Those highlights were a thing of beauty. The only thing that would've made them better was someone karate chopping Draymond in the face.
Not peak today considering Porzingis didn’t even play.This team is finally peaking…..I was hoping it didn’t happen this soon though. Pretty awesome to see anyway.
Yea this seems weird. It’s a combo 17 and whoever happens to be in 2nd place at the moment. It’s exactly what we do with baseball every year.If the Celts win 17 more games, it doesn’t matter what any of the other teams do. I don’t understand your point. If the Sox had an 8 game lead on the Yankees and a 10 game lead on Tampa, why would we care about the magic number needed to beat Tampa?
It’s literally the point of the magic number. How else would you use it?
If this week wasn’t peak performance I don’t know what it would look like. I said this about a month ago that my greatest fear besides injuries were this team running off 20 in a row before the playoffs and peaking too soon.Not peak today considering Porzingis didn’t even play.
This 5 game road trip should keep them focused, and I doubt they run the table.If this week wasn’t peak performance I don’t know what it would look like. I said this about a month ago that my greatest fear besides injuries were this team running off 20 in a row before the playoffs and peaking too soon.
I’ll take peaking early and extra rest to decrease injury odds. Injuries have to be the biggest threat. Look at what has happened to the Knicks, who are probably just done after tonight.If this week wasn’t peak performance I don’t know what it would look like. I said this about a month ago that my greatest fear besides injuries were this team running off 20 in a row before the playoffs and peaking too soon.
So fun. I didn't get to see anything but the late 3rd on, but I do love how hard and well the development squad plays even in a blowout.
Not too soon. They have an 8 game lead with 22 to play. With the injury concerns/age of some players - plus the ability to get rest for guys - who knows how many more peddle-to-the-metal games we get. They're finding their peak now before resting up for the playoffs.If this week wasn’t peak performance I don’t know what it would look like. I said this about a month ago that my greatest fear besides injuries were this team running off 20 in a row before the playoffs and peaking too soon.
Nobody’s really doing a lot of heavy listing as they crush these teams by double digits every game. I would have no problem with them doing this the rest of the season as long as they don’t burn anybody out with extra minutes. The 2008 team closed 20-4 as they tried to put a beatdown on every team.If this week wasn’t peak performance I don’t know what it would look like. I said this about a month ago that my greatest fear besides injuries were this team running off 20 in a row before the playoffs and peaking too soon.
Who are our injury concern guys? Horford has always been super durable but he’ll get B2B off as will KP whose I’ve always felt was overstated. Anyone else would be a fluke that rests aren’t going to help only that fewer minutes will obviously minimize that risk. I expect us to continue what we’ve been doing right to the end of the season except many give an extra day off on a B2B for others. I’m not buying this extended rest period happening as Mazzulla has talked about actually ramping UP same game minutes heading into the playoffs to help prepare.Not too soon. They have an 8 game lead with 22 to play. With the injury concerns/age of some players - plus the ability to get rest for guys - who knows how many more peddle-to-the-metal games we get. They're finding their peak now before resting up for the playoffs.
That's my positive spin on it.
There's a reason other teams don't do this lol.I love and expect the spin here. The fact remains that the Warriors or some subset of their lineup decided to leave an All NBA player (asterisk or not) wide open to start a national broadcast game. I doubt that strategy will be reused if these two teams meet again.
I get what you mean and share the concern somewhat...............however, this was also the first game in awhile that they even tried hard for the entire competitive portion.If this week wasn’t peak performance I don’t know what it would look like. I said this about a month ago that my greatest fear besides injuries were this team running off 20 in a row before the playoffs and peaking too soon.
I meant injury prevention. Less court time = less injury risk.Who are our injury concern guys? Horford has always been super durable but he’ll get B2B off as will KP whose I’ve always felt was overstated. Anyone else would be a fluke that rests aren’t going to help only that fewer minutes will obviously minimize that risk. I expect us to continue what we’ve been doing right to the end of the season except many give an extra day off on a B2B for others. I’m not buying this extended rest period happening as Mazzulla has talked about actually ramping UP same game minutes heading into the playoffs to help prepare.
Yep, this. Those moments where the ball just flies around from one guy who can shoot the lights out to the next, while the opposing D scrambles, only to see an open guy drain a three or the last pass hit a cutter who slams down a dunk...it honestly doesn't get any more fun than this.We’re running the offense Joe talked a lot about last season but couldn’t really run because we had Smart eating minutes (he would be comfortably 9th in 3pt% on this year’s team) and TL providing zero spacing. Not to mention Grant providing almost no offensive value if he wasn’t hitting C&S threes.
They create so many open looks, but the real boost is that they can all shoot the lights out AND attack closeouts to score inside AND pass the ball. There are no breaks, nobody you are happy to see the hot potato stop at.
And this is why I wasn't going to say anything earlier but... Myers was right. This game meant a lot to this team. They wanted to blow the Dubs out and blow them the fuck out they did. It *did* mean a lot more to the Celtics than the Warriors, even if the Warriors are fighting for a play-in spot.I think the Celts had this game circled after they blew the big lead in SF and Steph showed out with his goodnight gesture.
I think it’s right to say that the game meant a lot to the C’s, understandably. What irritated me was Myers saying the C’ “needed” it more. One look at the standings reveals how foolish that is.And this is why I wasn't going to say anything earlier but... Myers was right. This game meant a lot to this team. They wanted to blow the Dubs out and blow them the fuck out they did. It *did* mean a lot more to the Celtics than the Warriors, even if the Warriors are fighting for a play-in spot.
That was weak.I think it’s right to say that the game meant a lot to the C’s, understandably. What irritated me was Myers saying the C’ “needed” it more. One look at the standings reveals how foolish that is.
Not a bad shooter at all, but there's a pretty good argument that he's the worst shooter in the Celtics 8 man rotation. Which is incredible.There's a reason other teams don't do this lol.
Jaylen has some catch-and-shoot issues, so teams sometimes try to not close out to him as hard. But letting him just stand there and take warmup shots is something else entirely.
He's a good shooter who has issues with catch-and-shoots, not a bad shooter.
He's not an elite shooter but he's a great scorer especially in the first half and plays with a chip on his shoulder. You're also taking his weakness away from him by sagging. That's a no no. If I'm gauging JB, I'm forcing him to drive and drive into help.Not a bad shooter at all, but there's a pretty good argument that he's the worst shooter in the Celtics 8 man rotation. Which is incredible.
Yeah it's still a terrible idea, just that I kind of get the justification that if you're plan is to leave someone wide open to have draymond help in the paint, you want it to be the worst shooter on the floor. Three major problems:He's not an elite shooter but he's a great scorer especially in the first half and plays with a chip on his shoulder. You're also taking his weakness away from him by sagging. That's a no no. If I'm gauging JB, I'm forcing him to drive and drive into help.
What gets me if it’s true is that draymond claims that the tactic was installed 15 minutes before the tip. I cannot believe that. I can believe however that once they learned KP was out they were like they’re down to four great starters. What do we do? And then they go from there but that still doesn’t add up to leave Brown wide open.Yeah it's still a terrible idea, just that I kind of get the justification that if you're plan is to leave someone wide open to have draymond help in the paint, you want it to be the worst shooter on the floor. Three major problems:
-He's a big-time aggressive scorer, and he's not going to pass up open looks if you give them to him.
-He's one of the best 1st quarter scorers in the league, currently 10th in 1st quarter points.
-Even if he's the worst shooter on the floor, he's not a bad shooter.
There are maybe 5 coaches in the league who could implement this game plan in such a haphazard manner and not get ripped apart for it. That's not a compliment to Kerr.
I agree with the Cs players that GSW was trying to get inside JB's head. I think part of the thinking stems from the 2022 incident where Draymond stepped on JB and claimed he knew that GSW was in BOS's heads from the way JB reacted.What gets me if it’s true is that draymond claims that the tactic was installed 15 minutes before the tip. I cannot believe that. I can believe however that once they learned KP was out they were like they’re down to four great starters. What do we do? And then they go from there but that still doesn’t add up to leave Brown wide open.
I think it was during this period that Jefferson made the observation that the Celts were playing defense as if they were down by 15 as opposed to up by 40. He loved that, as did we all.JMazz on why he started his starters in the 3Q:
One of the most impressive things of our team is we won the start of the third quarter, 17-10. That's really important... to be in situations when you have a chance to have a letdown and you win by seven and that's why they stayed out there. It was very important that we won that first segment of the third quarter, but it's just that. It's just continuing to stay disciplined, not taking bad shots, not turning the ball over, not quitting on plays, not giving up rebounds, not getting back in transition.
This is huge to me. Sure, everything is easier when you're up 40. But it's those games where they are up 10-15 at halftime that are going to be huge come playoff time. If they win the first 6-9 minutes of the 3rd quarter by 7 in those games, it's more or less lights out. But if they get outscored by 5-7 points, it could lead to tight 4th quarters.JMazz on why he started his starters in the 3Q:
One of the most impressive things of our team is we won the start of the third quarter, 17-10. That's really important... to be in situations when you have a chance to have a letdown and you win by seven and that's why they stayed out there. It was very important that we won that first segment of the third quarter, but it's just that. It's just continuing to stay disciplined, not taking bad shots, not turning the ball over, not quitting on plays, not giving up rebounds, not getting back in transition.
Agree that getting inside Jaylen's head is the only reasonable justification here.I agree with the Cs players that GSW was trying to get inside JB's head. I think part of the thinking stems from the 2022 incident where Draymond stepped on JB and claimed he knew that GSW was in BOS's heads from the way JB reacted.
I mean I guess it was worth a try.
Jefferson said that in the 2Q but the point still stands.I think it was during this period that Jefferson made the observation that the Celts were playing defense as if they were down by 15 as opposed to up by 40. He loved that, as did we all.
Regarding laying off Jaylen, IMO that was the strategy because Smart’s been traded. Encouraging Smart to shoot 3’s as opposed to the other, much better options, was a solid strategy. Definitely won’t work on the reg with Jaylen.
Yeah it was the wrinkle that turned the ‘21-‘22 Celtics from a team treading water into a temporary juggernaut. Except as you say it was pretty much always TL helping off the opposing team’s weakest guy who was usually camped in the corner.So, there seems to be a lot made of Draymond's sagging defense on Brown in the first quarter. I wasn't in the pregame meetings the Warriors had but here's my take anyways. So, Draymond as a sagging defender, clogging the paint and being a primary/solo helper (solo is usually key here; that is, no one else has help responsibilities bc Draymond has it for all drivers) is a thing the Warriors have done throughout their run. I have taken this model and used it myself in games where we're going up against teams who are either as good as us or better. We even call it "the Draymond." You are playing the Draymond role today. What I really don't get is we employ this strategy when we're facing teams with two or three elite offensive players and we put our "Draymond" on the weakest outside shooter. She sags in the paint, we essentially leave her assignment alone to shoot perimeter shots and "Draymond" is free to double low and help on all drives at will. What I don't get is why A. they thought this tactic could work against an all around great starting five and B. why they chose Brown.
If you're gonna do this, why pick him? Maybe, Al? He could be down low most of the time and screening for perimeter players negating the strategy though.. Ok.. pick Jrue so you're going to allow him to shoot uncontested shots and have space to drive and dish? I mean it's all stupid. Once they made the decision to do it, it was over. In the end, I would have if you told me I HAD to use "the Draymond" I'd put him on Jrue. It wouldn't have worked of course because he can still make threes and operate in space but with no threat to finish at the rim with a sagging defender and the other four defenders tight on their man, I roll the dice with him. And, again, I would not have tried this anyways even with KP out of the game.
This is it. When the other team is better than you, you are going to have to take risks -- risks that increase your chances to win, but also increase the odds you'll get boat raced. I thought it was fine tactically. It just didn't work. And playing the Celtics straight up also wouldn't have worked. Golden State can't guard them.I have taken this model and used it myself in games where we're going up against teams who are either as good as us or better.
This reminds me, one of the issues with the new 65-game award threshold is that playing fewer minutes in a blowout (because it's a blowout) is treated the same as playing zero. 20 minutes counts fully, and between 15-20 minutes can count up to twice all season.Everyone that dressed for the Celtics played at least 10 minutes. Kornet had the fewest at 10:33, PP the most with 27:21.
FIFYWhat gets me if it’s true is that draymond claims that the tactic was installed 15 minutes before the tip. I cannot believe that. I can believe however that once they learned KP was out they still had 5 great starters.were like they’re down to four great starters. What do we do? And then they go from there but that still doesn’t add up to leave Brown wide open.
It doesn’t feel like they’re peaking to me, more like they’re steadily improving as they continue to play together. I'm not saying they're going to win every game by double digits, but their skill level and complete team-wide buy in to the system means they can generate a good shot almost every trip down the floor, and the team is full of smart, great shooters. So if they shoot 50% from 3 there’s a decent chance they win by 50. Everyone has rightfully been high on the Warriors since Draymond came back and the C’s ended that game in the second quarter. The relentlessness of great shooters getting great looks means the other team has to get lucky to keep it close if the C's don't deviate from the script. They're a hydraulic press right now, and I don't see any indications they're going to do anything different going forward.If this week wasn’t peak performance I don’t know what it would look like. I said this about a month ago that my greatest fear besides injuries were this team running off 20 in a row before the playoffs and peaking too soon.
I seem to recall someone pointing out on the other thread that there are 3 (?) exception games to the 20 minute rule for someone playing short minutes. (does not apply to a DNP)This reminds me, one of the issues with the new 65-game award threshold is that playing fewer minutes in a blowout (because it's a blowout) is treated the same as playing zero. 20 minutes counts fully, and between 15-20 minutes can count up to twice all season.
The starters all got to 20 minutes, except for Derrick White who was a few seconds shy, but also is an ironman who is nowhere near having to worry about load management affecting eligibility. White has missed 3 games (all early in the season, for his new baby), and this is only the second game he logged fewer than 20 minutes (the other was our road Milwaukee blowout). I imagine this is why the starters came back out to start the 3rd - Joe Mazzulla probably asked Charles Lee "what are the guys at for minutes?" and then removed them from the game accordingly.
Yes, see the last clause of my first paragraph.I seem to recall someone pointing out on the other thread that there are 3 (?) exception games to the 20 minute rule for someone playing short minutes. (does not apply to a DNP)
The current implied probability of the Celtics winning a title is a hair over 30%, "should" is shouldering quite a burden here. Feels like no matter how dominant a regular season team is, they are likely going to have to win at least two series that are close to coin flips (albeit still ones they are favored in). Dont get me wrong, they are the prohibitive favorites, and should be. I just think it sets us up for failure as fans when we discount the fact that while they are the clear individual favorites, the field is still favored to win.It's all about health at this point, IMO. They stay healthy, they should win the whole thing. They get injured and they're vulnerable.
Yeah you’re probably right and since there is nothing else to worry about I’m only concerned about them losing an edge that comes with complacency. Teams with long regular season win streaks have performed very well in winning championships. The two the at stick out, Houston and our ‘09 team, were setback by injuries following their streaks.Can someone share evidence - even just anecdotal - that NBA teams "peak"? I feel like the NBA is the one professional sport where the best team, barring injury, wins the playoff tournament because it takes hundreds of possessions to win a game, and you have to do that four times to win a series. A team can't get "hot" and beat the 97 Bulls like how Bruins were beat last year or the 2001 Mariners or the 16-0 Pats.
Recent NBA teams that come to mind that have lost in such a fashion are the:
- 2019 Warriors, who lost to the Raptors because of injury
- 2016 Warriors, who lost to a great Cavs team in part because Draymond couldn't keep his cool
- 2011 Heat, who I would argue lost to a superior team
- 2004 Lakers, who I think, again, lost to a superior team
Great, healthy teams only lose to other great, healthy teams (80s Lakers/Celtics series come to mind). If the Celtics lose in the playoffs or finals, it will be because of some fatal flaw in the roster (which we haven't found yet) or injury, not them burning through their mojo in the regular season.
I think, thankfully, complacency is not something we have to worry about with these guys due to how they've fallen short of a championship the last few yearsYeah you’re probably right and since there is nothing else to worry about I’m only concerned about them losing an edge that comes with complacency. Teams with long regular season win streaks have performed very well in winning championships. The two the at stick out, Houston and our ‘09 team, were setback by injuries following their streaks.