How the Cs Offense will be different this year

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I've been thinking a lot about the Cs offense in 19-20 and how it will compare with 18-19. A lot has been said about comparing Walker to Irving and Kanter to Horford. In many ways, there is a pure talent downgrade.

However, the one thing that will be different is the quickness of the decisions in the offensive sets. Irving and Horford played a more nuanced game, almost plodding at times through the sets. Both players are highly intelligent, and running the offense through them, even if they were plodding, was smart. Smart and Morris play more like this too. Brown and Tatum fell into the trap of playing one-on-one basketball as they played at Horford's and Irving's pace.

However, what I notice about Walker and what has always been true of Kanter is how quickly they make decisions with the basketball. I expect them to pick up the speed and tempo of the Cs offense, getting more first option looks in the offense. I think they will set the tone for the offense, making it a bit more frenetic (not quite at the Warriors level of frenzy, but still).

Brown and Tatum will still be isolated some, but as those young guys follow the pace set by Walker, they will hopefully start to make quicker earlier reads.

The pace will likely also affect their aggressiveness. Instead of plodding and plotting as the sets develop, the pace should encourage more of an attack mode, which should help round out the offense, and raise the floor of the team's offensive production.

I think this year's team will have a better offense, because the pace will be quicker, the players will attack more, and the team will move the ball aggressively.

[td450]

I've been thinking a lot about the Cs offense in 19-20 and how it will compare with 18-19. A lot has been said about comparing Walker to Irving and Kanter to Horford. In many ways, there is a pure talent downgrade.

However, the one thing that will be different is the quickness of the decisions in the offensive sets. Irving and Horford played a more nuanced game, almost plodding at times through the sets. Both players are highly intelligent, and running the offense through them, even if they were plodding, was smart. Smart and Morris play more like this too. Brown and Tatum fell into the trap of playing one-on-one basketball as they played at Horford's and Irving's pace.

However, what I notice about Walker and what has always been true of Kanter is how quickly they make decisions with the basketball. I expect them to pick up the speed and tempo of the Cs offense, getting more first option looks in the offense. I think they will set the tone for the offense, making it a bit more frenetic (not quite at the Warriors level of frenzy, but still).

Brown and Tatum will still be isolated some, but as those young guys follow the pace set by Walker, they will hopefully start to make quicker earlier reads.

The pace will likely also affect their aggressiveness. Instead of plodding and plotting as the sets develop, the pace should encourage more of an attack mode, which should help round out the offense, and raise the floor of the team's offensive production.

I think this year's team will have a better offense, because the pace will be quicker, the players will attack more, and the team will move the ball aggressively.

Tatum and Brown can both really run, and they both attack the rim much better when they are getting space from movement and picks instead of beating their man straight up off the dribble.

Rozier would replace Irving, and the team would do just as well. It wasn't because he played as well as Irving did. It was because he picked up the pace and he didn't try to over create. Tatum and Brown don't need someone to feed them shots. They just need the ball and their teammates to move. They can do the rest.

[BitterJim]

I'm looking forward to having a team that actually gets to the line. Between Kemba and Kanter, I'd expect an extra 3 free throws per game, and if that rubs off on Tatum/Brown we could see an even bigger increase

Kemba's 5.5 FTA/G from last year would be the most *by far* since IT's ridiculous 8.5 in 2016-17

[LilRip]

I’m excited to watch Kemba. Dude’s a speed demon. I love the way he attacks in PnR.

I do think though that Tatum needs to take that next step for our offense to be deadly. He seems to have taken a step forward in playmaking (in team USA) but I hope he’s a better scorer this year

[slamtheking]

I’m excited to watch Kemba. Dude’s a speed demon. I love the way he attacks in PnR.

I do think though that Tatum needs to take that next step for our offense to be deadly. He seems to have taken a step forward in playmaking (in team USA) but I hope he’s a better scorer this year

I'm looking forward to seeing Kemba play for us as well.  I thought he'd be a bust of a pick (well not a complete bust but not live up to his draft position) and couldn't have been more wrong on that.   He just gets things done on the court. 

I think it's going to be critical for Tatum and Brown to both make a leap this season as well as having Hayward back close to Utah Hayward for this team to have any kind of success.  If all 3 of those wings aren't playing well this season, C's will be lower half of the playoff teams considering the really thin bench and frontcourt.

[footey]

Key for me is whether Tatum can really become an all star level player. Expecting that this coming season is unrealistic, but I want to see him finish better, and be more decisive/make quicker decisions, and be efficient.

[gift]

I wrote this before the many roster changes this offseason, but it shares some of your ideas regarding pace.



4 Improvements away from Championship Next Year: A Case Study
https://forum.celticsstrong.com/index.php?topic=99370.msg2637892#msg2637892

Relevant excerpts:

"Pace: Even though the 2019 Boston Celtics already outpace even the 2015 Warriors, the league is different now. Their 99.2 Pace is good for only 19th in the league, while the Warriors improved from 6th to 1st during their leap."

"One might wonder if the Celtics could afford to offset some value in protecting the ball by speeding up the offense, freeing passing options and increasing assist numbers (and by extension, like the Warriors, shooting percentages), while accepting a slight drop in TOV%."

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I wrote this before the many roster changes this offseason, but it shares some of your ideas regarding pace.



4 Improvements away from Championship Next Year: A Case Study
https://forum.celticsstrong.com/index.php?topic=99370.msg2637892#msg2637892

Relevant excerpts:

"Pace: Even though the 2019 Boston Celtics already outpace even the 2015 Warriors, the league is different now. Their 99.2 Pace is good for only 19th in the league, while the Warriors improved from 6th to 1st during their leap."

"One might wonder if the Celtics could afford to offset some value in protecting the ball by speeding up the offense, freeing passing options and increasing assist numbers (and by extension, like the Warriors, shooting percentages), while accepting a slight drop in TOV%."

I'd take a few each game of contested 3s or forces at the rim if it meant we played faster, moved the ball more, and made quicker decisions.

[Alleyoopster]

I wouldn't depend on Kemba getting to the line as often as he did in the past. It seems the NBA allows more and contact from defenders every year.

[MichiganAdam]

Don't forget Kanter's improved rebounding on both ends to help increase 2nd chance points and generate the fast break attempts.  Lets run guys.  Not surte why KI didn't run more...

[PhoSita]

My short prediction:

More free throws & offensive boards



I 100% agree with you that quicker decisionmaking across the offense, especially from the top down, will help.  Jay and Jay in particular will benefit from a team-wide policy of quick decision making. 

[Surferdad]

Think about this: When was the last time a Celtics team featured uptempo as a primary weapon in their offense?

IT/Irving era?  Iso ball
Paul Pierce era?  Paul was great but very deliberate in his moves and not great foot speed.
Larry Bird era?  That was certainly a plodding half-court team.

I think you have to go back to Havlicek/Cowens era with Heinsohn as coach.  That was a long time ago.  I was a little kid and was amazed at how they could run teams off the court and get easy buckets.

[Walker Wiggle]

Think about this: When was the last time a Celtics team featured uptempo as a primary weapon in their offense?

IT/Irving era?  Iso ball
Paul Pierce era?  Paul was great but very deliberate in his moves and not great foot speed.
Larry Bird era?  That was certainly a plodding half-court team.

I think you have to go back to Havlicek/Cowens era with Heinsohn as coach.  That was a long time ago.  I was a little kid and was amazed at how they could run teams off the court and get easy buckets.

The IT era was not iso ball. I would say IT fit in much more organically with Stevens's motion and ball movement system than Kyrie. And I think Kemba's role in that offense will resemble that of IT, more or less.

Lastly: The Larry Bird era was not "plodding" and "half court". Holy cow. Those teams could run.

[Surferdad]

Think about this: When was the last time a Celtics team featured uptempo as a primary weapon in their offense?

IT/Irving era?  Iso ball
Paul Pierce era?  Paul was great but very deliberate in his moves and not great foot speed.
Larry Bird era?  That was certainly a plodding half-court team.

I think you have to go back to Havlicek/Cowens era with Heinsohn as coach.  That was a long time ago.  I was a little kid and was amazed at how they could run teams off the court and get easy buckets.

The IT era was not iso ball. I would say IT fit in much more organically with Stevens's motion and ball movement system than Kyrie. And I think Kemba's role in that offense will resemble that of IT, more or less.

Lastly: The Larry Bird era was not "plodding" and "half court". Holy cow. Those teams could run.

The 1986 championship team was probably my favorite all-time.  But you have to admit that Bird and McHale were rather slow afoot, and Dennis Johnson was no speed demon.  Parish was quick for a big man and could get up-and-down the court.  Of course they took opportunities to run, but I recall their best was the half-court set.

[Csfan1984]

I'm hoping egos are put aside and the offense becomes adaptable like the Warriors in which mismatches and hot shooters are the focus while guys on weak side/top of key look to exploit cut lanes. I also want BS to buy into focusing on top 9 guys building a ton of chemistry. Maybe see three different starting lineups based on matchups but I think pace and space should be the main lineup.

Quick=Kemba, Smart, Brown, Tatum, Theis

Big=Kemba, Brown, Tatum, Theis, Kanter

P&S=Kemba, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, Theis

Top nine guys I want to see every game unless banged up are
Kemba, Smart, Edwards,
Brown, Hayward, Tatum,
Theis, Kanter, Semi

Maybe Semi gets pushed out by GW or VP but have to see them play in the NBA before I pencil them in.

I really don't want to see anyone but the top 9 unless it's due to foul trouble, injury, up big or garbage time. Chemistry should be the goal so they can run the system at a high level and get a feel for what everyone is doing at all times.