C´s won with a Final Score of 94 – 82. This was our first look with the new team, and what a fun night!
BALL MOVEMENT
The game started with some ugly missfires, as expected, but the ball movement was excellent. The C´s had eight buckets in seven dimes to start the game. Everyone was unselfish and the ball did not stick with just one player.
Check this out:
The Celtics are going to be really tough to guard once they figure some things out: pic.twitter.com/Y1FVUcjXNc
And yes, that is Kyrie dunking. I have seen Kyrie dunk twice his entire career. It was surprising to see him dunk, but I bet my money we won´t see much of it comes the regular season. Kyrie finished the game (only played first half) with nine points and five rebounds. G-Hayward added five and five. Al was really impressive with seven points, six rebounds and four assists in just 16 minutes of action. He and Hayward also did not play in the second half.
BAYNES, MR ALL-AUSTRALIA
Aaron Baynes was the the man of the night, for multiple reasons as you will find out later. The big guy punched in 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. But the stats won´t tell the entire story. He was hustling, contesting shots, playing good defense and really looked good taking and making the mid-range jump shots.
Marcus Smart came off the bench, was on pace to take 16 threes and did what Marcus does, hustle and have winning plays. He hit three of seven from beyond the arc. Jayson Tatum looked a bit nervous, as result, some ugly shots and misses. This was expected, as a 19-year old rookie basically trying to do everything right in his first career NBA game. He did settle down later on, finishing with nine points.
The rookie from Germany, Daniel Theis, really put in an impressive performance. In just 14 minutes of action, he piled up 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists. From catching lobs, to setting picks and rolling to the hoop, to rebounding. He did it all. Celtics Nation should not overreact to this, because it was against players who will probably never see the floor with the Hornets. Don’t forget — just preseason, but the results look encouraging. Theis has more experience and eventually will end up as a rotation player ahead of Yabu.
Abdel added 10 points. Larkin really kept the ball moving with the second unit. Nice showing in the limited minutes played. Yabu also seemed a little bit nervous, but he did hit the offensive glass hard multiple times.
Lots of positives in the first game, but remember, it´s just the preseason. Slow down on the hot-take cannons for now.
TOMMY SAID WHAT?
Regular season has yet to begin and Tommy is already at it:
The Celtics first preseason game tips off Monday at home vs the Charlotte Hornets. They play a total of just four preseason games- two with the Hornets and two against the 76ers. This means an even shorter time period for this team to get on the same page. As a result, the first unit might get more minutes than expected.
First, let’s take a look at the potential starters. This team will be starting four new players, and not all the positions are locked up yet. We can count on Irving, Hayward, and Horford starting. The general consensus expects inserting Jaylen Brown and Marcus Morris in the lineup, but both have question marks.
Jaylen Brown vs. Marcus Smart
Brown is just young and will be challenged. A lot of people like Marcus Smart as the do-it-all sixth man. I agree, but Stevens won’t just give Brown the starting nod; he’s going to have to earn it. He will do this with defense. “We need Jaylen to be an elite defender this year,” says his coach. The length this lineup would have two to five would be remarkable with a 6’7 player being the second shortest on the court. This makes it tough for offenses to get in the paint and it and closes up the passing lanes. Additionally, switches would be seamless, making screens less effective for opponents.
Smart’s ability to initiate and run the offense could keep him in his role as the sixth man. Brown isn’t there yet, and would thrive alongside the play makers in the first unit. The shoe just fits for Brown to start and Smart to lead the second team. Smart will probably pick up some starts, though. He’ll be the first man inserted in if anyone 1-4 misses any time.
Keep an eye on whether Smart’s shot has improved with all the work he has put in this summer. If his offensive game takes a big step forward, he will be tough to keep on the bench. Even if he doesn’t typically start, I would bet he finishes games more often than not.
Marcus Morris vs.. Justice?
Morris finds himself in a unique situation. He should start now that Crowder is gone. However, he has a criminal case pending and hasn’t been with the team during the trial. Even if he is available for the first game I doubt Stevens thrusts him into the starting lineup without any practice with the team.
This makes for an interesting situation until Morris joins the team. Stevens will likely go small and start both Smart and Brown in the meantime. This extends his deadline on choosing a starter and allows him to see which is a better fit in the first unit.
BENCH: WHO STEPS UP IN PRESEASON?
Panning out the starters will be interesting, but the bench remains more of a question mark for this team. We know Irving and Hayward can play, even Marcus Morris. But what about Yabusele and Theis? Can Larkin and Rozier carve out roles or will this team focus more on length and versatility? This option points to more young talent in rookies Jayson Tatum, Semi Ojeleye, and Abdel Nader.
Plenty of opportunities exist in preseason for unproven players to try and find their way into the rotation. Preseason offers time to see who is ready to step up to handle more responsibility on the court. The Celtics are counting on improvement from key players, but also on some new guys fitting in as well. Let’s take a look at what the bench could bring to the table.
Jayson Tatum
Although he’s just a 19-year-old rookie, a lot of weight could fall on Tatum’s shoulders to carry the offense for the second unit. His ability to score anywhere from the floor with a deep arsenal of moves will come in handy. If he can provide solid defense, he could move into the starting lineup over a guy like Jaylen Brown. Tatum is more comfortable handling the ball, and would give the starting lineup possibly even more versatility than Brown.
Like Smart, I think Tatum fits better in the second unit, even if his talent might outshine that of some starters. He thrives in isolation and is known as a ball stopper, not someone who traditionally moves it like this team wants to do. The second unit is shaping up to be more of a half-court offense that uses more designed sets and plays at a slower pace. This will be beneficial to Tatum’s game if they give him the ball and let him work.
The first unit will play at a higher pace, getting out and running in transition. Tatum could thrive playing at a higher pace as well, but the way this team is constructed, we need a guy like Tatum in the second unit who can go and get a bucket on his own.
Guerschon Yabusele
Although comparable to former Celtic Jared Sullinger in terms of measurements (both around 6’9, 260, 7ft wingspan), fans will be pleased with Yabu’s explosiveness and mobility. He has earned the Dancing Bear nickname because of his quickness despite his size, something that should help him on both ends of the floor. A floor stretcher on offense, he shoots more than five threes a game (at a 36.4% clip last year in China). With his ability to drive and finish at the rim as well, he already has a pretty versatile offensive game.
The CBA isn’t a league known for its defense, but this highlight reel shows how well he can move for his size. We never, ever saw Sullinger jump or move like this. The biggest hurdle for him this year will be finding his spots; when to drive or cut, and when to run to the line for an open shot. If he can use his explosiveness to make a difference on the glass, we could see the Dancing Bear crack the starting lineup eventually. While many question whether his game will translate, early rumblings about Yabusele are all positive.
Aron Baynes
At 6′-10″ 260 lbs, Baynes is a true bruiser and takes up more space in the paint than anyone else on the team. There isn’t much to look for here, as we already know what the vet brings to the table. He will play much like Amir Johnson: in short spurts to rebound, defend, and set screens. He might even pick up a few starts in the process. Stevens could insert him at C against teams bigger in the front court, allowing Horford to slide over and play the four a bit more. Look to see if the two have developed any type of chemistry since Baynes got to Boston.
Daniel Theis
I’m very interested to see Theis in preseason. He is very fluid and seems to have a good feel for the game, much like the guy he will be playing behind, Al Horford. Still, nobody knows whether his game will translate from overseas. He averaged a solid 9.6ppg & 4.6 rpg on his way to three consecutive German League Championships. He was also named German League Best Defender last year. His versatility as a big should translate if he can keep his efficiency high (60% FG, 41% 3pt).
Terry Rozier vs. Shane Larkin
I love the pickup of Shane Larkin, if for no other reason to give Terry some healthy competition. Rozier has been comfortable in his limited role for his first two seasons. He did increase from 8 mpg to 17 in his second year, also averaging 17 mpg in the playoffs through 2 seasons. He has proven to be ready when called upon, but hasn’t been pushed by someone behind him on the depth chart until now. Will it push him further, or will he fall behind?
Larkin has played in big moments already. He has picked up multiple starts for both the Knicks and Nets in his three-year NBA career. In that time, he posted averages of 10.1ppg & 5.9apg. Last season, he played overseas in Euroleague and improved his game even further, averaging 13.3ppg. Many believe he is ready for an NBA comeback. Just turning 25, he still has a lot to prove.
“He really floats- he is an athlete. He can push tempo, but also change gears. He’s got a pace to him where he understands the other four guys he’s playing with. I’m a big fan of Shane Larkin,” says Stevens of one of the least talked about off-season acquisitions.
Speed Demon
The flip side of this is Terry Rozier. He only knows one gear, and that is top speed. Rather than floating to the open spots on the floor, he jolts around with the ball. A lot of times he runs into spots that aren’t open. This is the biggest criticism of Rozier’s game- he expects the team to play at his pace, not wanting to slow down to the pace of his teammates. If he can figure this element of the game out, he could be a great player. He has the intangibles, and he isn’t afraid of the big moment.
While Larkin gets the nod offensively, Rozier is a better defender. Learning behind Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart for two years has helped him turn his defensive skills into a big asset for this team. If he can keep the turnovers down and show further improvements defensively, he should usually come off the bench before Larkin.
The Celtics are transitioning into a team that wants to be as versatile as possible and can switch 1-5. This hurts the chances of undersized guards like Larkin and Rozier getting many minutes. There will still always be situations where Stevens sees a spot where one could be useful.
Semi Ojeleye vs. Abdel Nader
These two guys both fit the mold that Stevens wants in wing players that can switch 1-5 defensively and play both ends of the floor. Like Larkin and Rozier, you are getting offense with one and defense with the other. Nader already has a pretty polished offensive game. He is another guy like Tatum that you can call upon to get a bucket by himself. The 2nd unit is slim in scoring, so it is possible he cracks the rotation on nights the starters are struggling to score.
Ojeleye has less offensive moves, but can shoot well (42.4% 3pt on 5 att/game), and has the ability to bully opponents on the inside with his large 6’7 240 frame. If he uses his size to rebound and defend, he will get minutes. Coach Stevens has already given his defense high praise, saying he might be one of the best defenders on this team already. If he can bring that intensity along with a decent shot, he should typically come off the bench before Nader.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
The trends here are versatility and defense. The Celtics will no longer struggle to score as they have in the past. This will allow Stevens to focus more on putting his best defensive lineup on the floor, without sacrificing much offense. Even when using guys that are prone to defensive errors like Kyrie, he will pair them with lengthy players that can clog the lanes and make it tough for offenses to move around and get easy buckets.
The projected starting five of Irving-Brown-Hayward-Morris-Horford has much more length 1-5 than last years starters. While many argue this team gave up a lot of defensive hustle and grit, I would argue they added length to make up for it. This is something you can’t teach. If these guys all buy in, they have the defensive ability to be elite on that end of the floor. It will just be a much different look.
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
The old look was Bradley and Crowder getting up into players, making them uncomfortable and forcing turnovers. The new look will be more traditional defense, not having to make up for lack of size with hustle plays. Stevens has never had a team with the ability to switch like this team will. This should go a long way defensively.
It will be interesting to see the different lineups Stevens tries in preseason. He isn’t one to roll out the same lineup night in and night out. Rather, he plays to matchups, and I would expect to see a few different starting lineups this season. Preseason will be a good time to assess who can step in to certain roles and contribute. We should see everyone on the roster at some point in preseason, so there will be a lot to sort out. If one thing is for sure, it is going to be FUN. Let the games begin!
The Celtics have a final roster spot, but Andrew Bogut won’t be the player to fill that spot.
According to multiple reports, both the Celtics and the Cavs were in on Bogut, but the 32-year old vet decided to take his talents to LA. Now with just three days until training camp, Dany may still be looking to add some more talent to the team.
Boris Diaw is heading to France, Tyler Zeller to the Nets, Crawford to Minnesota. The options the Celtics now have are limited, but some impactful players remain in the market.
THOMAS ROBINSON
Between the Kyrie trade madness, the Celtics conducted a work out with the big man.
Sources: As Boston waits on finalization of Irving deal, free agent F/C Thomas Robinson working out at facility for possible roster spot.
The 6-10, listed at 237 lbs was drafted fifth overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Kings, and played for six teams in the spam. Not ideal. But he´s only 26. Last season with the Lakers, in 48 games, he averaged 5.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, at just 11 mins per game.
But what could possibly attract Dany, is Robinson’s ability to rebound, and that’s an issue that keeps haunting the Celtics. Robinson has a impressive 25.5% defensive rebound percentage for his career. To put that in prospective, Kelly Olynyk lead the Celtics last year at 20.7%.
The only downside to Robinson is that he has not been sucked into the modern day NBA style. I refer to is his inability to stretch the floor. In the last couple seasons, Brad has relied heavily on bigs that can space the floor.
When Green is number two in this list, you know the market isn’t very big out there. But Gerald is a great locker presence, very important for a new team. And he helped turn the Bulls series around.
This will not be a popular option for the fans after the disappointing stint with the Celtics back in 2015. Celtics fan were excited to add the former dominant double-double PF. Lee played only 30 games with the Celtics before he was waived and picked up by the Mavericks.
Lee isn’t the same old Lee but he’s coming off a quiet, productive season with the mighty Spurs. In 18 minutes of action, the posted 7.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists, and shot 59 percent from the field. Lee turn down a $1.6 million option from the Spurs.
WHO ELSE?
Like mentioned before, the options are limited at this point of the off season. The chances are slim to find a player, whom will have any real impact on the team.
Notable free agent bigs still available: Lavoy Allen, Festus Ezeli and Jordan Hill.
Training camp is less than a week away and the basketball junkies are coming out of hibernation. Soon enough, a clearer picture of what we can expect the Celtics to look like will start to show itself. So, you’re probably expecting a post about how the Celtics are going to go all the way this year, right?!?
Well, this is the part where I tell you to temper expectations just a little bit. It’s an exciting time to be a Celtics fan, but moreover a fan of the NBA in general. A lot of teams have a similar buzz around them. The Celtics might have a tough time shining the brightest in the 2018 Playoffs. Even if they eclipse their previous high-water mark for the fourth consecutive year and reach the NBA Finals, a juggernaut will await. It won’t be a cake walk.
I wrote an article about how this team shouldn’t have any problems hitting the ground running, and I stick to that. We should see some amazing basketball out of the Celtics this year. Furthermore, I don’t think they’ll have many problems with team chemistry. This group of guys just seem to mesh together already; it’s the perfect mixture of skill sets ready to complement one another. Add in some colorful personalities to taste, and it smells like a recipe for success. The things I think will hold this team back initially all share a common thread – inexperience.
ON YOUR MARK…
Most of the players we had that gained playoff experience in the past few years are gone. Sure, Kyrie won a championship and should be a leader of the Celtics in time. Can we really expect a 25-year-old to lead even younger guys to the top of the NBA in less than a year, though? Stevens and Hayward have been to the championship stage before together in college but didn’t win. Horford won in college and should step further into a leadership role. All things considered, the reality is this team needs more experience before being catapulted into the history books.
Even further, they simply lack experience in terms of player age. Let’s face it: this is one of the youngest teams in the NBA. They will be relying on first- and second-year players making a big impact if they want to make a deep playoff run. Jaylen Brown did get meaningful PT last year in the playoffs. He was on the floor frequently in the ECF and was even tasked with guarding Lebron James at times. Jayson Tatum very well might be the best rookie in his class. And fellow rook “The Terminator” Semi Ojeleye might just contribute immediately on defense as Brad Stevens indicates. Regardless, this is a team with five rookies on guaranteed deals and 10 players 25 years of age or younger.
PLANT THE SEEDS AND WATCH THEM GROW
This team to me is complete. When I say that, I mean I don’t think they really need to add anything major to compete for championships. The biggest thing that is going to help them reach another level is organic growth in the coming years. The young stars, Jaylen and Jayson, need to continue to improve. Hopefully one or both will be ready for crucial starting roles within a couple years. The other rookies need to find ways to contribute as well, and the younger guards that have been here (Smart and Rozier) need to start showing leadership and growth.
Even the players at the top of the lineup are still getting better in Irving and Hayward. The only player that seems to have reached his peak playing level is Horford, and he still has some great years ahead of him. The dynamic of this team is exciting, but there are a lot of moving parts here. Only time will tell if they are all moving in the same direction.
BUELLER… BUELLER…..
So where will this team get its leadership? Kyrie will be expected to take on that role, and he seems ready for the challenge. Al Horford will be another guy the Celtics will lean on heavily this season to keep everybody focused on the goal of winning a championship, something he did twice in college at Florida. He is the oldest and most experienced player on the team at 31 with 10 years of NBA experience. Together these two have 144 playoff games good for 143 starts. But when you take them out of the equation, the situation is pretty grim; the rest of the team has a combined total of 114 playoff games under their belt, good for just 27 starts.
PLAYOFFS? WE TALKIN’ BOUT PLAYOFFS??
Getting down to brass tacks, I see this team finishing as the number-one seed in the East again, with a slightly better record than last year. I’ll peg them for 55-60 wins which should easily get them the top spot. The Cavs will be without Isaiah to start the season, trying to figure it out. When he does come back, they’ll have to reconfigure again.
The second round will be the first real test for the new look C’s, but don’t expect it to be a drawn out battle. The number-one seeded Celtics move on to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. Following the same narrative as last year, they run in to a team they have yet to see all season – the Playoff Cavaliers.
WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
There is no way to sugarcoat it. The Cavaliers are going to be in the Eastern Conference Finals, and they will be ready. Not only ready to play, but ready specifically to beat the Boston Celtics. There will be a guy by the name of Isaiah Thomas in the ECF, playing with a chip on his shoulder. Oh, and he’s going to have his friend Jae Crowder with him as well, ready to lock down Lebron James all game. Wait.. this is getting confusing. We can’t put Jae on Lebron?
Seriously, that’s going to be an issue. As if that weren’t enough, lining him up with Lebron on defense is going to be scary for any team. And then there’s the fact that, well, Lebron does a lot more than just play defense. Not to mention he’s going to be out to show Kyrie he made the wrong choice leaving Cleveland. When the best player in the world has your number, it’s never a good thing.
JUST BEING REAL, FOLKS
This series is going to be a classic, point blank period. The last time I was waiting for a particular series before the season started, it was the Celtics-Lakers in the Finals. It is simply the fate of these two teams to go the distance in the Conference Finals after all that has transpired. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my prediction is the Celtics will lose to the Cavaliers in seven. The inexperience of the young C’s will show itself, and the Cavs will be more hungry for it this season. They will be out for revenge; the Celtics are just going to be taking it all in. The Cavs also don’t have the luxury of youth and (take a seat, Danny, your job is done) stability, and thus have more of a sense of urgency to win now.
All things considered, if the Celtics get this far, it’s not that far-fetched to see them advancing to the Finals. Anything can happen in a game seven, but I don’t think that scenario favors the Celtics. In the wise words of former Celtics coach Doc Rivers, “you never want the series to get to a game seven when the best player is on the other team.” He was talking about Lebron James, right after his Celtics team lost to the Heat in game seven of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Lebron had 45pts-15rbs-5ast in that game. Fast forward six years and I think the narrative proves to be eerily similar. The Celtics crawl a tad further into uncharted waters in their quest for Banner 18, but fall just shy of the NBA Finals this year.
Stay tuned for my upcoming article on when the Celtics will win their next championship!!
NIKE also debuted the Connected Jersey, which features a NFC chip. Once you have downloaded the NIKE app, it´ll unlock exclusive content for that player.
Using new NikeConnect technology, each adult-sized Nike NBA Connected Jersey will have an embedded NFC (near field communication) chip that will launch real-time team and player content such as pregame arrival footage, highlight packages and top players’ favorite music playlists – all on the jersey owner’s mobile device. Throughout the season, a wealth of exclusive offers and experiences will bring fans closer to the game they love.
BLACK IS THE NEW GREEN
Now I know you are asking, I can’t see the Celtics! Where is it!?
Funny thing, It actually took me about a minute to find it. That’s because the Celtics were all the way in the back, and I was looking for maybe Kyrie´s face, GH, maybe rookie-sensation Jayson Tatum. Nope. Shane Larkin. Nothing wrong with Larkin, but I didn’t expect it to be him. But anyway, here is a more clear picture of the full unit.
I am a big fan. Really like the Black and Green combination. Just like the black trim the Celtics used tons last season.
But let’s be honest, that GE logo ruins it. It’s so big, so out of place and, overall, ads on NBA uniforms are not a pretty look. But overall the unit is clean, not much going around. Just the plain black and the green trims and sides. Beautifully done NIKE.
BYE BYE SLEEVES
With NIKE taking over the NBA uniforms, this hopefully means bye bye to those ugly sleeved uniforms pajamas. Remember the grey ones?
Yeah, not a fan.
Give us your thoughts on the new Celtics uniforms, Celtics Nation. Do you like it? Hate it?
Media day will give us a chance to see the two newest Celtics, Kyrie and Hayward, with their new Celtics jersey. This also will give us the first look at the big three together. They’ll be joined by the rookies, highlighted by the number-three pick, Jayson Tatum. and new Celtics, Morris and Baynes.
In addition to player interviews, The day will be dedicated to players taking selfies with each other, players getting to know each other and discussing the upcoming season. Same will apply to Brad and his coaching staff and the front office executives.
TRAINING CAMP IN RHODE ISLAND?
According to Brian Robb, the following day the Celtics will head to Rhode Island to start training camp. This will be the first time since Brad´s rookie season that the Celtics will hold traning camp in Rhode Island.
For the first time since first year under Brad Stevens #Celtics will open training camp in Newport, RI this season.
This will give the players and coaches some time to bond, and build some chemistry, as just four players from last season´s ECF team are back. The Celtics will be in RI for three days.
We hear it every time a team has any type of significant roster turnover. “They’ll need time to gel.” Or, “We’ll have to wait and see if they have chemistry.” Sure, these are valid points. But I’m here to tell you, these issues are minimal with this Celtics team. To find out why, you don’t need to look any further down the team roster than the head coach.
Brad Stevens became the head coach prior to the 2013-2014 season. Remarkably, he has exactly zero players left from that team going into the 2017-2018 campaign. Seems like a massive headache for a guy who came from college coaching ranks. A mid-major nonetheless, where he didn’t have to worry about the business side of basketball. Stevens has embraced the challenge, however. He has done a better job than anyone expected him to, improving the teams record every single year since he came to Boston despite some major changes. Let’s take a closer look at how he has handled this tremendous roster turnover in the past.
2013-2014*
Stevens’ first year as head coach was a rough one. The team won 25 games, and it looked like the rebuild might take awhile. He did give us a taste of his genius though, when he dropped Jordan Crawford into the starting Point Guard role in the absence of Rondo. Crawford was widely considered a selfish player around the league, but Stevens made him into a team- first guy. He had his best all-around year, even earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. Despite the poor record, Stevens showed he wasn’t afraid to do things his own way. He gave the last player on the roster the same opportunity to prove himself as the first guy. He didn’t want to overlook anyone, and made sure everyone got their fair shake. If you could play team ball and defend, you would play, period.
2014-2015*
In his second season, Ainge made some significant midseason moves, and Stevens was finally getting a taste of the difficulties of coaching in the NBA. The Celtics were 9-14 when Rondo went to the Mavericks, and 13-23 when they sent Jeff Green to Memphis. Both were starters, and the players that earned those roles were new to the team. Marcus Smart was an unproven rookie, and Evan Turner signed as a free agent just before the season. Turner was widely considered a bust after being the number two overall pick and never meeting expectations. But Stevens saw something in him.
When the team traded for Isaiah Thomas at the trade deadline, they were still trying to crawl out of the cellar. Nobody expected them to make the playoffs. With a completely different look than just months prior, they finished the year with one of the best post All-Star break records and made it to postseason. In a year that saw 22 different players receive minutes, Stevens created a playoff team. His peers were starting to see him as one of the best young coaches in the game.
2015-2016*
2016-2017*
The last two years have had considerably less roster turnover, but still saw a new name in the starting lineup each year with Amir Johnson and Al Horford. The team has continued to improve and exceed expectations no matter who they roll out. Isaiah Thomas turned into a star, but they still didn’t have much firepower behind him. Stevens’ teams to date have been known for being overachievers.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Let’s take a look at what Stevens was working with in his second season compared to what he will have next year. In ’14-’15, the fresh, new core was a rookie Marcus Smart, Evan Turner, and a young IT who had not yet established himself as a star. Compare that with the likes of Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and Jayson Tatum along with plenty of other moving parts, and there is no contest as to which group has more talent.
Taking all of this into account, it’s a given that this team will be good, and possibly great. Stevens has without question the most talented roster he has coached in the NBA. He no longer has to make lemons into lemonade; he already has the lemonade. If they simply achieve, progress will still have been made. Betting sites have them pegged for as high as 56.5 wins on the season, more than the 53 wins they reached last year.
The overachieving C’s may be gone, but the new look C’s might not need to overachieve to win a championship. They have the talent. The question we must answer now is, does this team have what it takes to win it all? Do they have championship DNA? Stevens will do his part and put players in the best position to succeed as he always has. But it will be up to them what they do with the opportunity.
* Courtesy of RealGM. Depth charts are from the last game played that season. This takes into account injuries, which shows another element Stevens has had to deal with. He was missing a starter due to injury in the playoffs all 3 years he has been there.
The clock ticks down under 10 seconds. The game is tied in overtime. The Staples Center in LA is packed. Jersey number two in black is still dribbling calmly in place just past half court. The people closest to him know what happens next, as he prepares to show the rest of the world what he is all about. Isaiah Thomas starts to drive hard left. He gets inside the perimeter enough to sell the drive. He gets a sliver of space and then takes a step back with a distance comparable to that between Man and the Moon itself to get behind the line. A two-point victory wasn’t good enough for him. (It ended up being called a two but I dispute it to this day). You can probably guess what happens next: swish. “COOOLLDD BLOODED!!” the announcer can be heard yelling over all the chaos.
Special Person, Special Player
That was the scene of the PAC-12 (then PAC-10) championship game on March 12, 2011, and the exact moment I became an Isaiah Thomas fan. You see, certain players bring more to basketball than just talent. IT plays with a fierce passion unmatched by most. You have to bring up the names of greats just to find somebody on his level in that regard. Then there’s that smile. You can always tell he’s having a blast on the court, and for his teammates, it’s contagious. Complement these things with an unrealistic confidence and you have the makings of a special player. He is willing to say he wants to be the best player in the NBA, and he doesn’t care if you doubt him. As a fan, you have to love a guy like that. Especially when he’s able to back it up with top-five level play, which is right where he found himself in the MVP race at the end of last season. Say that again?
Down Draft
Speaking of doubt, let’s fast forward from that day at the Staples Center to a few months later at the 2011 NBA draft. You’ve probably heard the story. Thomas was taken with the last pick, far beyond the point where a team can typically find someone worth a roster spot. Well, the Kings struck gold. Not only did he make the team, he averaged 11.5 ppg as a rookie. He jumped up to 20.3 ppg by his third year. Despite showing promise as a young player, the Kings weren’t satisfied and dumped him for nothing in a sign-and-trade move with the Suns. He played in Phoenix for only half of the 13-14 season. Even though he continued to play well, they doubted Thomas and his role in their long-term plans. They viewed him as the third-best point guard on the roster.
Little Big Man
When I heard the Celtics landed Thomas before the trade deadline of the 2014-2015 season, I was ecstatic. Right away I felt we had the scoring punch we needed to maybe make a run at the playoffs, and he took us there as a mid-season acquisition. But he wasn’t satisfied; he won the starting role, and in the 2016-2017 season threw it in the face of his doubters and had himself an MVP caliber season.
Some of the things he did this past season literally brought me to tears. There’s the Miami game where he notched a career- high 52 points, and we needed every last one of them to win. The King of the Fourth came to play that day, breaking Larry Bird’s franchise record with 24 in the final period.
Need a day off? The very next game, he recorded a career high 15 assists behind 29 pts, and it started to seem like he could do anything. Just two games in the line of a franchise-record 43-straight, 20-point games. And in the playoffs, when he bested his 52 with a gritty 53-point performance on a bad hip, on what would have been his sisters 23rd birthday. She passed away in a car accident weeks before. If you weren’t a fan of his after that game, you didn’t have a pulse.
He fought through that personal tragedy for the rest of the playoffs and beyond. The missing tooth game, the game winner in Atlanta, I could go on and on. We were witnessing greatness out of “the little guy” every single time he stepped on the floor. He fought so hard for everything, and he finally felt at home. He was in a good situation where his coach allowed him to be himself and it was paying dividends. Even the doubters where starting to diminish. Imagine that, it took an MVP level season for most to realize this guy is pretty darn good.
…Another, New, Era?
What happens next, well, is simply heartbreaking. As I’m writing this, I’m torn between excitement for the future and borderline depression that the hard nosed Celtics led by Thomas will never step on the floor together again. While the culture remains, the fact is this is a much different team led by a different floor general. Isaiah wears a Cavaliers jersey now. And get this; reports reveal the Cavs didn’t care much about Thomas being part of the deal, but were more enamored with Crowder and the Nets pick. Two great assets, sure, but the message was clear; we don’t think he can do it again. Definitely not after the hip injury. They even demanded more out of the deal after it was agreed upon when concern was expressed about their results from Thomas’ physical. IT’s newest team has become his latest doubter.
Is the hip a concern? Yes. Is he shorter than your roommate, who thinks he would’ve made it to the NBA if he was taller? There’s a pretty good chance. The concerns have always been logical, but does it really matter? I answered that question for myself the second the ball left his hands in the final seconds of that OT game on March 12th 2012 in the sold out Staples Center. It didn’t matter whether it went in or not; I had seen enough to know this kid had guts. The fact that it dropped was the proverbial icing on the cake.
Cleveland Doubts Thomas
Certain players, certain people, defy logic with their craft. Coincidentally enough, some people call it the “IT” factor, and the man whose initials and most popular nickname is I.T. has “IT.” Magical might be a more appropriate word than logical when talking about Thomas. He has defied logic time and time again, and you won’t find me giving any reason why he can’t do it once more. So when it was reported that Isaiah was really just the icing on the cake for the Cavs, the only reasoning I can come up with is that their front office is full of odd individuals who only eat the icing.
P.S. I wanted to help direct Cleveland here, as they will almost certainly be needing this service in the near future. You earned it IT!!
Isaiah Thomas said when asked about his looming payday next offseason that they better bring in the Brinks truck, and took it a step further with these. Here’s a clip of the shot in the 2011 Pac-10 title game. Stat line: 28-5-7. COLD. BLOODED.
It’s been a wild 24 hours for the Celtics, after an off season that has already give Celtics fans a some cause to order that celebratory drink. In fact, we just posted “Way-to0-early predictions” and you can’t help but ask if this team adds a few more Ws to our Celtics’ cause.
Chris and I found ourselves debating the merits of IT, the trade and their histories and decided to take it public so you can weigh in. But, before we get started, let’s say a collective THANK YOU to Isaiah Thomas. He brought it for the fans and his teammates every night. The things he did off the court, like recruiting other players to our cause, had a significant impact on this team. So, thank you Isaiah. But, this is a business, so let’s talk…
Chris: There are probably a lot of people with negative emotional reactions to this trade. However, this won’t be your typical “heart says no, head says yes” argument. In my opinion, this is an objectively bad trade from a value standpoint. Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas are very similar players. They’re both great PGs. But Isaiah Thomas fit the system perfectly. Excellent pick and roll player, great at attacking the rim or pulling up and shooting from range. Excellent getting to the line, and one of the very best free throw shooters in the NBA. While Kyrie is also undeniably a great player, paying Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the BKN ’18 pick to swap Thomas for a younger, less seamlessly fitting, version of himself seems like a massive overpay.
The trade by the numbers
First, play-type data from nbamath.com shows Thomas as the massively superior player both offensively and defensively last season. (And far superior in the pick and roll offensively, a bread-and-butter play for the Cs.) And this isn’t a volume stat. This isn’t a “well he ran more PnR so of course he accumulated more points in this type of situation. We’re talking points per possession, an efficiency stat that volume usually drags down. Thomas was a top 10 NBA player in Win Shares. He was top six in Win Shares Per 48. He scored 29 points per game as the sole focal point of the defense, attracting numerous double and triple teams and baseline and half-court traps. Thomas could get to the free throw line as well as anyone not named James Harden, and he was the second-best free throw shooter by percentage in
the NBA last season.
Brett: I’m not going to lie, I had an emotional reaction to this trade. I think ITs commitment to the fan base is irreplaceable. From all accounts, he was a great teammate, has a strong work ethic and is an all around good guy. Kyrie got some of those qualities, but (and maybe it is because I don’t live in Cleveland) – I didn’t see as much of that. That said, bringing a guy who can create his own shot and needs less help in post defense. Sure, neither are great defensive players but Kyrie hasn’t had a coach like Stevens and can learn a new system, IT can’t grow.
I have a different perspective on the win shares. Did he score, yes. Did the team have anyone else who could come close to that, no. Lebron (according to ESPN) averaged about 33 points again, Kyrie 26 and Love 17. The top three Celtics players had Thomas at 23, Bradley with 17 and Horford at 15 for the 2016 season. Boston needed to run plays, to provide Thomas room to find his shot. Even competing for his shots in Cleveland with higher performing players around him, Kyrie was a top 20 ppg guy.
The algorithms of basketball
Chris: Kyrie is also a great player. However, Kyrie Irving is a less efficient scorer. Sometimes this isn’t necessarily his fault, he excels at less efficient play types like isolation sets out of the high post. But the fact remains. This is especially concerning as Kyrie was playing with the greatest basketball player on earth and for a great three-point shooting team featuring the likes of Kevin Love, J.R. Smith and Channing Frye. Usually playing alongside other super-stars has statistical side effects. It may temper your counting stats, as you won’t see the ball as much or get as many shots. However, it usually increases efficiency. Celtics fans saw this effect first-hand when Pierce, Garnett, and Allen joined together. The all experienced drops in raw production of counting stats, but the best efficiency of their careers.
Kyrie is also not an improvement defensively. Again, turning to nbamath.com, one can see that Kyrie was a massive negative in several play-types. While Isaiah Thomas was also a negative defender, his negative impact on that side of the ball has been far overstated. Kyrie was actually far worse.
Brett: Ok, Chris, I hear you, and according to nbamath.com almost 20% of Isaiahs shots in the last two years came off screens or hand offs where Kyrie needed that help half as often. In fact, Kyrie was able to play isolation more than twice as often as the It. I supposed someone could argue thats that nature of these two teams systems. but for Kyrie to spend 20% of his team in isolation with guys like LeBron and Love on the team is undeniable. So, Isaiah needs his teammates to put extra miles on their legs to get him open where Kyrie can create his own shot. Two sides of the same coin? Maybe, but Kyrie’s value added in isolation is twice as strong as IT.
Celtics sacrifice?
Then there is the value side of what the Celtics gave up. The BKN pick was a prime asset. The 2018 draft class appears to be excellent. Zizic had very promising overseas numbers. Guys like Porzingis, Jokic, and Nurkic played comparably during their overseas careers. Zizic may not pan out like them, and isn’t a three-point shooting or offensively skilled unicorn like Porzingis, but he is a nice prospect. And Jae Crowder was included in the trade as well.
The thought of the Cavs lining up Isaiah Thomas, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Jae Crowder at the four, and either Tristan Thompson or Kevin Love at the five looks terrifying. Crowder can defend the three’s and four’s of the modern NBA and hit spot-up and catch and shoot threes at a 40% rate. Crowder represents one of the best value contracts in the league. All this for a player who will cost roughly $14M dollars more than Isaiah Thomas this season, and has an opt-out after two years. For all the whining about paying Isaiah Thomas max money, Thomas was still on the books for a bargain price this year, and Kyrie will need the exact same max to stick around just a year later.
This trade stands as a massive gamble and still possibly a massive overplay. The Celtics have to hope they can integrate Kyrie in their system. They’ll need to transform him from an isolation player to a read-and-react offense, pick-and-roll heavy type system fit. They have to work on his shot selection. They have to hope Kyrie can duplicate the success Thomas had last year.
Even if you believe Kyrie has superior talent, which doesn’t necessarily showing up in the objective evidence, this won’t be a slam dunk because Isaiah was such a great system fit. The Celtics also have to hope Kyrie re-signs with the team in two years. If he walks, it’s a terrible trade.
The Celtics also have gambled on IT and LBJ leaving CLE in a year. If they both leave, and Kyrie works out, they’ll look like geniuses. If LBJ, IT, Love, TT, and Jae all excel together and decide to stick around, it may not matter how well Kyrie integrates into our system. So not only is this trade a risk in the short-term, but the best long-term asset in the trade went to CLE. And that is the BKN pick. In three years if Kyrie Irving is playing elsewhere and the Cavaliers have a young lottery stud to groom, this will be a terrible trade.
Consider the upside
There is potential for this trade to work. Kyrie could excel in the Celtics system like Isaiah did. Kyrie came from an ISO-centric system in college. Perhaps coming to a motion heavy, PnR-heavy, read-and-react offense will be a breath of fresh air. He’s a great ball handler, finisher and shooter. He could re-sign with the team. He is younger than Isaiah. (Though the two have very similar mileage in terms of NCAA+NBA combined minutes. Thomas was a four-year college player, and didn’t jump up to an 82 game grind as early as Kyrie did.) The Celtics now have two years to make a max contract decision on their star PG instead of one. While Isaiah Thomas has been the far more durable player in their careers to date, and the hip is probably being over-stated as a concern, Kyrie is healthier right now and will be to start the season. The Celtics may have had to deal with a slight delay with Thomas. That’s probably not a big issue long term, but now they should start the season fully healthy as a team, which is always nice.
Enthusiasm for a season hasn’t been this high since the Big 3 came to town, but with some young studs, proven veterans and our second free agent in as many seasons, we have plenty to be excited about. A lot of people feel that tipping the scales at 53 wins and the #1 season was an over achievement – so if the Celtics simply’ achieve’ how much more can we expect? I hit the streets, Twitter, and my fantasy football league (they like the Celtics too) to find out fan predictions for the 2017 season.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 3: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics and Kevin Garnett #5 exchange words in the final moment in the 4th quarter in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2013 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics lost 88-80. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Survey says…
“I don’t see them eclipsing last years total in wins and am going to keep them at 53 wins. The battle will be similar to last year between Toronto and Boston for the Atlantic Division with the April 4th contest between the two being deciding factor for who will see first Cleveland in the post season” – @JoshBeRube
“Celtics last season’s record was 53-29. The question everyone asks, though, did they improve that much this off season? The loss of Avery Bradley certainly hurts as he was one of our defensive bulldogs . With the addition of Gordon Hayward and another year of being with the Celtics for big Al , I can only see our record improving to what could possibly be a nice 58-24 record improving us by 5 wins. 60 is a big chance especially with how weak the East has become. For the number one seed it’s a two-horse race between the Celtics and Cavaliers. As long as Lebron James is at Cleveland, he will continue to push and fight. In terms of playoffs, we look ready to reach the Conference finals in a replay against the Cavaliers. The Celtics look stronger, and our bench depth will become a big factor when we bring in the second unit and need scoring from the likes of Tatum, Rozier, Brown and Smart. We may be able to take Cleveland to a seven-game series but sadly going down 4-3 if the Cavs’ roster stays intact. Hold tight though, Bean town! The future is ever so bright and we can only look forward to what we have to come with the likes of rookies and even Boston being a popular destination for free agents to sign here.” -@mitchphillipsbc
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 09: P.J. Carlesimo (L) gets ready to interview Jayson Tatum #11 of the Boston Celtics after the team’s 70-64 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in a 2017 Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“57-25(53-29) +4 wins . The addition of Gordon Hayward gives the Celtics the scorer they need. Then a bigger starting lineup will give them a better chance to win the rebound battle. I imagine they will start off slow but their talent and having a more equipped bench than most teams – will allow them win while learning to play together. Once they get on the same page, you will see short runs and flashes of what the team will be come playoff time. It may take a while, but once they are up and running they will be fine.” – @BlaiseG1991
“I’d like to be 52-30. We’re a better team this year but getting some of the younger guys more minutes and time to develop is in the best interest of the team in the long run. I think Stevens will play to that and we’ll be a better team come playoffs because of it.” – Adam K
“I think the entire “net” will be three more games than last year. Good for 56 wins, second seed. They get to the ECFs and lose in six. Not buying all the dysfunction in Cleveland. Cavs are shooting for the best record and home court throughout the playoffs.” – Chris R
“They may struggle a little to start the season, as half the team has turned over, but will get hot late. They will finish 51-31, to earn 2nd seed. Brad Steven’s will experiment will different line-ups early, knowing that the team will have time to make up ground in an extremely weak Eastern Conference. They will reach the Eastern Conference Finals, but lost to the Cavs in five games. LeBrown is just too much to handle, ITs defense will again be an issue and three of the four Cavs wins will be by four points or less.” – @williesteegz
“Celtics will be 56-26 and another 1 seed. Got better adding Hayward and Jaylen Brown will take a leap forward with more minutes. Tatum will provide instant scoring. Teams also can’t focus on IT the whole time which will open up the paint and allow for him to get to the rack and either put it up or dish it to the shooter. Cavs are in disarray and Kyrie is most likely gone.” – @MatthewKusch1
I tend to agree with the folks expecting about 55 wins. The team is more talented than last year, but as @Williesteegz said, half the team has turned over. You can’t argue that the acquisition of Gordon Hayward and having one of the deepest benches in the league with overcome much of the “first-day-in-a-new- school syndrome” but it’s there. All in all, the team has the talent, but we’ve seen talented teams underachieve in the past if they lose their identity. Don’t forget, the C’s have one of their more difficult schedules in recent memory with 25 nationally televised games (If Rondo was still here, he’d probably have his best season) – for more schedule analysis keep an eye out for @JoshBeRube’s article later this week.
Brad Stevens has his most exciting roster, but it’s on him to ensure the pieces don’t just fit, but overachieve (again).
