Celtics Training Camp--News and Notes

lovegtm

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I wish the season was starting tomorrow. That video definitely got me going.

And is it just me or does Tatum look a little bit more bulked up compared to last year in that footage?
You keep adding muscle all through your twenties. Tatum is going to be thick and jacked af by the time he’s 26-27. Given his length, I fully expect Tatum-at-the-5 closing lineups at some point in his career.
 

lovegtm

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Awesome that Brown is leading one group with Tatum the other.
Imo it's going to be for Jaylen's development that he'll be force-fed offense more by necessity this year. People will probably get angry about mistakes and lack of efficiency, but him becoming a real #2 offensive option would change team upside and roster construction possibilities.
 

ColonelMustard

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Imo it's going to be for Jaylen's development that he'll be force-fed offense more by necessity this year. People will probably get angry about mistakes and lack of efficiency, but him becoming a real #2 offensive option would change team upside and roster construction possibilities.
It doesn't mean much but he was stripped on a strong take by 6'1" Pritchard. It does give me more optimism about Pritchard's defense.
 

Saints Rest

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Imo it's going to be for Jaylen's development that he'll be force-fed offense more by necessity this year. People will probably get angry about mistakes and lack of efficiency, but him becoming a real #2 offensive option would change team upside and roster construction possibilities.
Jaylen needs to become Pippen to Jayson's MJ.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Semi took a midrange shot and I reflexively thought of several souls crying out all at once in a preseason gamethread somewhere.
 

Euclis20

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Tacko on (#55-Teague? ) from the outside and then the drive to the hoop and block was pretty cool
Yeah that was Teague. I'm not sure what my favorite part of that sequence was - Teague backing out and looking (with a defeated smile on his face) for a way to score, or Tacko skying for the easy block, or Smart laughing his ass off at the end.
 

Spelunker

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Yeah that was Teague. I'm not sure what my favorite part of that sequence was - Teague backing out and looking (with a defeated smile on his face) for a way to score, or Tacko skying for the easy block, or Smart laughing his ass off at the end.
For me, it's that Smarf is running practice in a jersey over a hoody. That is wonderful.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Wow! That’s pretty interesting...for sure some of that is need but certainly suggests they have a higher opinion of him
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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It remains to be seen. For what its worth, his junior season at Radford he shot 34% on very low volume and he shot 36% on almost 2.5 takes while in his last year in Europe so its possible. However, excepting that same European season where he shot 74% from the line, he has been pretty consistent in shooting FTs at around a 66% rate. In short, Brad may be right or maybe he is sending some of his bench guys a message.
 

Euclis20

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He sure does give the starting lineup a boost of athleticism over GW, PP, Teague or whoever else might be that 5th guy.
Indeed. For whatever else it's lacking, a starting five of Smart/Green/Brown/Tatum/Williams (Rob) is extremely athletic. Fun times when Tatum is arguably the least physically gifted Celtic on the court.
 

pjheff

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Wow! That’s pretty interesting...for sure some of that is need but certainly suggests they have a higher opinion of him
It suggests that they value professional experience and physical maturity in their role players more than past pedigree or future upside.
 

PedroKsBambino

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It suggests that they value professional experience and physical maturity in their role players more than past pedigree or future upside.
I'm not sure about that---if they did they would have preferred Shaq Harrison or RHJ instead of Javonte. I think what's interesting, and to what I think you were comparing Javonte to, is that they prefer him both to draft picks/rookies and to established NBA end-of-rotation guys. We'll see.
 

pjheff

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I think what's interesting, and to what I think you were comparing Javonte to, is that they prefer him both to draft picks/rookies and to established NBA end-of-rotation guys.
No, I was referring specifically to players already on the roster. Through the years, lots of people seem to hope on the high ceilings of guys like RWilliams, Langford, and now Nesmith, while Stevens shows more trust in the high floors of Theis, Wanamaker, and possibly now Green as role players.
 

Cesar Crespo

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I have a different take. They will start Green and he'll play maybe 10 minutes a night so they don't screw up the rest of the rotation. Once they are fully healthy, Green rides the end of the bench.

I'd love to be wrong because Green with a 3 point is enticing. He could also impress defensively and maybe earn a spot in the rotation even when they are healthy.
 

benhogan

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its a preseason game, I wouldn't read much into Javonte's 14minutes played or his future as a starter

literally 10 guys played more minutes
 

Cesar Crespo

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its a preseason game, I wouldn't read much into Javonte's 14minutes played or his future as a starter

literally 10 guys played more minutes
Yeah, and even if he does start.. there will probably be 10 guys who get more minutes. He'd be a starter by name only.
 

Kliq

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I'm higher on Green than it seems most people in this thread are. I think he can be a good wing defender, and he plays really hard. One thing I noticed last year in his limited minutes is that he really works aggressively to the rim either on drives or cuts to the basket. If he plays with Brown/Tatum, it will be interesting to see how their playmaking skills develop because teams will sag off Green to double Tatum, and that should create an opportunity for some clear cuts to the hoop for Green. It will be up for Tatum to find him.

Also, the more Green we see, the better the chances are for seeing just an amazing dunk, which I would love to see.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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I'm higher on Green than it seems most people in this thread are. I think he can be a good wing defender, and he plays really hard.
IIRC, at some point last season they were talking about trying to get Green to become a Tony Allen type given his athletic skills so it may be as simple as wanting to see what Green can provide on D while playing against starting-caliber players.
 

Cellar-Door

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That's a surprise! I guess I can imagine upward projection from Smart, Tatum, and Brown given age and it is likely oblivious to Kemba's knee.
yeah they are full strength ratings, so Kemba is our 2nd most valuable player in those projections (Tatum, Kemba, Smart, Brown)
 

Fishy1

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IIRC, at some point last season they were talking about trying to get Green to become a Tony Allen type given his athletic skills so it may be as simple as wanting to see what Green can provide on D while playing against starting-caliber players.
What a pleasure that would be, if he just became a defensive terror. He's had good steal rates at every level he's played at (included 2.5 per game in EuroCup), so we'll see.
 

Lazy vs Crazy

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yeah they are full strength ratings, so Kemba is our 2nd most valuable player in those projections (Tatum, Kemba, Smart, Brown)
Yeah, it's pretty notable that Smart is projected to be more valuable than Brown (this year and going forward). They have the same offensive rating but Smart is way ahead of Brown on defense.

Rob Williams also has a defense score nearly as high as Smart, and Grant has the second worst offensive projection on the team behind Tacko. Here's the breakdown:

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2021-nba-predictions/celtics/
 

NomarsFool

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I feel like they are underrating JB on defense. The challenge with Brown is that he is great at on-ball defense, but sometimes zones out and starts thinking through his latest ideas for a PhD thesis while playing off-ball defense. While BBIQ is not the same as IQ, I'd think that is still something that JB should be gradually learning in the NBA. If he improves is off-ball defense, I think he should be killer on D.
 

Imbricus

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I'm higher on Green than it seems most people in this thread are.
Same here. I like him. I couldn't get the Green vs. Strus debate last year -- for me, it was clearly Green. He's fun to watch and has the ability to make a few highlight reels. Really springy and athletic. True, he does need a consistent shot that's not a dunk/layup.

I thought he kind of tailed off at the end of last season (well, what there was of last season), but I wondered if that was because of the knee injury. I like giving him a chance. If nothing else, it sends a loud message: you want to be an important piece on this team, you bring enthusiasm and energy, every minute you're in the game.
 
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Euclis20

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Imbricus

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Well, this sounds interesting. Brad had a chat with the team about their roles today:
Brad Stevens dedicated the majority of Saturday’s practice to defining each player’s role on the Boston Celtics.
Would've loved to be a fly on the wall for that one. Like what's Smart's role? I hope it includes "shooting fewer than 5 3-pt. shots in a game." :)

Grant Williams was singled out for not being physical enough, so that's part of his role apparently. By the way: does he look a bit heavier this year? I know he's struggled with his weight in the past. Would like to see him a little more svelte, as he doesn't move really quickly anyway, and doesn't need to be fighting extra padding.
 

Imbricus

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Separately, I watched about three-quarters of the game last night, and man, the offense was so stagnant. They really need a selfless, distribute-first, good-passing point guard out there for each unit. Else, Jayson will get the ball and pound it and seek his shot; Jaylen will get it and look right away to shoot a three or drive inside, and create his shot, etc. But they need to be whipping the ball around like a hot potato and not let the defense get comfortable.

I don't think Marcus is the point guard the first unit needs -- he's too often looking for his own shot (even though he does make some clever passes). I don't know if Teague can be that guy once he gels. Hayward unfortunately was great in that role.
 

benhogan

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Same here. I like him. I couldn't get the Green vs. Strus debate last year -- for me, it was clearly Green. He's fun to watch and has the ability to make a few highlight reels. Really springy and athletic. True, he does need a consistent shot that's not a dunk/layup.

I thought he kind of tailed off at the end of last season (well, what there was of last season), but I wondered if that was because of the knee injury. I like giving him a chance. If nothing else, it sends a loud message: you want to be an important piece on this team, you bring enthusiasm and energy, every minute you're in the game.
Max gets a two way with the Heat

https://allucanheat.com/2020/12/19/miami-heat-fulfill-inevitable-max-strus/
 

Imbricus

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Okay, so for Strus, his elite skill is supposed to be 3-point shooting. He did just have a great game -- made 6 3-pointers -- but as someone noted, Carsen also had a great preseason game not so long ago. His past year in the G League it looks like he shot 30.8% from three. Not great. But he was a 96.3% free throw shooter, which is elite, if it's not small sample size. So that would bode well.

So I think the question is far from resolved whether he's the second coming of Duncan Robinson. Though, with the Heat's luck, he very well could be. Chicago picked him up last year and apparently they didn't think so, because they let him go. Hmm. If I were Danny and had a "do over," I'd still take Javonte over Strus -- as of right now.
 

benhogan

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Okay, so for Strus, his elite skill is supposed to be 3-point shooting. He did just have a great game -- made 6 3-pointers -- but as someone noted, Carsen also had a great preseason game not so long ago. His past year in the G League it looks like he shot 30.8% from three. Not great. But he was a 96.3% free throw shooter, which is elite, if it's not small sample size. So that would bode well.

So I think the question is far from resolved whether he's the second coming of Duncan Robinson. Though, with the Heat's luck, he very well could be. Chicago picked him up last year and apparently they didn't think so, because they let him go. Hmm. If I were Danny and had a "do over," I'd still take Javonte over Strus -- as of right now.
Agreed. I liked Green over Strus last year and still would rather have Javonte

Miami is a good spot for him. They seem committed to giving younger/newer players NBA minutes if it helps them win in the long term.
 

lovegtm

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Agreed. I liked Green over Strus last year and still would rather have Javonte

Miami is a good spot for him. They seem committed to giving younger/newer players NBA minutes if it helps them win in the long term.
not subtweeting at all