Timberwolves (13-39) at Celtics (26-26) Game #53 4/9/21

[ozgod]

Kemba 3 for 10 for 3s with 4 turnovers.  Payton 1 for 2 for 3s with 0 turnovers.  He needs more minutes to help this team.

Lol. That's hilarious. Let's just discount Kemba's 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 4-4 from the line and 17 points.

Payton's the shiny new toy. 2 years ago it was Waters. Last year it was Tacko.

[footey]

Kemba 3 for 10 for 3s with 4 turnovers.  Payton 1 for 2 for 3s with 0 turnovers.  He needs more minutes to help this team.

Lol. That's hilarious. Let's just discount Kemba's 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 4-4 from the line and 17 points.

Payton's the shiny new toy. 2 years ago it was Waters. Last year it was Tacko.

Waters was rookie last year along with Tacko.

[Ed Monix]

The only major issue is as usual passing. It's obvious the team is making an conscious effort to move the ball, it's just not the majority of the teams skill set, which is why I think losing Hayward really hurt Ainge in the team construction.

- Timberwolves had 30 assists to 14 turnovers tonight where the Celtics had a 32 to 20 ratio.

So for every 4 assists...Celtics gave the ball away 2.5 times

[tenn_smoothie]

Kemba 3 for 10 for 3s with 4 turnovers.  Payton 1 for 2 for 3s with 0 turnovers.  He needs more minutes to help this team.

Plus, Pritchard is more of a playmaker, looks to run the offense and not a score-first style like Kemba.
This team with Pritchard as starting PG and Kemba as the super-6th man with Fournier and Thompson and the best of the young guys could develop into a killer group off the bench. Less minutes, less wear and tear for Kemba would be real interesting to see.

[wiley]

Missed game.  Why did Romeo play so little?  Is he okay?

[Somebody]

We're finally above .500 again

[LilRip]

Just finished watching the game. The Wolves remind me of the C’s actually
1) Talented on paper
2) Scoring for days from all over the floor
3) Crumbles mentally - a strong run by the opposing team can have them abandon what got them the lead in the first place
4) Low IQ/communication on defense. They let the other team get comfortable on offense
5) Terrible role players

Fortunately, we have more experience and we have more overall talent. Plus, our best player isn’t a rookie.

[RPGenerate]

Just finished watching the game. The Wolves remind me of the C’s actually
1) Talented on paper
2) Scoring for days from all over the floor
3) Crumbles mentally - a strong run by the opposing team can have them abandon what got them the lead in the first place
4) Low IQ/communication on defense. They let the other team get comfortable on offense
5) Terrible role players

Fortunately, we have more experience and we have more overall talent. Plus, our best player isn’t a rookie.

KAT is a rookie?

[liam]

Payton should be playing 20+ minutes every game.

Yup!

No, he really shouldn't unless Kemba is sitting.

Kemba, Smart, Brown and Fournier are much better guards. A 5th guard getting 15-17 minutes a game is his role and he plays it well. He is a rook. He'll get his minutes in future years.

Right now there are 4 guys that are much better than him and ahead of him in the rotation. He needs to continue to play well, learn, improve and be ready in case someone goes down long term.

Kemba and Pritchard actually were on the floor at the same time night. Pritchard helps spread the court and
 Pull guys out to the edges of the court up past the 3 point line when he's out there. He's not as talented as Kemba and most likely never will be close but he's a role player with an elite handle and good smarts on the floor. Doesn't look for his shots too much and knows it's his job to pass the ball to others and do the dirty work. We always need guys like that on the court. and he shoots 40% from 3.

[colincb]

I do hope Tatum is finally over his long Covid and can carry this form into the playoffs. The more wins Celtics can get then the higher the chance of Evan Fournier re-signing with Celtics in the off season

By the numbers, Tatum's getting better.

Jay King@ByJayKing
Jayson Tatum came back from COVID-19 shortly before February and was open about how much it impacted him. His shooting splits in every other month are so much better.

[nickagneta]

Payton should be playing 20+ minutes every game.

Yup!

No, he really shouldn't unless Kemba is sitting.

Kemba, Smart, Brown and Fournier are much better guards. A 5th guard getting 15-17 minutes a game is his role and he plays it well. He is a rook. He'll get his minutes in future years.

Right now there are 4 guys that are much better than him and ahead of him in the rotation. He needs to continue to play well, learn, improve and be ready in case someone goes down long term.

Kemba and Pritchard actually were on the floor at the same time night. Pritchard helps spread the court and
 Pull guys out to the edges of the court up past the 3 point line when he's out there. He's not as talented as Kemba and most likely never will be close but he's a role player with an elite handle and good smarts on the floor. Doesn't look for his shots too much and knows it's his job to pass the ball to others and do the dirty work. We always need guys like that on the court. and he shoots 40% from 3.

I agree with everything you've said here, liam, though I think you're description of Payton's gravity is a bit over exaggerated. It's just, right now, his role is 15-20 MPG 5th guard. He is playing that role well but he hasn't played so well that he should be getting minutes over Kemba, Brown, Smart or Fournier. 15-20 MPG is good for him right now.

[SHAQATTACK]

We're finally above .500 again

You see the next three games ?  That won’t last long 

[Neurotic Guy]

Payton should be playing 20+ minutes every game.

Yup!

No, he really shouldn't unless Kemba is sitting.

Kemba, Smart, Brown and Fournier are much better guards. A 5th guard getting 15-17 minutes a game is his role and he plays it well. He is a rook. He'll get his minutes in future years.

Right now there are 4 guys that are much better than him and ahead of him in the rotation. He needs to continue to play well, learn, improve and be ready in case someone goes down long term.

Kemba and Pritchard actually were on the floor at the same time night. Pritchard helps spread the court and
 Pull guys out to the edges of the court up past the 3 point line when he's out there. He's not as talented as Kemba and most likely never will be close but he's a role player with an elite handle and good smarts on the floor. Doesn't look for his shots too much and knows it's his job to pass the ball to others and do the dirty work. We always need guys like that on the court. and he shoots 40% from 3.

I agree with everything you've said here, liam, though I think you're description of Payton's gravity is a bit over exaggerated. It's just, right now, his role is 15-20 MPG 5th guard. He is playing that role well but he hasn't played so well that he should be getting minutes over Kemba, Brown, Smart or Fournier. 15-20 MPG is good for him right now.

Team has been consistently unimpressive for quite a while. Rough starts and rough finishes.  Falling behind by double-digits even to poor teams, losing leads, unable to sustain energy, focus, and momentum.  Kemba is giving it his all defensively, but his long-range shooting, mid-range shooting, and his ability to finish drives are all regressed.  He’s an ok but not great passer.   Given the C’s current mediocrity I don’t see a down side in shaking up the rotation. Start PP for a more reliable shooter, passer, driver, and energy/ball movement guy to kickoff the game. Bring Kemba and Fournier off the bench - hope that Kemba can regain some of his offense.  Brad easily manages Kemba’s minutes. PP gets great experience as a starter - and with both Jays.

[LilRip]

Just finished watching the game. The Wolves remind me of the C’s actually
1) Talented on paper
2) Scoring for days from all over the floor
3) Crumbles mentally - a strong run by the opposing team can have them abandon what got them the lead in the first place
4) Low IQ/communication on defense. They let the other team get comfortable on offense
5) Terrible role players

Fortunately, we have more experience and we have more overall talent. Plus, our best player isn’t a rookie.

KAT is a rookie?

Anthony Edwards

[coco]

I do hope Tatum is finally over his long Covid and can carry this form into the playoffs. The more wins Celtics can get then the higher the chance of Evan Fournier re-signing with Celtics in the off season

By the numbers, Tatum's getting better.

Jay King@ByJayKing
Jayson Tatum came back from COVID-19 shortly before February and was open about how much it impacted him. His shooting splits in every other month are so much better.

We do tend to overlook how good our own start is.
Thanks for bringing this up