Celtics (30-14) at Pelicans (17-29) Game #45 1/26/20

[RockinRyA]

25 and under All Star Squad:

F - Greek Freak
F- Zion
F - Jayson
G - Jaylen
G - Luka

Final 4 contender, at least - maybe more.

I'll counter with: 

C - Embiid
F - Siakam   (or should I go with KAT?)
F - Ingram
G - Simmons
G - Trae

I think that lineup loses tbh. Replace Simmons with a shooter (maybe move down Siakam, put Kat in with Embiid and replace Ingram with a 3&D 2 guard) and it could be better.

[Csfan1984]

i know his salary is beyond what we can manage but geez louise having a guy that was 70% the shooter that reddick is coming off our bench would make a gigantic difference.

This is one of Boston's major weaknesses—they have no one they can count on to be a legit, consistent deep threat. Redick has a bad game once in a blue moon, and that's it; most of the time, he's locked in. Boston needs someone like him.

Of course, it won't really matter whom they have or don't have if they can't avoid a new injury every other game. At this rate we'll have Sex Pants playing 40 minutes a game before long.

I hate to beat this old horse, because I really do appreciate Marcus Smart... but there's not a single player in the NBA playing as many minutes and shooting under 40%. Having another option that's a full-on threat in the same situations is super valuable, even if Marcus is an All-World defender. It's a shooter's league, and when the other team is hitting it's easier to answer with 3s than pesky defense.

Yup, and this team has shooting funks too frequently to keep up with the best teams.

We need someone like a Gerald Green/Leandro Barbosa type. Good locker guys who can get hot and win you games that way.

When we had Green, BS hardly played him.

[RockinRyA]

i know his salary is beyond what we can manage but geez louise having a guy that was 70% the shooter that reddick is coming off our bench would make a gigantic difference.

This is one of Boston's major weaknesses—they have no one they can count on to be a legit, consistent deep threat. Redick has a bad game once in a blue moon, and that's it; most of the time, he's locked in. Boston needs someone like him.

Of course, it won't really matter whom they have or don't have if they can't avoid a new injury every other game. At this rate we'll have Sex Pants playing 40 minutes a game before long.

I hate to beat this old horse, because I really do appreciate Marcus Smart... but there's not a single player in the NBA playing as many minutes and shooting under 40%. Having another option that's a full-on threat in the same situations is super valuable, even if Marcus is an All-World defender. It's a shooter's league, and when the other team is hitting it's easier to answer with 3s than pesky defense.

Yup, and this team has shooting funks too frequently to keep up with the best teams.

We need someone like a Gerald Green/Leandro Barbosa type. Good locker guys who can get hot and win you games that way.

When we had Green, BS hardly played him.

Nah he used him a lot in the playoffs when he was playing well. Esp when Brown was having jitters.

[GreenFaith1819]

25 and under All Star Squad:

F - Greek Freak
F- Zion
F - Jayson
G - Jaylen
G - Luka

Final 4 contender, at least - maybe more.

I'll counter with: 

C - Embiid
F - Siakam   (or should I go with KAT?)
F - Ingram
G - Simmons
G - Trae

I think that lineup loses tbh. Replace Simmons with a shooter (maybe move down Siakam, put Kat in with Embiid and replace Ingram with a 3&D 2 guard) and it could be better.

Additonally - with Trae (whom I "DO" love, BTW) - being an absolute sieve on defense Simmons would have his hands full in the backcourt.....

Ingram isn't known for his defense, either...and he's a bit thin. I'd bet that Jayson is stronger than him not even counting Zion..........

Also - I'd start KAT over Embiid, TBH...we all know he won't be able to play an entire series so I'd bring him off the bench to keep Zion off the boards (if he can)......

But then I doubt that KAT would have much success with Zion, either - dude is a LOAD....and FAST off his feet....much Bounce to the Ounce....almost Charles Barkley-like.

If I ever get a chance to meet the young man I will be tempted to ask him for a coke or a Snickers. He reminds me of a vending machine with his size.

I love watching Zion almost as much as I love watching our Celtics or Luka.

[IDreamCeltics]

Anyone notice Hayward's free throw attempts are super low again this year?  He's averaging 1 trip to the foul line per game.  He had 3 free throw attempts this game...

Reasons why?

[Celtics4ever]

I think Zion is going to battle weight all his career, Lordly the guy looks puffy, I know he is coming back from an injury but he looks more than 10% body fat.  The Pelicans are a deeper team than us as we have better starters.

Our bench was terrible this game, and it is not that good.  Smart is playing as a starter and no Kanter, so its lack scoring.  This is a problem even when the team is healthy.   We definitely need a shooter for the bench.

My son and I are very nervous about the guys we drafted this past year.   I have not drank the kool-aid on Grant Williams who looked ok one game and lost the second.  I would love to see Langford get some minutes at some point, I know he is snake bit with injuries.   Edwards has started slow and Waters seems to be most NBA ready out of all of them.   

We were talking that we would have traded a second rounder for Willie Stein but how much of this would he fix?

[SHAQATTACK]

i really was emotionless about the game , not much caring one way or the other who won .  Kobe losing his life just dominated my thought process.

[GreenFaith1819]

Anyone notice Hayward's free throw attempts are super low again this year?  He's averaging 1 trip to the foul line per game.  He had 3 free throw attempts this game...

Reasons why?

Well I am certain that - being the TEAM player he is - he is deferring a LOT to the Young Jays. This was evident in the huge ORL game. He got 18 shots and made 8 - with the focus being on him and Kemba mainly.

22, 14 and 5 - much needed production and at the same time deferring to Kemba.

Additionally - dude is averaging 16.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists while shooting 51% from the field, 37% from deep AND over 88% from FT line.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haywago01.html

Tie all that in with nearly 57% eFG and I am EXTREMELY happy with Gordon Hayward as a "4th" option.

[GreenFaith1819]

I think Zion is going to battle weight all his career, Lordly the guy looks puffy, I know he is coming back from an injury but he looks more than 10% body fat.  The Pelicans are a deeper team than us as we have better starters.

Our bench was terrible this game, and it is not that good.  Smart is playing as a starter and no Kanter, so its lack scoring.  This is a problem even when the team is healthy.   We definitely need a shooter for the bench.

My son and I are very nervous about the guys we drafted this past year.   I have not drank the kool-aid on Grant Williams who looked ok one game and lost the second.  I would love to see Langford get some minutes at some point, I know he is snake bit with injuries.   Edwards has started slow and Waters seems to be most NBA ready out of all of them.   

We were talking that we would have traded a second rounder for Willie Stein but how much of this would he fix?

I don't know, Man...Zion looks like 284 svelte pounds of MEAN, to me....Man Mountain he reminds me of....the Human Vending Machine..he is gifted with good size, talent, BBIQ and skill....

I had concerns about his size as well, but if David Griffin is involved - as well as the Medical Staff - and THEY think he can play effectively at that weight then I'm all for it.

Can't get much better than David Griffin.

I am certain that BOS and the REST of the League would LOVE for him to lose 50 pounds (so he'd be EASIER to deal with) but that ain't happening I don't believe.

[Csfan1984]

i know his salary is beyond what we can manage but geez louise having a guy that was 70% the shooter that reddick is coming off our bench would make a gigantic difference.

This is one of Boston's major weaknesses—they have no one they can count on to be a legit, consistent deep threat. Redick has a bad game once in a blue moon, and that's it; most of the time, he's locked in. Boston needs someone like him.

Of course, it won't really matter whom they have or don't have if they can't avoid a new injury every other game. At this rate we'll have Sex Pants playing 40 minutes a game before long.

I hate to beat this old horse, because I really do appreciate Marcus Smart... but there's not a single player in the NBA playing as many minutes and shooting under 40%. Having another option that's a full-on threat in the same situations is super valuable, even if Marcus is an All-World defender. It's a shooter's league, and when the other team is hitting it's easier to answer with 3s than pesky defense.

Yup, and this team has shooting funks too frequently to keep up with the best teams.

We need someone like a Gerald Green/Leandro Barbosa type. Good locker guys who can get hot and win you games that way.

When we had Green, BS hardly played him.

Nah he used him a lot in the playoffs when he was playing well. Esp when Brown was having jitters.

Early playoffs yes he was used correctly. But in the Cleveland series BS went back to using him like the regular season.

[Csfan1984]

Anyone notice Hayward's free throw attempts are super low again this year?  He's averaging 1 trip to the foul line per game.  He had 3 free throw attempts this game...

Reasons why?

Well I am certain that - being the TEAM player he is - he is deferring a LOT to the Young Jays. This was evident in the huge ORL game. He got 18 shots and made 8 - with the focus being on him and Kemba mainly.

22, 14 and 5 - much needed production and at the same time deferring to Kemba.

Additionally - dude is averaging 16.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists while shooting 51% from the field, 37% from deep AND over 88% from FT line.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haywago01.html

Tie all that in with nearly 57% eFG and I am EXTREMELY happy with Gordon Hayward as a "4th" option.

I'm on the Hayward band wagon. As a 4th option he is doing well. I think he stays with the team one more year if he can't get a 4 year $90-110 million dollar range deal. We could lean on him more than most team's 4th options which says a lot.

[IDreamCeltics]

Anyone notice Hayward's free throw attempts are super low again this year?  He's averaging 1 trip to the foul line per game.  He had 3 free throw attempts this game...

Reasons why?

Well I am certain that - being the TEAM player he is - he is deferring a LOT to the Young Jays. This was evident in the huge ORL game. He got 18 shots and made 8 - with the focus being on him and Kemba mainly.

22, 14 and 5 - much needed production and at the same time deferring to Kemba.

Additionally - dude is averaging 16.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists while shooting 51% from the field, 37% from deep AND over 88% from FT line.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haywago01.html

Tie all that in with nearly 57% eFG and I am EXTREMELY happy with Gordon Hayward as a "4th" option.

I think -like yourself- a lot of people are getting fooled by his inflated playing time and shots.

This years' Hayward is almost identical to last years' version except if anything he's more hesitant to draw contact.   His raw stats are up as you'd expect considering he's playing about 6 more minutes a game and taking 4 more shots per game, but his per 36 numbers tell the true story.

2018-2019 Per 36 Numbers 16 ppg, 6.2 rebs, 4.7 assists, 3.6 FTA, 12.3 FGA

2019-2020 Per 36 Numbers 18.5 ppg, 6.8 rebs, 4.2 assists, 2.0 FTA, 14.5 FGA 

Now, I don't mean to sound the alarm bells but we saw what happens to this Hayward in the playoffs last year.  Having a main distributor who can't get to the rim 1 on 1 or draw fouls doesn't work when teams have time to gameplan.  How will the Celtics overcome this?   

[SDceltGuy]

I'm on the Hayward band wagon. As a 4th option he is doing well.

Not as a max guy. 

[jbpats]

I'm on the Hayward band wagon. As a 4th option he is doing well.

Not as a max guy.

At the time he definitely was, especially in such a weak FA class.. now I have to agree, definitely not a max guy but I think a bottom feeder or mid tier/mid to low market team would definitely give him a max if he were to hit free agency this off season.

[Csfan1984]

I'm on the Hayward band wagon. As a 4th option he is doing well.

Not as a max guy.

At the time he definitely was, especially in such a weak FA class.. now I have to agree, definitely not a max guy but I think a bottom feeder or mid tier/mid to low market team would definitely give him a max if he were to his free agency this off season.

Would you guys resign him and what price would you think he would  have?