it took Kyrie a few games to learn how everyone wanted to play. It’s still a work in progress, but he is stepping up in a big way. He has scored 20+ points in seven of the teams eight wins and has done a great job of finding his teammates. His chemistry with Horford has unlocked the offense and he has completely bought into Stevens’ system. Kyrie’s wizardry with the ball is unmatched, and the more comfortable he gets with this roster around him, the better he will be. He is even competing on the defensive end, leading the league with 24 steals. Kyrie is special, and Celtics fans are getting a front row seat to his evolution.

Marcus Morris Makes His Celtics Debut

Morris missed the first eight games of the season with knee soreness, and as you can imagine it will take him some time to get back into game shape. In two games, on a 20-22 minutes per game restriction, Morris averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. The numbers won’t jump off the page, and Morris is certainly still trying to find a rhythm with his shot (7-18 from the field, 0-5 from three), but his impact is already being felt. His physicality and intensity nearly match that of Marcus Smart, which is saying something. His versatility on defense is key and his skill on the offensive end is rare for a power forward. Boston will work Morris in slowly, but a starting spot will be waiting for him. His ability to contribute on both ends will be greatly needed as the season goes on.

Boston Defense

Boston’s Defense Is No Joke

In last week’s Ups/Downs, I wondered if Boston’s strong start on defense was for real, or just an early season abnormality. Well, during their 4-0 performance this week, the Celtics held their opponents to under 95 points, something that they have done in all eight of their wins this season.

The elite defense is here to stay, and everyone is stepping up to keep it that way. Horford continues to be a star on the defensive end, but the entire starting lineup have been holding their own. Horford (1st), Kyrie (2nd), Jayson Tatum, (6th), and Jaylen Brown (7th) all rank in the top-10 for individual defensive rating. The fact that a rookie, second year player, and Kyrie, a known poor defender, have been leading the league on the defensive end has been eye-opening. Add in defensive mainstays like Smart, Rozier, and Aron Baynes and it’s no wonder Boston has been suffocating opposing offenses.  Let’s see how many points they are able to rack up tonight when the Celtics face off against the Hawks.

The Downs

Jaylen Browns Home/Road Splits

Let me qualify what I am about to say; Brown is 21 years old and is only in his second professional season. Every criticism of him could go out the window as his career continues to progress. BUT, after 10 games, his performances on the road and in Boston are drastically different. In four games at home, Brown is averaging 20.3 points on 60.9 percent shooting from the field and an ungodly 61.1 from beyond the arc. On the road, though, Brown drops down to 12.8 points on 37.8 percent shooting and just 31.0 percent shooting from three. Brown has still been able to be a net positive in road games because of his presence on the boards and defensive effort, but consistency will determine whether he remains an above average role player or becomes a star.

Can We Please Make Some Free Throws?!

We are pulling at straws here a bit considering a 4-0 week doesn’t garner much criticism, but the inability to consistently make free throws is starting to get frustrating. Boston gets to the line 12th most in the league but ranks 20th in the league in free throw shooting at 75.4 percent. At some point the young players will need to show some improvement from the charity stripe.

Daniel Theis

Where in the World is Daniel Theis?

After Morris’ return, players like Theis and Shane Larkin were obviously going to lose playing time. Theis has been very effective in his time on the court, but saw just three minutes on Sunday night against the Magic. Theis has earned minutes. He can add rebounding, and his chemistry in the pick-and-role game with Smart has been undeniable. Let’s see if he can work his way back into the rotation as Boston’s fourth big.

Kyrie Irving

The Celtics Have Their Signature Win

Leave a reply

After the first half of the nationally televised matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it looked like the Celtics were cooked. This was without a doubt the toughest team they have played, and it was showing. The OKC defense was stifling the Celtics’ offense, and an 18-point halftime deficit seemed insurmountable. But in the second half, the script was flipped.

The Celtics ramped up their defensive intensity, and forced OKC into a lot of difficult shots. Possessions that resulted in open layups and dunks in the first half, were swapped out for contested mid-range jumpers. While the defense was making things difficult for the Thunder, the offense exploded. Kyrie Irving shook off a 1-9, 3-point first half to drop 22 points and six assists. Al Horford added 17 of his 20 points in the second half, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter on 4-4 shooting.

The Celtics shot just 31 percent from the field in the first half. OKC’s length and athleticism were mucking up Boston’s ball movement, and forcing them to play more isolation ball. Kyrie is one of the best iso scorers in the league, but the Celtics are at their best when the ball is moving. Kyrie, Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier got back to that style of play after the break. The ball was moving from side-to-side, which opened up more driving lanes for the guards. Kyrie attacked the basket, and was effective either scoring or kicking out to open shooters. The shots that weren’t falling in the first half started to drop, and the comeback was on.

Kyrie Irving

Welcome to the Celtics, Vintage Kyrie Irving

Boston fans are still waiting for Kyrie to have a big time scoring game. Forty or 50 points, crossovers, broken ankles, and ridiculous finishes, this is the Kyrie the Celtics need. There will undoubtably be times when Kyrie goes off to carry the offense, but Boston succeeds only if Kyrie can balance his scoring and passing. Kyrie is near unstoppable on offense, but when he can break down the defense, and find shooters like Horford, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown, this team is dangerous

Not So Average Al Horford

Horford has been criminally underrated during his time with the Celtics. Casual basketball fans tend to not understand the impact that he has on both ends of the floor. Horford has been silencing his critics this season, and his fourth quarter performance was just the latest example. In what can only be described as a Defensive Player of the Year start to the season, Horford has picked up his offense and rebounding. Horford is the linchpin of the Celtics offense. His screen setting and play making ability have always been paramount, but his shot making and rebounding have spiked this year. Horford has had seven or more rebounds in eight of the team’s first nine games, something he did only 33 times last season. Big Al has been a monster, a monster the Celtics need to be successful.

Boston Celtics

Is It Too Soon for a “Signature” Win?

Games in November and December don’t typically matter much in the NBA. Teams are still trying to figure out rotations, and, in most cases, aren’t close to the team they will be at the end of the season. Why was this Celtics win so important? Two reasons: 1) This win legitimizes the team’s current seven-game win streak; and 2) It gave the Celtics an identity.

Regardless of the influx of top-tier talent, this team is going to be gritty, physical, and defense minded. They proved that against OKC last night. They will fight and claw their way back into games, and play suffocating defense. This OKC team will be near the top of the league come playoff time. After beating up on the Knicks, Kings, and Heat, a win against a high caliber team with multiple All-Stars, makes this early season win streak legit. There is work to be done, but just listen to what Marcus Morris, who made his team debut against the Thunder, had to say:

Take notice NBA, the Celtics are for real.

Brad Stevens isn’t Coaching Underdogs Anymore

Leave a reply

Butler Bulldogs

Embed from Getty Images

 

“We’re building a culture of accountability, trust, and togetherness. Entitlement will not be tolerated.”

Brad Stevens’ wisdom has been on display since he took a volunteer coaching job at Butler University in 2000. He abandoned a comfortable job as a marketing associate, and took a risk doing what he loved. That love would push him to work 14 hour days, while making very little money. Seven years later, this work ethic earned him a job as the head coach of the Butler Bulldogs. Since then, Stevens has become an expert at turning underdogs into contenders. In his third year as head coach, he led Butler to one of the most improbable tournament runs in NCAA History. The eighth seeded Bulldogs were counted out by everybody. They were a team comprised of underdogs, but with Brad Stevens’ coaching they still made an impressive run to the national championship.

Celtics Rebuild

Brad Stevens’ ability to turn underdogs into winners was pivotal to the success of the Celtics’ rebuild. Isaiah Thomas was the backbone of the team. Standing at only 5’9, he was drafted dead last, and bounced around from team to team, until the Celtics gave him a shot. The draft positions of the rest of the team prove their underdog status. Jae Crowder was drafted in the late second round, but his heart and physicality made him a force to be reckoned with on the roster. Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko were other players drafted late, but made steady contributions to the team. Brad Stevens was able to turn the Celtics into a team driven by heart and togetherness. However, this year things have changed.

Celtics New Roster

Embed from Getty Images

After all the moves Danny Ainge made this off season, the Celtics gained a lot of talent. However, they lost their underdog status. Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Amir Johnson and Avery Bradley are all gone. With their departure, came the arrival of a multitude of high caliber players. The addition of these new players signals a new era for Brad Stevens. He is no longer coaching underdogs. Kyrie Irving is a former number one pick, an international superstar, a four time all star, and an NBA champion. The former ninth pick, Gordon Hayward, is in the prime of his career, and was just selected to his first all star game. Jayson Tatum was selected by Boston with the third pick. Just like that, the team has gone from a group of underdogs, to a team whose players have always been expected to play at a high level.

Nothing Has Changed for Brad Stevens

The size of the chip on the Celtics’ shoulder got a lot smaller after this off season. This year, the Celtics are a team of established high draft picks, contrary to what Brad Stevens has been used to. They lost many of the players that helped this team rebuild. This has left fans questioning if the Celtics still possess the same heart they did the year prior. However, after Gordon Hayward went down, it became clear that everyone on this team bleeds green. The Celtics flashy new roster means that Brad may have to adjust his coaching style. Even though the Celtics are no longer underdogs, Brad Stevens will still have the ability to mold these players the way he always has: with accountability, trust and togetherness.

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics Ups and Downs – Week 2

Leave a reply

In modern America everyone is always busy, running around from business meetings to soccer practices and ballet recitals. With a whirlwind of activities, sometimes against your will, people can’t watch every minute of Boston Celtics basketball. That’s why I’m here. Every Monday I will run through three ups and three downs of Boston basketball from the previous week. Lets start with the Ups!

Al Horford

The Ups

Al Horford and Kyrie Irving Are Finding Their Groove

The chemistry between Horford and Kyrie wasn’t there to start. After the injury to Hayward, each player had to figure out their new role within the offense. The feeling out process took a few days, but the tandem is starting to gel. Boston has made an effort to run the offense more through Horford and it has paid off. Horford is an excellent passing big, and Kyrie’s penetration opens up passing lanes. The two-man game has been seamless over Boston’s four-game winning streak. While Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have got a lot of the headlines, and rightfully so, Horford and Kyrie are reminding people why they are multi-time All-Stars.

Aron Baynes is a Hit in Boston

Adding Baynes slid under the radar after what was a chaotic offseason for Boston. The Aussie big man had never been a star, but his rugged style of play was something the team had not had since the days of Kendrick Perkins. Baynes has been an anchor on the defensive end. While not the most athletic center, he has used the rule of verticality better than anyone since Roy Hibbert. He has also crashed the glass with a certain brutality. Over the four-game winning streak, Baynes has averaged six rebounds in just 20 minutes per game. Baynes has helped on offense as a knock-down, pick-and-pop player. He has been a useful outlet for Kyrie in the pick-and-roll game when Horford is on the bench.

Marcus Smart defense

The Boston Celtics, a Defensive Dynamo?

Hayward and Kyrie improved the offense, but after the loss of Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder, many experts were concerned about Boston’s defense. After stifling the Miami Heat on Saturday night, Boston now has the second-best defense in the league. They are in the top-five in defensive rating (2nd), defensive rebound percentage (3rd), and steals (5th). The length of players like Brown and Tatum has ramped up Boston’s perimeter defense. Boston is holding opposing teams to just 28.3 percent from beyond the arc, a major factor for their improvement. On top of the length, Horford has put himself in the early season Defensive Player of the Year conversation, after guarding the likes of Giannis, Kristaps Porzingis and Ben Simmons.

The Downs

After a perfect 3-0 week there aren’t too many things to complain about, but there were a few things that need to be cleaned up.

Too Many Turnovers

The Celtics are sixth in the league in turnovers per game with 14.7. Most of these are due to so many young players in key spots, and it needs to be improved. The defense can’t stay at this level if Boston continues to give their opponents free possessions. As players start to gel, the turnovers should decrease, but it’s something to monitor.

Why Can’t Boston Shoot Free Throws?

Again, I’m grasping at straws a bit here, but it is curious. Boston finished third in the league last season in free throw shooting percentage. Through six games they are ranked 21st. Again, you could chalk this up to youth and players still trying to find their form, but the Celtics are throwing away points at the charity stripe. The average 6.3 free throws they are missing could be the difference between a win and a loss.

Jaylen Brown

Where or Where has Jaylen Brown Gone?

You can stack this up in the “Small Sample Size, Large Overreaction” category if you so choose. After leading the team with 23 points against the Knicks, Brown was held to single-digit scoring in his last two games. More concerning is the fact that in those games he shot just 3-17 from the field. Brown will undoubtably struggle at times throughout the season. More often than not Kyrie, Horford and Tatum will pick up the slack, but Boston is going to rely on him to add a scoring punch on the wing. The shooting will need to improve and so will the consistency.

Tatum vs. Fultz – Who is the better player right now?

Leave a reply

The 2017 NBA draft class proved rich and full of talent. Two names that echoed throughout the league were Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball. Other prominent names included Josh Jackson, DeAaron Fox, and Dennis Smith Jr. This class overshadowed a player who had all of the assets to be great in the NBA — Jayson Tatum.

The Celtics had the ability to draft Ball or Fultz. Instead, they made the decision to trade with the 76ers for the third overall pick. This resulted in Fultz being drafted first overall with the 76ers, Ball drafted second to the Lakers and Tatum drafted third to the Celtics. This lead to a question that has been and will continue to be asked —  did the Celtics make the right decision in choosing Tatum over Fultz?

As it stands right now, the Celtics did make the right decision. Even their head-to-head matchup had something to say about it.

https://twitter.com/JohnWallGOAT1__/status/921784541823623171

Tatum has cracked the starting lineup

Jayson Tatum began the season in the starting lineup, and was named a starter before Hayward’s injury in the season opener. He has become an essential piece of the number-one seeded team last year. Fultz is coming off of the 76ers bench (who did not make the playoffs last year). Not only is Tatum starting, he is averaging 33 minutes per game, compared to Fultz with 19 minutes per game.

This is significant playing time and experience, especially with the injury to Hayward, because of the accelerated maturation process. Tatum is taking advantage of this role, averaging 14.2 points per game, and shooting 48 percent in a league of grown men. Fultz is averaging six points per game, and shooting 33 percent.

 

Fultz has looked horrendous from the free throw line

Due to shoulder soreness, Fultz’ free throw form has looked worse than a typical big man in the league. This form has led to 50 percent free throw shooting for Fultz, only attempting 12 free throws in four games. Tatum has averaged 86 percent on 22 attempted free throws in five games. Fultz shot 65 percent from the stripe in college, compared to Tatum’s 85 percent.

https://twitter.com/CleverHoops/status/920794733399695360

 

Tatum has been the better defender/rebounder

A big part of the Celtics blueprint has revolved around defense, and Tatum brings excellent defense and rebounding, while having a 6’8 frame. He now has recorded five blocks and six steals, compared to Fultz who has one block and two steals. He also has won the rebounding battle while averaging 6.6 boards, compared to Fultz with 2.3.

Prior to hosting the 76ers in the TD Garden, Brad Stevens spoke about his tremendous defensive efforts.

“I don’t know if surprised is the right word, but Jayson Tatum’s defense is beyond his years,” Stevens said, via masslive.com. “He’s very savvy and very long. He uses his length. His arms are out and he gets his hands on balls and deflects passes and discourages drives just because of his length. I think he’ll continue to get better and better with the other stuff systemically, but he’s done a good job for a young guy so far.”

The season is young, and injury has been the reason lack of production from Fultz. Only time will tell if the Celtics ultimately made the right decision, but at this moment, Tatum is the more complete player.  We’ll see how he does when the Celtics face off against the Spurs tomorrow night.