Someone made a previous version of it at some point but it had Semi for some reason.
Analysis of Celtics Games, '21-'22 Season
- Thread starter Imbricus
- Start date
I feel like this version hits different with the way they are playing right now.
This should be interesting:
View: https://twitter.com/BrianTRobb/status/1506039966136250373?s=20&t=JSIis-a3z96F4j63X-CwfA
Brian Robb: Celtics depth chart vs. Thunder Guards: Brown, White, Pritchard, Stauskas Forwards: Tatum, G. Williams, Nesmith, Hauser, Fitts Bigs: Horford, Theis, Kornet OUT: R. Williams (knee), Smart (non-COVID illness)
Rob was a planned rest day; Smart a sinus infection.
View: https://twitter.com/BrianTRobb/status/1506039966136250373?s=20&t=JSIis-a3z96F4j63X-CwfA
Brian Robb: Celtics depth chart vs. Thunder Guards: Brown, White, Pritchard, Stauskas Forwards: Tatum, G. Williams, Nesmith, Hauser, Fitts Bigs: Horford, Theis, Kornet OUT: R. Williams (knee), Smart (non-COVID illness)
Rob was a planned rest day; Smart a sinus infection.
This was funny. Tatum calling out Grant for wanting to change his name to Batman after shutting down Joker in the Denver game:
Looks like Hauser was the only other wing off the bench with Pritchard bc the Thunder don’t ply any guards off the bench. I’m sure it would have been Stauskas or even Thomas if matchups were different.
Well missing two key defensive players on a B2B saw a fairly predictable high score on that end, but it didn't matter since OKC doesn't play much defense themselves.
OKC hit more than their share of stepbacks and contested shots too. Again, wasn't a factor. These guys are starting to behave like a team that believes in itself.
OKC hit more than their share of stepbacks and contested shots too. Again, wasn't a factor. These guys are starting to behave like a team that believes in itself.
Cs 6th in the league in 3P% since February 1 at 36.8% (top 5 = MIL, MIN, LAC, WAS, and BRK).
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-3-point-shooting-since-february-1st-2022
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-3-point-shooting-since-february-1st-2022
Since 1/23
wins: 22 (1st)
Losses: 4 (1st, least)
FG%: .483 (5th)
3p%: .370 (7th)
FT% .812 (5th)
rebounds: 47.3 (3rd)
assists: 26.5 (7th)
steals: 6.8 (24th)
blocks: 6.2 (2nd)
Point differential: 15.1 (1st, 2nd place is 9.1)
Off Rating: 118.7 (3rd)
Net Rating: 15.8 (1st, 2nd is 9.3)
Assist %: 63.2% (10th)
Assist/TO ratio: 2.12 (4th)
Assist Ratio: 19.5 (5th)
Reb %: 51.3% (8th)
TO%: 12.9% (11th)
EFG%: 56.4% (5th)
TS%: 59.9% (4th)
PIE: 59.2 (1st, 2nd is 55.9)
All opponent stats
Points: 100.1 (1st, 2nd is 106.4)
FG%: 41.3% (1st, 2nd is 44.7%)
3P%: 31.9% (1st)
FTA: 20.3 (1st)
Assists: 20.7 (1st)
TO: 13.5 (17th)
Def Rating: 102.9 (1st, 2nd is 107.6)
Points off TO: 14.0 (3rd)
2nd chance Points: 12.5 (8th)
FB points: 11.1 (4th)
Points in Paint: 41.8 (1st)
Celtics: 22-4 .483/.370/.812, 115.2 points, 47.3 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 12.5 TO, 6.8 steals, 6.2 blocks, +15.1 point differential
Victims: 4-22, .413/.319/.784, 100.1 points, 43.1 rebounds, 20.7 assists, 13.5 TO, 7.0 steals, 4.4 blocks, -15.1 point differential
Fun times.
wins: 22 (1st)
Losses: 4 (1st, least)
FG%: .483 (5th)
3p%: .370 (7th)
FT% .812 (5th)
rebounds: 47.3 (3rd)
assists: 26.5 (7th)
steals: 6.8 (24th)
blocks: 6.2 (2nd)
Point differential: 15.1 (1st, 2nd place is 9.1)
Off Rating: 118.7 (3rd)
Net Rating: 15.8 (1st, 2nd is 9.3)
Assist %: 63.2% (10th)
Assist/TO ratio: 2.12 (4th)
Assist Ratio: 19.5 (5th)
Reb %: 51.3% (8th)
TO%: 12.9% (11th)
EFG%: 56.4% (5th)
TS%: 59.9% (4th)
PIE: 59.2 (1st, 2nd is 55.9)
All opponent stats
Points: 100.1 (1st, 2nd is 106.4)
FG%: 41.3% (1st, 2nd is 44.7%)
3P%: 31.9% (1st)
FTA: 20.3 (1st)
Assists: 20.7 (1st)
TO: 13.5 (17th)
Def Rating: 102.9 (1st, 2nd is 107.6)
Points off TO: 14.0 (3rd)
2nd chance Points: 12.5 (8th)
FB points: 11.1 (4th)
Points in Paint: 41.8 (1st)
Celtics: 22-4 .483/.370/.812, 115.2 points, 47.3 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 12.5 TO, 6.8 steals, 6.2 blocks, +15.1 point differential
Victims: 4-22, .413/.319/.784, 100.1 points, 43.1 rebounds, 20.7 assists, 13.5 TO, 7.0 steals, 4.4 blocks, -15.1 point differential
Fun times.
Noteworthy: are putting up this elite defensive net rating during the best league-wide offensive month in NBA history.
View: https://youtu.be/aZOrcARMnw4
Decent film study of the Cs defense below. It breaks down some plays from the DEN game.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Oi8gXLPZis&t=584s
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Oi8gXLPZis&t=584s
Defense doesn't slump. And tonight was perhaps the most consistent cockblock that I've seen in quite some time. Other than Mitchell working his ass off for a bunch of midrange points, the Jazz looked like a Euroleague team trying to score on an NBA team. Filthy, filthy defense. The Pritchard on Clarkson possession stood out, especially since the latter ragdolled the former in a game last year. But there were plenty. My other favorite was Al blocking Gay in the corner and Tatum blocking the second chance attempt in the lane. They look like they have the cheat codes right now, and they're making good teams look ridiculous and having fun doing it. What a pleasure to watch.
It's been 35 games since they lost on the last second RJ Barrett shot and they were a season high 3 games under .500 at 18-21. Since then they are 28-7 with an average margin of 13.03 points per game. Obviously the sample size is less than half of a full season, but the NBA record for point differential over an entire season is 12.28 (72 Lakers). This is some run they've been on.
The level which Tatum is controlling the game over the last couple of months is just absurd. This is from the last 27 games.
View: https://i.imgur.com/xBYgleg.png
View: https://i.imgur.com/xBYgleg.png
Pritchard resuming his role as a sharpshooter is important, of course. Now Theis is beginning to show signs of being the guy we knew and were sorry to see go. If he can become that guy again, the one with the reliable mid-range jumper and pretty good 3-point shot, then yes, the bench will be good enough to put in a respectable showing in the playoffs.
As Rorshach’s post below yours suggests, those players are optimized playing with Tatum. Ime has really figured out his rotations.
There's no way they would be where they are now without someone off the bench stepping up, even putting aside White which has been an amazing fit.
At the end of last season, I was ready to drive GWill to the airport. I didn't see any competitive fire or a serious desire to improve. What an amazing turnaround for the guy. He's tuned in, toned up, making a lot less dumb plays, and of course his shot looks so much better.
I was down on PP as well, and he's proved me wrong over the last 4-6 weeks. If only Nesmith can find a rhythm. I wonder if he improves knowing there is less pressure on him having a critical role off the bench. Hell, even the end of the bench guys looked tuned in at the end of the game last night.
9 deep seems like a good recipe for a playoff run. Feels like PP and Theis’ playing time in the playoffs may vary significantly based on the opponent. PP will have to continue to knock down threes and play scrappy defense to earn minutes. I like the spacing his presence on the floor creates however don’t want to see him get hunted on defense for extended minutes. Theis has enjoyed a nice run recently. He can be plugged in to give one of the bigs a breather and is good insurance in the event of foul trouble and/or injury to TL or Al. Grant and White are going to get a lot of minutes in the post season as they should.
GW is definitely better this year than last but he did shoot .372 from 3P last year. He's currently 98-232 in 67 games, which means he's made 12 more 3Ps all year than if he had shot the same percentage last year.
On both offense and defense, I think GW is the type of players who really rises and falls with the players/system around him. On defense, it's great for him that he's got two other guys to whom he can funnel quicker players. On offense, he obviously isn't shooting a ton of contested 3Ps and benefits from switches on to smaller defenders.
This is why good coaches teach defense as the first and foremost priority. If you play good defense, you're always going to be in games, even when your offense doesn't show up. But when your offense DOES show up (like it has been for Boston), you just destroy teams. It might not be as fun or sexy as lighting up a scoreboard, but good defense always keeps you competitive.
I think that Grant and Pritchard are beneficiaries of the revamped roster too. I was always kind of selling on Schroder, despite his occasional hot game. But watching the team during this stretch has really highlighted how much better the defense is. Last night, just watching play after play where Mitchell or Clarkson rubs a defender only to get an even more challenging defender. When Grant is the worst defender on the floor, he looks fucking great. But when he gets beat or edged off, and the help/hedge defense is someone worse, it's bad news.
White has been shooting like he has a blindfold on, but the defensive upgrade has been material.
Tbh they don't really need Theis in the playoffs if TL & Al are both healthy, but having the ability to survive a playoff series even if they're not healthy, or if someone gets in foul trouble, is a big deal.
So I am generally critical of PP's D, but it's always about skill not effort:
View: https://twitter.com/taylorcsnow/status/1506877949559164929
This is what he does really well. He'll keep his hands and feet moving, and just harrass guys. Now someone more interested and skilled than Clarkson probably destroys him here (Kyrie for example draws a foul on those reaches) but the energy is great and against bench guys he can probably be effective.
View: https://twitter.com/taylorcsnow/status/1506877949559164929
This is what he does really well. He'll keep his hands and feet moving, and just harrass guys. Now someone more interested and skilled than Clarkson probably destroys him here (Kyrie for example draws a foul on those reaches) but the energy is great and against bench guys he can probably be effective.
I disagree if the matchup is Miami or Milwaukee, and doubly so for Philadelphia and Embiid the free-throw merchant. Having an additional 6 fouls against legit bigs without too heavily compromising the rotation and keeping Grant at the 4 will be integral to their success.
Edit: my disagreement is with the "don't really need" part, but you clarified that a bit with foul trouble so maybe just ignore me. The coffee is on.
I like that you can see White clapping and encouraging him while the play is still happening
This last bit can't be overstated. Guys like PP and Theis don't need to be better than starters, they need to be better than the bench guys on the other teams. When Kyrie sits, can PP hold his own against Dragic, Mills or Cam Thomas? When Drummond and/or Durant sit, can Theis take care of James Johnson or Nic Claxton?
Their only losses in the last 27 games (24-3) have come on the back end of double-headers.
Edit: and only 1 of them (IND Sun Feb 27) was by more than 3 points.
Agh, you're right. I see that they played the day before (114-103 vs. DET), but that's because I'm in Europe, time change, blah blah.
Was thinking the same things. The offenses where teams are driving and kicking and setting multiple picks doesn't work against the Cs' switching defense so I'm wondering when teams will adapt. DAL had some success targeting Al and TL with Luka and Brunson (and the refs helped too); I expect the Cs to start seeing a steady diet of this.
Yea it's pretty clear that whoever plays with Jayson Tatum plays better. Grant is the prototypical high-end role player Championship teams need to fill out the main rotation
As far as Grant's 3pt shooting, if you look at a bigger sample size than just last season (when he was FATman), you'll see a 40% 3pt shooter. The % has been ascending with more minutes/attempts which is a good sign. He was a decent FT shooter at TENN (82% his last season) and is at 91% this year which adds more context to his shooting form/pocket.
He has played a total of 223 games (reg + playoffs) in his NBA career. After his well-documented 0/25 3pt start (first 20 games) he has shot 40.6% over the last 203 games.
More importantly, he now is using pumps fakes and dribble drives to make rim runs. For the zillionth time, Corner3s bend the defense where he thrives and is 3rd in the NBA from his CornerOffice
yep good point... IME deserves credit for holding PP out until the start of Q2. IME is really honing his rotations pre-playoffs which is one of the benefits of having a healthy roster. Playing PP with 4 good defenders also somewhat hides his defense against 2nd units
Get Nesmith to the point that he can give them a few minutes of high-energy wing defense off the bench (I dont care about his offense), and that's about as deep and versatile a group as you'll find in the league. I'd love one more physical big, someone like Aaron Baynes, to knock bodies around for a few minutes a game, but I'm sure Kornet could fill that role if asked.
Those point differential and net rating numbers over a 26 game sample are wild.
Although not the primary driver, I do think PP’s play and defined roles on the bench have been very helpful. This team was just begging for another floor spacer.
PP’s D has also been inching up to “entirely competent” against most matchups. Obviously some physical limitations but his effort is there and he can stay in front of his man. No one wants to be the weak link, and for 15-20 minutes a game he’s doing a solid job (helps to have Rob, Marcus, Al, the Jays, etc to clean up any mistakes).
Although not the primary driver, I do think PP’s play and defined roles on the bench have been very helpful. This team was just begging for another floor spacer.
PP’s D has also been inching up to “entirely competent” against most matchups. Obviously some physical limitations but his effort is there and he can stay in front of his man. No one wants to be the weak link, and for 15-20 minutes a game he’s doing a solid job (helps to have Rob, Marcus, Al, the Jays, etc to clean up any mistakes).
Yeah, when you realize that Jaylen is probably the 6th best defender on the team, you have some pretty high-end D. Two players are quite likely to be All-Defensive Team, and might even get some DPOY votes. Then JT, Al, and White are all well-above average D guys, arguably in the top quartile of defenders in the league.
Yes, you'll definitely see this.
I've noticed that they're starting to mix in some sets where one guy stays glued and everyone else switches. It's not ideal to play it this way either, but the ability to change coverages and keep people guessing is a bonus. Also wouldn't be surprised to see them work in more drop as a situational change of pace.
At the end of the day, guys like Luka and Joel are going to create advantages. But playing with the coverages can mitigate it.
Edit: it's a miracle that we can even be talking about this stuff, and a testament to how far this defense has come. 9-10 weeks ago, the thought of 5 guys connected at once on anything would have seemed inconceivable.
Watching last night it was easy to forget that Robert Williams barely gets discussed for DPOY and it’s Rudy Golbert who is one of the favorites..
The rotation can go 9 deep and 8 of those 9 are considered good to great defenders. That 9th guy? He has highlights in this thread of locking people up on D through insane effort.
Plus, the health has been outstanding so those players that are good individual defenders are getting tons of work on honing the team defense.
I know I'm stating (restating) the obvious but as I watched last night I was realizing that something truly special is going on here.
Plus, the health has been outstanding so those players that are good individual defenders are getting tons of work on honing the team defense.
I know I'm stating (restating) the obvious but as I watched last night I was realizing that something truly special is going on here.
Yes, but he's on track to play in 14 more games than last year (+22.2%), he's playing 5.7 more mpg (+31.5%) and shooting 1 more 3p fg per 36 min played (+24.4%). So if you're playing significantly more games in the season and significantly more minutes per game, shooting significantly more times per minute on the court and hitting significantly more often every time you shoot it... well, let's just say it adds up to good things! Put another way, he's on pace to finish with 109 3's this year - he had 48 last year.