Overreactions after one game

[Vermont Green]

I know it's only game 1, but I hope we aren't seeing last year Joe where he only plays 7-8 guys during the season and over uses the starters. When Houser wasn't hitting, he could have tried Svi out there. Just my opinion.

I don’t agree about Hauser.  I mean, yeah, he does need to start hitting shots or he should be replaced.  But you have to give the guy chances to do that rather than pull the rug out from under him game to game.

Also, Hauser carries his own water defensively whereas Svi will never be a good defender.  I just don't have this high opinion of Svi that other people here do.  The offense is pretty nice but there are two sides of a basketball court.

Hauser is not a better defender than Brissett or Stevens, maybe not better than Walsh either.  I grant you he is a better defender than Mykhailiuk, at least based on what I have seen so far.  Hauser's main skill is hitting 3s, he is a specialist with a valuable NBA skill.  If he isn't hitting 3s, then he is a fringe NBA player.  Brissett and Stevens are better defenders, better rebounders, better get out and run guys, better slashers, better just about everything but 3 pt shooting.

If the team has made the determination that Hauser is better than these other guys, than I agree that they should not just pull him from a game because he goes 0 for 4 from 3.  But if he goes 5 games and is still shooting 30% or whatever, these other guys should be put out there.  I am not sure Hauser is any better than Brissett or Stevens in any case.

The man has shot 40% or better from three every single year of his basketball career dating back to high school.  He probably shot 40% on a Nerf hoop as a 9-year-old.  Bet on him losing that touch if you want. 

Or maybe it makes more sense to acknowledge that three-point specialists are subject to significant variance from night to night and should be afforded some patience.

I don't disagree with you, of course there is variance in 3PT shooting percentage game to game, month to month, and so on, but when you are pretty much a one trick pony, NBA defenses have a way of figuring that out.  3PT shooting is a valuable skill.  Hauser has a pretty good track record of shooting the 3 in the NBA.

Other than the 3PT shooting, I view the rest of his game as fairly limited.  He is OK on Defense, but nothing special.  Doesn't really pass or ball handle all that well.  Tends to kinds of stand around on offense.  Hauser is fine, I just don't think he is any better than Brissett or Stevens.

[jay]

Would be cool to see a game where Hauser starts just to see if he can get a few open shots while everyone worries about KP, JT, and JB.

Start: White, JB, Hauser, JT, KP.

2nd unit: PP, JH, JT, Stevens, Al

Would rather see Stevens or Brissett as the 9th man instead of Kornet. Could use Stevens grit in there, maybe Brissett a little better shooter.

Jrue and Al would still get more minutes than Hauser obviously.

[Phantom255x]

I'm still worried about the bench, especially the frontcourt. Sorry but if Kornet has to play heavy minutes some games because Horford is resting and/or KP is hurt, then we're big time screwed. And behind him, who do we really got? Can we convince Griffin to return this season?

I think Hauser and PP are fine. They missed a handful of open looks yesterday but I think normally they'd knock at least some of them down. Maybe a bad night for them.

I do want to get a look at some of our other options, like Brissett, Queta, Svi, etc. Remember, even last year Hauser got some minutes and sort of broke into the scene which is how he got more involved during the regular season and was seen as a 3-point shooting threat. Maybe this year another guy emerges?

[blink]

I'm still worried about the bench, especially the frontcourt. Sorry but if Kornet has to play heavy minutes some games because Horford is resting and/or KP is hurt, then we're big time screwed. And behind him, who do we really got? Can we convince Griffin to return this season?

I think Hauser and PP are fine. They missed a handful of open looks yesterday but I think normally they'd knock at least some of them down. Maybe a bad night for them.

I do want to get a look at some of our other options, like Brissett, Queta, Svi, etc. Remember, even last year Hauser got some minutes and sort of broke into the scene which is how he got more involved during the regular season and was seen as a 3-point shooting threat. Maybe this year another guy emerges?

me too to the bolded.  if we could stay 100% healthy all year we would be fine, but that doesn't happen.  I am concerned about offense off the bench.  Last night we got incredible games from JT & KP and we held on.  But we are going to need more than 12 points a game off the bench.

[obnoxiousmime]

I'm still worried about the bench, especially the frontcourt. Sorry but if Kornet has to play heavy minutes some games because Horford is resting and/or KP is hurt, then we're big time screwed. And behind him, who do we really got? Can we convince Griffin to return this season?

I think Hauser and PP are fine. They missed a handful of open looks yesterday but I think normally they'd knock at least some of them down. Maybe a bad night for them.

I do want to get a look at some of our other options, like Brissett, Queta, Svi, etc. Remember, even last year Hauser got some minutes and sort of broke into the scene which is how he got more involved during the regular season and was seen as a 3-point shooting threat. Maybe this year another guy emerges?

me too to the bolded.  if we could stay 100% healthy all year we would be fine, but that doesn't happen.  I am concerned about offense off the bench.  Last night we got incredible games from JT & KP and we held on.  But we are going to need more than 12 points a game off the bench.

Sure, but part of it is you've replaced our bench scoring with starting talent. Two of our four starters are going to be in the game at all times, meaning bench scoring from the likes of Hauser or Pritchard are not as important as they otherwise would be. In fact, you could say they added offense this offseason with Holiday and Porzingis in and Brogdon being the only significant offensive piece out.

Now, I'm definitely still concerned about the bench but I'm not convinced the issue is more offense. I'm more concerned that Pritchard simply can't play against certain teams with his size being a weakness on both ends. Secondly, as many have said Kornet having to play regularly is also a big liability. I'm not as concerned about Hauser because he's fine for his specific role. We have a great top 6, but you need a really solid top 8-9 for the playoffs.

[Moranis]

I know it's only game 1, but I hope we aren't seeing last year Joe where he only plays 7-8 guys during the season and over uses the starters. When Houser wasn't hitting, he could have tried Svi out there. Just my opinion.

I don’t agree about Hauser.  I mean, yeah, he does need to start hitting shots or he should be replaced.  But you have to give the guy chances to do that rather than pull the rug out from under him game to game.

Also, Hauser carries his own water defensively whereas Svi will never be a good defender.  I just don't have this high opinion of Svi that other people here do.  The offense is pretty nice but there are two sides of a basketball court.

Hauser is not a better defender than Brissett or Stevens, maybe not better than Walsh either.  I grant you he is a better defender than Mykhailiuk, at least based on what I have seen so far.  Hauser's main skill is hitting 3s, he is a specialist with a valuable NBA skill.  If he isn't hitting 3s, then he is a fringe NBA player.  Brissett and Stevens are better defenders, better rebounders, better get out and run guys, better slashers, better just about everything but 3 pt shooting.

If the team has made the determination that Hauser is better than these other guys, than I agree that they should not just pull him from a game because he goes 0 for 4 from 3.  But if he goes 5 games and is still shooting 30% or whatever, these other guys should be put out there.  I am not sure Hauser is any better than Brissett or Stevens in any case.

Here are the career per 36 numbers for Hauser, Stevens, and Brissett

14.2 p, 5.8 r, 2.0 a, 0.8 s, 0.6 b - 63.1 TS%
12.0 p, 6.4 r, 1.4 a, 1.0 s, 0.7 b - 53.2 TS%
13.9 p, 7.8 r, 1.5 a, 1.1 s, 0.7 b - 54.1 TS%

So Hauser scores more, assists more, while having a true shooting percentage nearly 10% higher, while not giving you quite as many rebounds with a similar amount of steals and blocks.

Hauser has shown to be the better player.  Stevens and Brissett both have the extra year in the league as well to improve efficiency. 

[tenn_smoothie]

I saw a team with improved firepower that was mostly engaged and gave good effort defensively.

Disappointed but not surprised to see no change in the lack of offensive off-ball movement and creativity.
I fear Joe will stick to his max 3-point philosophy. I was hoping the new assistants and Brad would have influenced him to change.
That, along with the fact that playing offense that way will eventually fail us in the playoffs.

Yes, we need to add a quality center off the bench, but I fear the coach remains our most serious impediment.
To those who will say, it's just the first game and give Joe time, that's misunderstanding the problem.
Yeah, Joe needs time to find the best on-floor combos and minutes distributions, but if a change in a failed offensive philosophy was going to happen, we would have already seen it in the pre-season and first game. Implementing more movement would have been a focus in camp.

[Goldstar88]

I saw a team with improved firepower that was mostly engaged and gave good effort defensively.

Disappointed but not surprised to see no change in the lack of offensive off-ball movement and creativity.
I fear Joe will stick to his max 3-point philosophy. I was hoping the new assistants and Brad would have influenced him to change.
That, along with the fact that playing offense that way will eventually fail us in the playoffs.

Yes, we need to add a quality center off the bench, but I fear the coach remains our most serious impediment.
To those who will say, it's just the first game and give Joe time, that's misunderstanding the problem.
Yeah, Joe needs time to find the best on-floor combos and minutes distributions, but if a change in a failed offensive philosophy was going to happen, we would have already seen it in the pre-season and first game. Implementing more movement would have been a focus in camp.

This IS Brad’s philosophy.

[tenn_smoothie]

I saw a team with improved firepower that was mostly engaged and gave good effort defensively.

Disappointed but not surprised to see no change in the lack of offensive off-ball movement and creativity.
I fear Joe will stick to his max 3-point philosophy. I was hoping the new assistants and Brad would have influenced him to change.
That, along with the fact that playing offense that way will eventually fail us in the playoffs.

Yes, we need to add a quality center off the bench, but I fear the coach remains our most serious impediment.
To those who will say, it's just the first game and give Joe time, that's misunderstanding the problem.
Yeah, Joe needs time to find the best on-floor combos and minutes distributions, but if a change in a failed offensive philosophy was going to happen, we would have already seen it in the pre-season and first game. Implementing more movement would have been a focus in camp.

This IS Brad’s philosophy.

Point Taken.  And for all the good he has done for the Celtics, he has from the bench and now the front office, led us to annual playoff failures.
Maybe Wyc and Co. need to step in and demand some answers (though they won't).

[ozgod]

You can tell this is a new team. So I expect some growing pains the first few months as everyone figures out where they fit and what everyone likes. lets not forget the "big 3" with miami took time to gel as guys figured out where they had to sacrifice.

KP looks perfect for this offense. All his scoring came within the natural offense off of teams keying in on Tatum/brown. Never knew he was this good. Maybe being buried in Washington who no one watches and misused in Dallas had me sleep on him

Jrue/JB trying to find where they fit offensively. But they'll be fine. Jrue is legit new going from #2 in milwaukee a month ago to now a #4 in boston. shot has been suspect and too many turnovers. but guy averaged 19ppg last year. he'll figure it out and have some big nights for us.

I think Brown really is adjusting to where he fits not being the sole #2 guy. Hopefully he can stop forcing the issue and let the offense come to him. There will be games he will be the #1 guy.

Bench is a problem. Pritchard/Hauser need to give you more. Not sure why Brissett or anyone else didn't make the floor. Hopefully it's a one game aberration and not more of the norm need to see them play better Friday.

Kornet needs to be replaced. He's garbage out there.
Maybe play queta?

We are going to need depth for the regular season so don't want our starters playing 38 every night.

BUT it's a new team, opening night, national TV against a tough Knicks squad so I get it

And Joe can always start to give lineups with Jrue and Jaylen more time, so that they can try to gel and that both gives them the chance to get up more shots like they are accustomed to. It's not going to be hockey lineups when the top 5 plays then they all come off and the next 5 plays. It's not like we should ever expect a bench like this to play significant minutes:

PP - Banton - Hauser - Brissett - Kornet/Queta

We should never see that lineup unless it's a blowout either way. With six All-Star caliber players at least 2 of them, possibly 3, should be on the court at any given time.

Jrue - White - JT - JB - KP

White - JT - Hauser - Al - KP

Jrue - PP - JB - Hauser - Al

Jrue - JT - JB - Al - Queta/Kornet

and so on and so on.

Obviously the thing that messes this up are injuries...we better pray that top six doesn't suffer a long term injury 

As for not seeing everyone play, I think Joe is trying to give some combinations some reasonable game time to see which ones have the most chemistry and fit the best. These are human beings trying to adapt to playing with each other, trying to learn each other's spots on the floor, how they like receiving passes, when they like cutting, etc. Instead of having them play with so many different players at once and make it a free for all, he's probably trying to see which combinations develop and which ones statistically did well. And in that respect keeping a shorter rotation makes sense - less permutations to deal with as opposed to a "chuck them all in" type approach. As time goes on I'm sure everyone will get plenty of time to see how they can contribute.

[ozgod]

Speaking of lineups, here are all the lineups Joe used, I ranked them by highest +/-. Obviously just game 1 so don't draw too many conclusions from it yet. But for all the criticism that Kornet got, the 2 big lineup with him and Al had the 3rd best +/- for the Celtics. And for all the criticisms of Brown, the top 8 lineups by +/- for the game all had him in it. Goes to show how much we know 

[Kernewek]

Obviously just game 1 so don't draw too many conclusions from it yet.

The road to 82-0 begins with a single game, as they say. World champions - book it.

[michigan adam]

I find it facinating that the "small" lineup had 19.4 minutes, and the "big" lineup had 6.6 minutes.  The rest of the game was all 1-2.5 minutes max. 

[green_bballers13]

Jrue Holiday is going to get this team a ring. He's better than both Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon. He might be the best defensive guard in the game.

[Neurotic Guy]

Jrue Holiday is going to get this team a ring. He's better than both Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon. He might be the best defensive guard in the game.

I loved his D on Wednesday. And even though he had a terrible night from 3, I’m way more comfortable seeing him shoot it than Marcus.

JB would do well to emulate Jrue and DWhite.  Play smart. Focus on D (actually felt Jaylen was pretty engaged defensively on Wednesday), look for the open guy as the double comes your way or just avoid over-dribbling, let your offense come to you - take what opens because with this team opportunities will come. Don’t worry about scoring 25 - though it will happen often. A year to improve your all-around game.