Celtics (9-2) at Raptors (5-6) Game #12 11/17/23

[Who]

I don't think OG Anunoby is going to play.  That helps.  Their +/- without OG is really poor.  +46 with OG, -72 without him.  It seems like they should be better based on personnel, but so far, they just haven't been.

Too much duplication with their 3 SFs. OG is the only one of them that can play off ball. He tends to be their stabilizer.

Not enough outside shooting. Trent is their only real shooter other than OG and Trent has had a bad start to the season.

Too much one-on-one play with Siakam, S Barnes and Schroder. Each one of them tends to play 1-on-5. None of them can space the floor reliably. Only effect off the bounce.

[Who]

How good is Scottie Barnes?

I am not convinced by him as a top 10 SG or a top 10 SF. I have him in the 11-15 range for SG or SF. Maybe a top 10 PF. That looks like his best position to me. Siakam is in his way though.

They need to trade Siakam to open things up for S Barnes and re-balance their team.

[tazzmaniac]

How good is Scottie Barnes?

I am not convinced by him as a top 10 SG or a top 10 SF. I have him in the 11-15 range for SG or SF. Maybe a top 10 PF. That looks like his best position to me. Siakam is in his way though.

They need to trade Siakam to open things up for S Barnes and re-balance their team.

Siakim will be a free agent so good chance he's gone.  They may be waiting for January to trade him. 

[Goldstar88]

Let’s go!

Brian Robb: Celtics announce Al Horford, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis are all available tonight vs. Raptors. Team will be at full strength.  – via Twitter BrianTRobb

[mobilija]

Let’s go!

Brian Robb: Celtics announce Al Horford, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis are all available tonight vs. Raptors. Team will be at full strength.  – via Twitter BrianTRobb

Lets goooooooo!

Pumped to see what Zinger looks like in person....from 100ft away, hahaha

[Silas]

Let’s go!

Brian Robb: Celtics announce Al Horford, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis are all available tonight vs. Raptors. Team will be at full strength.  – via Twitter BrianTRobb

Nice having a healthy team.  Rob out for the season and Brogdon and Smart both injured.  Man did we dodge a few bullets.

[obnoxiousmime]

They need shooting and defense and size from the guard position really badly. Financially, it makes sense that you'd shift some of the money you've put into Siakim and Anunoby into the guard position. Secondly, they overpaid Poetl for what he is. He's like a good version of a typical stiff center. He can't move well enough to guard in space and can't space the floor on offense, so was spending $20m/year on him the smartest thing?

On the optimistic side, finding guards is usually easier than finding wing/forwards like Siakim and Anunoby, so you'd think there'd be an easy trade out there for them to make.

On the negative side, the question that still remains since Leonard left is, are you just a collection of second options? Do you need to find a true no 1 to take the next step? It's hard to acquire one if you're not a popular market and don't draft the player yourself. They had to take a massive risk just to get Leonard there, and he left after one season. People are connecting them to guys like Lavine, but he's not really a no 1 and he doesn't want to go there anyway. Is Barnes a guy that eventually can convince a big star to come aboard?

[Kernewek]

They need shooting and defense and size from the guard position really badly. Financially, it makes sense that you'd shift some of the money you've put into Siakim and Anunoby into the guard position. Secondly, they overpaid Poetl for what he is. He's like a good version of a typical stiff center. He can't move well enough to guard in space and can't space the floor on offense, so was spending $20m/year on him the smartest thing?

On the optimistic side, finding guards is usually easier than finding wing/forwards like Siakim and Anunoby, so you'd think there'd be an easy trade out there for them to make.

On the negative side, the question that still remains since Leonard left is, are you just a collection of second options? Do you need to find a true no 1 to take the next step? It's hard to acquire one if you're not a popular market and don't draft the player yourself. They had to take a massive risk just to get Leonard there, and he left after one season. People are connecting them to guys like Lavine, but he's not really a no 1 and he doesn't want to go there anyway. Is Barnes a guy that eventually can convince a big star to come aboard?

I think it would be very hard to find one Toronto fan who regrets the Leonard trade, even though it was a rental.

[SparzWizard]

They need shooting and defense and size from the guard position really badly. Financially, it makes sense that you'd shift some of the money you've put into Siakim and Anunoby into the guard position. Secondly, they overpaid Poetl for what he is. He's like a good version of a typical stiff center. He can't move well enough to guard in space and can't space the floor on offense, so was spending $20m/year on him the smartest thing?

On the optimistic side, finding guards is usually easier than finding wing/forwards like Siakim and Anunoby, so you'd think there'd be an easy trade out there for them to make.

On the negative side, the question that still remains since Leonard left is, are you just a collection of second options? Do you need to find a true no 1 to take the next step? It's hard to acquire one if you're not a popular market and don't draft the player yourself. They had to take a massive risk just to get Leonard there, and he left after one season. People are connecting them to guys like Lavine, but he's not really a no 1 and he doesn't want to go there anyway. Is Barnes a guy that eventually can convince a big star to come aboard?

They won a championship with Leonard, no risks there.

[liam]

GAME TTTIIIMMMMMEEEEE!!!!!!!!

[Silas]

Ready to rock and roll.....

[Silas]

Wow, just read that Smart is out for 3-5 weeks with a left foot sprain.

[blink]

Lets GO CELTICS!!!!

[obnoxiousmime]

They need shooting and defense and size from the guard position really badly. Financially, it makes sense that you'd shift some of the money you've put into Siakim and Anunoby into the guard position. Secondly, they overpaid Poetl for what he is. He's like a good version of a typical stiff center. He can't move well enough to guard in space and can't space the floor on offense, so was spending $20m/year on him the smartest thing?

On the optimistic side, finding guards is usually easier than finding wing/forwards like Siakim and Anunoby, so you'd think there'd be an easy trade out there for them to make.

On the negative side, the question that still remains since Leonard left is, are you just a collection of second options? Do you need to find a true no 1 to take the next step? It's hard to acquire one if you're not a popular market and don't draft the player yourself. They had to take a massive risk just to get Leonard there, and he left after one season. People are connecting them to guys like Lavine, but he's not really a no 1 and he doesn't want to go there anyway. Is Barnes a guy that eventually can convince a big star to come aboard?

They won a championship with Leonard, no risks there.

I was just using Leonard as an example of how Toronto is not a market that can attract stars easily. The one time they did trade for one, he didn't even stay even though they won a title. They lucked out with a low pick during the weird COVID restrictions season and got Barnes, but it's not clear he can be a no. 1 yet.

[Silas]

Not a fan of the floor...too dark.