Jackie MacMullen Article on the Celtics Season

[Fafnir]

Thought this was worth a read for everyone.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27071495/blame-kyrie-not-simple-boston

The not signing the charity balls after the regular season ended reminds me of a similar anecdote about Suh at Nebraska. Of course Pellini walked over and told him to "sign the Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.ing balls" which he did at that point.

[jpotter33]

Yeah, kind of reinforces everything we’ve heard thus far.

While it was definitely a collective effort - and the Miami incident was certainly troubling - to me the two biggest guys at fault here are Kyrie and Brad, as neither of the showed effective leadership and management of the talent.

For Kyrie - it’s obvious his awkward ways and unconventional “leadership” tactics were a significant source of dysfunction in the locker room. When you’re the best player on a team, you have to take that responsibility of leadership and bring guys together not exacerbate the divide by publicly deriding the “young guys” when it’s a convenient crutch and excuse.

For Brad - it becomes more and more obvious by the day that his “hands off” management style allowed this issue to grow to a point where it couldn’t be managed anymore. He absolutely has to be more involved in managing the talent of these guys and defining these roles; that’s literally one of the main functions of his job and one of the challenges of having more talent on a team that needs to be pieced together right.

Just a frustrating season. Would like to know who the young guys were in the Miami scenario. Likely Brown is one.

Also find Al’s involvement frustrating. He should’ve been the vocal vet that Kyrie referenced, abd while he always has been a model of professionalism, he needed to be a more vocal leader in the locker room this year given the futility of both Brad and Kyrie.

Hopefully Brad has learned his lesson now, though, and this won’t be an issue with Kemba. Good luck, Atkinson! The Nets are going to end up being the 2018 - 2019 Celtics 2.0 next year after Kyrie is done with them, as he’s walking right back into the same type of situation as he had this year in Boston with the young guys lol

[RJ87]

On Jan. 9, the Celtics blitzed the Indiana Pacers at home, then flew out that night to Miami, arriving at the team hotel after 2 a.m. on Thursday. Boston was set to play the Miami Heat that night, but, team sources said, that didn't stop some of the young players from heading to South Beach, where the clubs stay open well past 5 a.m. It's not uncommon for NBA players to go out when they're on the road, but Irving was irked teammates decided to do it in the middle of back-to-back games.

Reporters clamored to ask Irving about it after the game, but he had disappeared. After nearly 30 minutes, he was found shooting baskets on Miami's practice court, hoping some of his teammates who had played so poorly might join him.

None of them did.

[Jiri Welsch]

I saw a twitter photo of Jayson Tatum at a casino at like 2am during the playoffs. Unfortunately I am not surprised to hear about the young guys going out.

Kind of makes you crazy considering they have this entire offseason to party.

[Fafnir]

Look its not ideal that guys are going out late during the playoffs.

But as Celtics fans we revere Larry Bird who broke his hand in a BAR FIGHT during the playoffs. As NBA fans we love Jordan who was in casinos constantly during regular season and playoffs.

We only care when our team doesn't win, then we suddenly "discover" how these guys aren't hermetic warrior monks who only play basketball.

[azzenfrost]

Room to grow. And I hope they do.

[RJ87]

Look its not ideal that guys are going out late during the playoffs.

But as Celtics fans we revere Larry Bird who broke his hand in a BAR FIGHT during the playoffs. As NBA fans we love Jordan who was in casinos constantly during regular season and playoffs.

We only care when our team doesn't win, then we suddenly "discover" how these guys aren't hermetic warrior monks who only play basketball.

When these guys reach Jordan or Bird status, then cool.

Yes, guys should have lives off the court. But I think this piece hits at a larger issue of guys not wanting to put in the work. That's concerning.

[Kuberski33]

Kind of confirms what I though all season that it was just a bad mix of players - certainly talented enough - but one that didn't mesh. Some reputations where tarnished too.

The anecdote about Kyrie and the balls is interesting - not shocking either that it would leak out.  Guessing he ticked off more than a few people within the organization, so the payback is starting to emerge.

Also illustrates the problems with young teams.  If you're going to have Jaylen and Tatum as part of your cornerstones - better to have some adults (i.e. veterans) on your bench so you don't develop the wrong culture. 

Reminds me of when the Celtics realized they needed to get Rick Robey out of town because his partying was affecting Bird, who was known to like a cold one or two himself.  If they're playing for this year and the bench/roster filler is still populated by a bunch of guys on rookie contracts, I'm going to be really disappointed because we could be in for a little more of the same.

They need more vets in the reserve roles who know what it is to be a professional and realize what keeps them in the league.

[footey]

Good article, providing good perspective on what happened last season.  Kyrie was well intentioned, we seem to lose sight of that.  But this team should be better off when he goes, provided the young guys mature.

[Fafnir]

The team last year had plenty of veterans though, the veterans and Stevens either didn't get control of the situation (Horford, Smart, Baynes) or were part of the problem (Kyrie)

[gpap]

On Jan. 9, the Celtics blitzed the Indiana Pacers at home, then flew out that night to Miami, arriving at the team hotel after 2 a.m. on Thursday. Boston was set to play the Miami Heat that night, but, team sources said, that didn't stop some of the young players from heading to South Beach, where the clubs stay open well past 5 a.m. It's not uncommon for NBA players to go out when they're on the road, but Irving was irked teammates decided to do it in the middle of back-to-back games.

Reporters clamored to ask Irving about it after the game, but he had disappeared. After nearly 30 minutes, he was found shooting baskets on Miami's practice court, hoping some of his teammates who had played so poorly might join him.

None of them did.

As I read this, I hope people realize that the precious young guys like Brown, Tatum and that punk Rozier aren't exactly innocent in the whole thing. Which is why it wouldn't break my heart if any of them get traded, though I think Tatum could still be something special if he got his head out of his backside.

[gpap]

Look its not ideal that guys are going out late during the playoffs.

But as Celtics fans we revere Larry Bird who broke his hand in a BAR FIGHT during the playoffs. As NBA fans we love Jordan who was in casinos constantly during regular season and playoffs.

We only care when our team doesn't win, then we suddenly "discover" how these guys aren't hermetic warrior monks who only play basketball.

Are we really comparing Tatum and Brown to Larry Bird and Michael Jordan?

[gpap]

I saw a twitter photo of Jayson Tatum at a casino at like 2am during the playoffs. Unfortunately I am not surprised to hear about the young guys going out.

Kind of makes you crazy considering they have this entire offseason to party.

Tatum needs to grow the hell up!

As I read all of this, it makes me want Ainge to bring Kyrie back

[Fafnir]

Look its not ideal that guys are going out late during the playoffs.

But as Celtics fans we revere Larry Bird who broke his hand in a BAR FIGHT during the playoffs. As NBA fans we love Jordan who was in casinos constantly during regular season and playoffs.

We only care when our team doesn't win, then we suddenly "discover" how these guys aren't hermetic warrior monks who only play basketball.

Are we really comparing Tatum and Brown to Larry Bird and Michael Jordan?

Are we really complaining a NBA player is out at 2 AM?

Yup we were so I'm going to point out that the highest of high level NBA players have done the same and play just fine.

[Fafnir]

I can't wait till the pearl clutchers about being out at 2 AM find out about KG and Pierce.