We need instigators

[LilRip]

Just saw a random YT clip with Gilbert Arenas and Big Baby Davis talking about the 08 Celtics on a podcast. Arenas was talking about how hard it was playing the C’s because, skills aside, there was a huge mental aspect to it to:

1) you had KG who starts trying to mentally bully and intimidate people, which then gets Pierce fired up too, and now you have 2 alpha players on the court
2) the bench squad was playing “brutal, prison ball” (Gil’s words) which in retrospect, I never realized but I see what he means. Leon Powe was physical. Tony Allen was physical. BBD was physical. Posey was physical. Perk was physical.

Link to clip: https://youtu.be/eATRgfe_igs

I look at this team and I think we have great set of guys but only Smart seems to play with the fire (and maybe now, Wagner lol). “Instigators” is the word I remember Ainge and I think Doc used to use. For this team to take the next step, I think a change in attitude has to come too. That “championship-level” confidence or “instigator mindset”, if you will.

Wagner is a step in the right direction (lol!) but we need our best players to come on the court with that killer mindset

[Scottiej23]

I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that Washington was the only team in 08 that had a winning record against Boston.

[Ilikesports17]

Rondo, Paul, KG, TA, Perk and Posey on the same team...

Can’t replicate that

[CelticsWhat35]

I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that Washington was the only team in 08 that had a winning record against Boston.

Wow, you’re right.  They were 1-3 against the Wizards that year.  Crazy since they only lost 16 all season and dominated them on opening night.  They also lost both ends of a home-and-home series, which hardly ever happens

[NKY fan]

I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that Washington was the only team in 08 that had a winning record against Boston.

Wow, you’re right.  They were 1-3 against the Wizards that year.  Crazy since they only lost 16 all season and dominated them on opening night.  They also lost both ends of a home-and-home series, which hardly ever happens

Didn’t we also beat the Spurs (twice)? We have like 0.10 win record against pop

[greg683x]

So, who around the NBA fits this role but also doesn’t come with additional baggage?  When I say additional baggage I don’t mean problems off the court but just players who just might turn the ball over too much, shoot too much, basically ones that just don’t know their role.

For instance, Marcus Morris is a perfect example of an instigator but I think we all agree that bringing him back wouldn’t be smart just bc we already have enough mouths to feed on offense.

Perk, Posey, Powe, guys like that, they knew their role, they didn’t demand shots, they didn’t try and be a player they weren’t.

I feel like we had a guy like that in Baynes but we let him go

[Tr1boy]

Dont worry we have this guy now

[Ogaju]

Rondo, Paul, KG, TA, Perk and Posey on the same team...

Can’t replicate that

You can try....the point is this team under Stevens is not even trying...too soft. I have been saying this. The coach is soft, the team is super soft. No passion. It’s almost like something happened to Tatum after he gave LeBron that facial in the ECF and bumped him with the passionate yell. Brown makes the most ridiculous shots and shows no passion. This is a tough league, you need an edge to compete consistently.

[Donoghus]

I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that Washington was the only team in 08 that had a winning record against Boston.

Wow, you’re right.  They were 1-3 against the Wizards that year.  Crazy since they only lost 16 all season and dominated them on opening night.  They also lost both ends of a home-and-home series, which hardly ever happens

As great as they were, they had a couple of weird losses that year.  Probably the worst being to the Bobcats.  They also lost to a pretty medicore Sixers team.

[Ogaju]

I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that Washington was the only team in 08 that had a winning record against Boston.

Wow, you’re right.  They were 1-3 against the Wizards that year.  Crazy since they only lost 16 all season and dominated them on opening night.  They also lost both ends of a home-and-home series, which hardly ever happens

Because Washington played them with an attitude of they will not be intimidated.

[Ogaju]

So, who around the NBA fits this role but also doesn’t come with additional baggage?  When I say additional baggage I don’t mean problems off the court but just players who just might turn the ball over too much, shoot too much, basically ones that just don’t know their role.

For instance, Marcus Morris is a perfect example of an instigator but I think we all agree that bringing him back wouldn’t be smart just bc we already have enough mouths to feed on offense.

Perk, Posey, Powe, guys like that, they knew their role, they didn’t demand shots, they didn’t try and be a player they weren’t.

I feel like we had a guy like that in Baynes but we let him go

You don’t just ‘know’ your role. Your role is enforced by the coaching staff. This is all about getting the right guys and the right coaching. It’s okay to pal around with your opponent as long as they fear or respect you. MJ hummed it up with opponents all the time as he took their lunch money and made them pick up lunch for him.

[PAOBoston]

Morris would have been a good fit pre-Fournier.

Think this team needs more dirt dawg mentality guys. Initially, Stevens built his team on a bunch of those guys. That’s why they always over performed. This team feels soft. Smart has some of that but not sure who else on the roster does.