NBA Playoffs 2021

[PhoSita]

So many want to add a top center to the Celtics, but it seems every year that the best centers in the game have trouble making the Conference Finals, nevermind the Finals.

Perhaps dominating centers are passe. No longer needed in the game for a team to win it all.

Yeah I mean it certainly seems to help to have an anchor down low. The structure that gives your offense, with an outlet for lobs at the rim, is still really valuable.  We've seen that whenever Rob Williams is healthy; the Celts look like a totally different team with that element on the floor.  But it's not the end-all.

It seems to me that the lesson of the recent playoffs is that you want to surround your lead scorer(s) with as many perimeter players as possible, looking for guys with size (6'4'' to 6'9'') who can hit open jumpers and defend 2-4.

The challenge of finding wings with good size who can defend, shoot and drive is so great that it seems like a good team ought to try to take a swing on a player like that at least once in every draft.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

So many want to add a top center to the Celtics, but it seems every year that the best centers in the game have trouble making the Conference Finals, nevermind the Finals.

Perhaps dominating centers are passe. No longer needed in the game for a team to win it all.

Yeah I mean it certainly seems to help to have an anchor down low. The structure that gives your offense, with an outlet for lobs at the rim, is still really valuable.  We've seen that whenever Rob Williams is healthy; the Celts look like a totally different team with that element on the floor.  But it's not the end-all.

It seems to me that the lesson of the recent playoffs is that you want to surround your lead scorer(s) with as many perimeter players as possible, looking for guys with size (6'4'' to 6'9'') who can hit open jumpers and defend 2-4.

The challenge of finding wings with good size who can defend, shoot and drive is so great that it seems like a good team ought to try to take a swing on a player like that at least once in every draft.

Wish we had a Nic Batum. I'm kinda' wondering if Otto Porter Jr. could have a similar resurgence. He'd be a great fit at the 4 if he's not totally washed up.

[Ogaju]

Celtics should trade for Ben Simmons

[footey]

Will be interesting to see who wins the NBA championship this year, and how it will affect team building by other teams.  It's a copy cat league for sure.

If the Clippers win, may see a trend to more "small ball is good" philosophy; they really turned around their season when the took Zubak out of lineup vs the Jazz.  Are continuing to play smallish vs the Suns.

If the Suns win, not sure what that will mean as a template; they have a more traditional center, Ayton.  But this team is driven by Booker (unless Paul returns soon) and really good cohesive team play on both sides of the ball. 

If the Hawks win, no doubt a testament to an incredibly talented PG, but frankly not a particularly big lineup.   Capella pretty similar to our centers in size.

If Bucks win, will be a vote for bigger longer lineups, I guess.

Funny but with all the talk on Celtics Strong and podcasts about the need to land a 3rd star, none of the remaining 4 teams currently have 3 star level players.  In fact, each of them only have one real "star" left playing.  Clippers have only one (George) with Kawhi down. Same with the Suns with Paul out.  Same with the Hawks.  Giannis is the only star on the Bucks; arguably you could add Middleton.  But sorry, Holliday is not a star level guy, and certainly hasn't been playing like one during the playoff run.

[ozgod]

Its from SAS so take with a grain of salt but I wouldn't be shocked here.

https://twitter.com/stephenasmith/status/1407379365126623242?s=20

This really does have the ring of truth. Basically a spoiled, entitled kid who never really had to improve himself to dominate, since he dominated on the basis of sheer talent. Didn't think he needed an outside shot because he was blessed with being a great passer and creator, so he just needed to be good at what he was already good at. This is from a Fox article (not sure if someone posted it earlier or if I found it on Reddit, apologies if it was posted earlier):

Everything was going according to plan. He became the No. 1 pick. He recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in his NBA debut and afterward said, "I felt like I was playing [NBA]2K." Three games later, he recorded a triple-double. He told Patrick "the game in the NBA was easier for him to control than in college." He won Rookie of the Year. Since then, he has become a three-time All-Star and signed a max contract. The Sixers have transformed into a perennial contender.

He did things his way and listened to his people, and it all worked out. But now we’re seeing the consequences. What happens when suddenly the game doesn’t feel like NBA2K? How do you solve a problem if you’ve never been willing to confront it?

...

Then came Game 7. During his postgame news conference one reporter asked Simmons why his performance in the playoffs always seems to drop. Simmons turned to a Sixers staffer seated alongside him.

"How many assists I have?" he asked. The answer was 13. He turned back to the Zoom screen. "I mean, I feel like I found my guys tonight, which I do in the regular season regardless," he said.

He then turned to the staffer again.

"What did Trae shoot?" he asked. The answer was 5-for-23.

It was a revealing moment, a window into how he feels. People around Simmons put it this way: He’s a 24-year-old perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate. One of the league’s premier passers. An engine for a perennial Eastern Conference powerhouse. All while being the rare No. 1 pick to play on a roster not built around that player’s strengths. Yet he gets no leeway.

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/ben-simmons-postseason-struggles-philadelphia-76ers-joel-embiid

[ozgod]

Celtics should trade for Ben Simmons

Which of the Jays should we give up?

[Ogaju]

Celtics should trade for Ben Simmons

Which of the Jays should we give up?

Seriously?  Neither. Things look so bad in Philly that you need to offer them a package around…. Smart, TT, Edwards, Waters….throw in TPE if money doesn’t work.

[gouki88]

Celtics should trade for Ben Simmons

Which of the Jays should we give up?

Seriously?  Neither. Things look so bad in Philly that you need to offer them a package around…. Smart, TT, Edwards, Waters….throw in TPE if money doesn’t work.

I feel like that would be pretty easily outbid, if for no other reason than Philly want (or rather, need) shooting around Embiid and Harris

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Celtics should trade for Ben Simmons

Which of the Jays should we give up?

Seriously?  Neither. Things look so bad in Philly that you need to offer them a package around…. Smart, TT, Edwards, Waters….throw in TPE if money doesn’t work.

I feel like that would be pretty easily outbid, if for no other reason than Philly want (or rather, need) shooting around Embiid and Harris

It kinda' depends, but I tend to agree. Unless Morey or Doc are infatuated with Marcus Smart and what he would bring to the team, I don't think there's a deal here.

And unless a third team is more infatuated with Smart than Simmons, then there isn't a three-team deal available.

[Ogaju]

Celtics should trade for Ben Simmons

Which of the Jays should we give up?

Seriously?  Neither. Things look so bad in Philly that you need to offer them a package around…. Smart, TT, Edwards, Waters….throw in TPE if money doesn’t work.

I feel like that would be pretty easily outbid, if for no other reason than Philly want (or rather, need) shooting around Embiid and Harris

It kinda' depends, but I tend to agree. Unless Morey or Doc are infatuated with Marcus Smart and what he would bring to the team, I don't think there's a deal here.

And unless a third team is more infatuated with Smart than Simmons, then there isn't a three-team deal available.

Hate to give em Langford or Nesmith but maybe one of them makes it work….I think Simmons will thrive with the Jays.

[gouki88]

Celtics should trade for Ben Simmons

Which of the Jays should we give up?

Seriously?  Neither. Things look so bad in Philly that you need to offer them a package around…. Smart, TT, Edwards, Waters….throw in TPE if money doesn’t work.

I feel like that would be pretty easily outbid, if for no other reason than Philly want (or rather, need) shooting around Embiid and Harris

It kinda' depends, but I tend to agree. Unless Morey or Doc are infatuated with Marcus Smart and what he would bring to the team, I don't think there's a deal here.

And unless a third team is more infatuated with Smart than Simmons, then there isn't a three-team deal available.

Hate to give em Langford or Nesmith but maybe one of them makes it work….I think Simmons will thrive with the Jays.

Smart-Langford-Thybulle is a nasty defensive trio with Embiid behind them.

I think Simmons is a complete waste of talent, so I'm pretty happy to be outbid. He's nearly 25 and is the exact same player he was coming out of LSU

[Ogaju]

Celtics should trade for Ben Simmons

Which of the Jays should we give up?

Seriously?  Neither. Things look so bad in Philly that you need to offer them a package around…. Smart, TT, Edwards, Waters….throw in TPE if money doesn’t work.

I feel like that would be pretty easily outbid, if for no other reason than Philly want (or rather, need) shooting around Embiid and Harris

It kinda' depends, but I tend to agree. Unless Morey or Doc are infatuated with Marcus Smart and what he would bring to the team, I don't think there's a deal here.

And unless a third team is more infatuated with Smart than Simmons, then there isn't a three-team deal available.

Hate to give em Langford or Nesmith but maybe one of them makes it work….I think Simmons will thrive with the Jays.

Smart-Langford-Thybulle is a nasty defensive trio with Embiid behind them.

I think Simmons is a complete waste of talent, so I'm pretty happy to be outbid. He's nearly 25 and is the exact same player he was coming out of LSU

Methinks you are too hard on your mate from down under. I am sure Brad can come up with a deal the works for both sides. I will take Tatum-Brown-Simmons defense over Smart/Thybulle/Langford. Simmons can score, he just needs a better coach. Philly will regret it if they trade him.

[gouki88]

Celtics should trade for Ben Simmons

Which of the Jays should we give up?

Seriously?  Neither. Things look so bad in Philly that you need to offer them a package around…. Smart, TT, Edwards, Waters….throw in TPE if money doesn’t work.

I feel like that would be pretty easily outbid, if for no other reason than Philly want (or rather, need) shooting around Embiid and Harris

It kinda' depends, but I tend to agree. Unless Morey or Doc are infatuated with Marcus Smart and what he would bring to the team, I don't think there's a deal here.

And unless a third team is more infatuated with Smart than Simmons, then there isn't a three-team deal available.

Hate to give em Langford or Nesmith but maybe one of them makes it work….I think Simmons will thrive with the Jays.

Smart-Langford-Thybulle is a nasty defensive trio with Embiid behind them.

I think Simmons is a complete waste of talent, so I'm pretty happy to be outbid. He's nearly 25 and is the exact same player he was coming out of LSU

Methinks you are too hard on your mate from down under. I am sure Brad can come up with a deal the works for both sides. I will take Tatum-Brown-Simmons defense over Smart/Thybulle/Langford. Simmons can score, he just needs a better coach. Philly will regret it if they trade him.

Maybe, but he's had two NBA coaches fail to do so successively. Being in an NBA program for 5 years and still not addressing one's glaring weaknesses is a complete indictment. I don't it would be fair to expect our likely rookie coach to try and fix Simmons, especially when the issues are entirely in Simmons' own head.

I am much happier seeing him be Philadelphia's problem

[liam]

who you got tonight? I'm still Suns.

[Ogaju]

who you got tonight? I'm still Suns.

Suns all the way to the championship.