Bobby Marks: Don't Sleep on the Celtics

[Vermont Green]

I don't think anyone is going to sleep on the Celtics.  Most are going to expect us to be in the second tier in the east (Behind MIL, BKN, and maybe PHI).  We don't have the best top end talent but we do have good depth and should be able to survive injuries better than some of the other teams.

And we have flexibility to make changes along the way or bring in players with TPE.  We are in decent shape for what is really a bridge year or a building year (not rebuild, more of a continuation).

I thought what was interesting was his lack of faith in PHI.  That is more of a hot take in my mind.

Well, after your team wins the conference and then the team's franchise player and its coach throws the team's other "superstar" under the bus after a historic and blatant choke, people will talk and talk and talk and talk and so on to infinity.

Don't know it's a hot take when it's been going on for over two months and Hoopshype has 192 entries on the storyline. Latest hot take is an agent speculating BS will hold out.

NBA Rumor: Ben Simmons Trade?
192 rumors in this storyline
https://hoopshype.com/storyline/ben-simmons-trade/

Trading Simmons may make the Sixers better, assuming they get something even close to what they seem to be asking for.  If Simmons just holds out and it lasts the entire season, then yes, of course, it hurts the team.

I just have not seen many predict the Sixers will be as bad as Marks seems to think they will be.  Marks may well be right.  Wouldn't hurt my feelings.

[GreenlyGreeny]

Calling it right now for 2021-2022: 1st in the East and fall short in 6 or 7 against Brooklyn or Milwaukee in ECF (but it’ll be a heck of a fist fight). Tatum and Brown are going to both leap into the top ten. Tatum possibly in the top five. Unlike Stevens, they’re going to listen to Udoka and make that transcendental leap we’ve been waiting for. 

2022-2023 is gonna be THE year (Tatum might be the best basketball player on the planet by then). And got a feeling it’ll be our hot young duo against the aging duo of Curry/Thompson, just like Jordan’s Bulls got to dispatch Magic’s Lakers to start their first title run. Dynasty, here we come!

[nickagneta]

Calling it right now for 2021-2022: 1st in the East and fall short in 6 or 7 against Brooklyn or Milwaukee in ECF (but it’ll be a heck of a fist fight). Tatum and Brown are going to both leap into the top ten. Tatum possibly in the top five. Unlike Stevens, they’re going to listen to Udoka and make that transcendental leap we’ve been waiting for. 

2022-2023 is gonna be THE year (Tatum might be the best basketball player on the planet by then). And got a feeling it’ll be our hot young duo against the aging duo of Curry/Thompson, just like Jordan’s Bulls got to dispatch Magic’s Lakers to start their first title run. Dynasty, here we come!

History is a bit off there. Bulls dispatched and dethroned the world champion Pistons by beating them in the ECFs.

Yes the Bulls beat Magic's Lakers for their first title but that Laker team hadn't won a title in 3 years and were very much over as a real title threat.

The real championship series was in the ECFs both in 1989 and 1990 with Detroit taking one and Chicago the other. The Western Conference champions in those years, Portland and LAL, were very much a step below both Detroit and Chicago as title contenders.

But, I get your point.

[celticsclay]

I don't think anyone is going to sleep on the Celtics.  Most are going to expect us to be in the second tier in the east (Behind MIL, BKN, and maybe PHI).  We don't have the best top end talent but we do have good depth and should be able to survive injuries better than some of the other teams.

And we have flexibility to make changes along the way or bring in players with TPE.  We are in decent shape for what is really a bridge year or a building year (not rebuild, more of a continuation).

I thought what was interesting was his lack of faith in PHI.  That is more of a hot take in my mind.

Well, after your team wins the conference and then the team's franchise player and its coach throws the team's other "superstar" under the bus after a historic and blatant choke, people will talk and talk and talk and talk and so on to infinity.

Don't know it's a hot take when it's been going on for over two months and Hoopshype has 192 entries on the storyline. Latest hot take is an agent speculating BS will hold out.

NBA Rumor: Ben Simmons Trade?
192 rumors in this storyline
https://hoopshype.com/storyline/ben-simmons-trade/

Trading Simmons may make the Sixers better, assuming they get something even close to what they seem to be asking for.  If Simmons just holds out and it lasts the entire season, then yes, of course, it hurts the team.

I just have not seen many predict the Sixers will be as bad as Marks seems to think they will be.  Marks may well be right.  Wouldn't hurt my feelings.

Really going down with the ship on this one eh? A team having their star player potentially hold out, ignore his star teammate's phone calls and have his agent say he doesn't want to be there is never a good thing for the franchise. Feels like you may be the one sleeping on that reality.

[Vermont Green]

I don't think anyone is going to sleep on the Celtics.  Most are going to expect us to be in the second tier in the east (Behind MIL, BKN, and maybe PHI).  We don't have the best top end talent but we do have good depth and should be able to survive injuries better than some of the other teams.

And we have flexibility to make changes along the way or bring in players with TPE.  We are in decent shape for what is really a bridge year or a building year (not rebuild, more of a continuation).

I thought what was interesting was his lack of faith in PHI.  That is more of a hot take in my mind.

Well, after your team wins the conference and then the team's franchise player and its coach throws the team's other "superstar" under the bus after a historic and blatant choke, people will talk and talk and talk and talk and so on to infinity.

Don't know it's a hot take when it's been going on for over two months and Hoopshype has 192 entries on the storyline. Latest hot take is an agent speculating BS will hold out.

NBA Rumor: Ben Simmons Trade?
192 rumors in this storyline
https://hoopshype.com/storyline/ben-simmons-trade/

Trading Simmons may make the Sixers better, assuming they get something even close to what they seem to be asking for.  If Simmons just holds out and it lasts the entire season, then yes, of course, it hurts the team.

I just have not seen many predict the Sixers will be as bad as Marks seems to think they will be.  Marks may well be right.  Wouldn't hurt my feelings.

Really going down with the ship on this one eh? A team having their star player potentially hold out, ignore his star teammate's phone calls and have his agent say he doesn't want to be there is never a good thing for the franchise. Feels like you may be the one sleeping on that reality.

Not sure what ship exactly you think I am going down with.  I said that Marks' take on the Sixers was interesting and that not that many others have stated that take.  Vegas has the Sixers at 51.5 wins, 3rd best in the league, well more than the Celtics (just for one point of perspective).

I thought is was an interesting take because it could turn out true if Simmons holds out an extended period of time and they don't trade him.  On the other hand, they could trade him and get someone of the caliber of Beal and be even better off for it.  Even if they got someone like John Wall, and some other pieces, they may not be any worse off.

Or Simmons puts his tail between his legs and comes back and they are about the same as last year, which was pretty good.

[celticsclay]

I don't think anyone is going to sleep on the Celtics.  Most are going to expect us to be in the second tier in the east (Behind MIL, BKN, and maybe PHI).  We don't have the best top end talent but we do have good depth and should be able to survive injuries better than some of the other teams.

And we have flexibility to make changes along the way or bring in players with TPE.  We are in decent shape for what is really a bridge year or a building year (not rebuild, more of a continuation).

I thought what was interesting was his lack of faith in PHI.  That is more of a hot take in my mind.

Well, after your team wins the conference and then the team's franchise player and its coach throws the team's other "superstar" under the bus after a historic and blatant choke, people will talk and talk and talk and talk and so on to infinity.

Don't know it's a hot take when it's been going on for over two months and Hoopshype has 192 entries on the storyline. Latest hot take is an agent speculating BS will hold out.

NBA Rumor: Ben Simmons Trade?
192 rumors in this storyline
https://hoopshype.com/storyline/ben-simmons-trade/

Trading Simmons may make the Sixers better, assuming they get something even close to what they seem to be asking for.  If Simmons just holds out and it lasts the entire season, then yes, of course, it hurts the team.

I just have not seen many predict the Sixers will be as bad as Marks seems to think they will be.  Marks may well be right.  Wouldn't hurt my feelings.

Really going down with the ship on this one eh? A team having their star player potentially hold out, ignore his star teammate's phone calls and have his agent say he doesn't want to be there is never a good thing for the franchise. Feels like you may be the one sleeping on that reality.

Not sure what ship exactly you think I am going down with.  I said that Marks' take on the Sixers was interesting and that not that many others have stated that take.  Vegas has the Sixers at 51.5 wins, 3rd best in the league, well more than the Celtics (just for one point of perspective).

I thought is was an interesting take because it could turn out true if Simmons holds out an extended period of time and they don't trade him.  On the other hand, they could trade him and get someone of the caliber of Beal and be even better off for it.  Even if they got someone like John Wall, and some other pieces, they may not be any worse off.

Or Simmons puts his tail between his legs and comes back and they are about the same as last year, which was pretty good.

What other pieces could come to them with wall that would not make it a massive downgrade for them?

[Moranis]

I don't think anyone is going to sleep on the Celtics.  Most are going to expect us to be in the second tier in the east (Behind MIL, BKN, and maybe PHI).  We don't have the best top end talent but we do have good depth and should be able to survive injuries better than some of the other teams.

And we have flexibility to make changes along the way or bring in players with TPE.  We are in decent shape for what is really a bridge year or a building year (not rebuild, more of a continuation).

I thought what was interesting was his lack of faith in PHI.  That is more of a hot take in my mind.

Well, after your team wins the conference and then the team's franchise player and its coach throws the team's other "superstar" under the bus after a historic and blatant choke, people will talk and talk and talk and talk and so on to infinity.

Don't know it's a hot take when it's been going on for over two months and Hoopshype has 192 entries on the storyline. Latest hot take is an agent speculating BS will hold out.

NBA Rumor: Ben Simmons Trade?
192 rumors in this storyline
https://hoopshype.com/storyline/ben-simmons-trade/

Trading Simmons may make the Sixers better, assuming they get something even close to what they seem to be asking for.  If Simmons just holds out and it lasts the entire season, then yes, of course, it hurts the team.

I just have not seen many predict the Sixers will be as bad as Marks seems to think they will be.  Marks may well be right.  Wouldn't hurt my feelings.

Really going down with the ship on this one eh? A team having their star player potentially hold out, ignore his star teammate's phone calls and have his agent say he doesn't want to be there is never a good thing for the franchise. Feels like you may be the one sleeping on that reality.

Not sure what ship exactly you think I am going down with.  I said that Marks' take on the Sixers was interesting and that not that many others have stated that take.  Vegas has the Sixers at 51.5 wins, 3rd best in the league, well more than the Celtics (just for one point of perspective).

I thought is was an interesting take because it could turn out true if Simmons holds out an extended period of time and they don't trade him.  On the other hand, they could trade him and get someone of the caliber of Beal and be even better off for it.  Even if they got someone like John Wall, and some other pieces, they may not be any worse off.

Or Simmons puts his tail between his legs and comes back and they are about the same as last year, which was pretty good.

What other pieces could come to them with wall that would not make it a massive downgrade for them?

aside from Wood or Green not much, unless you really like Sengun or House.

[footey]

Bobby Marks in yesterday's Lowe Post podcast, said that the Celtics were the team most likely to surprise people.

He predicted the Celtics would finish third in the East, after Brooklyn and Milwaukee.

He LOVES the Celtics bench.  Spoke very highly of them.

Hope he's right!!

[Moranis]

Bobby Marks in yesterday's Lowe Post podcast, said that the Celtics were the team most likely to surprise people.

He predicted the Celtics would finish third in the East, after Brooklyn and Milwaukee.

He LOVES the Celtics bench.  Spoke very highly of them.

Hope he's right!!

I do think Boston has a fair amount of depth so a 3rd place regular season finish isn't out of the realm of possibility, I don't think Boston is the 3rd best team in the East though when everyone is healthy.

[MaxAMillion]

No chance at the top 4. This offense is mediocre (with limited shooting). Tatum and Brown will be forced to do everything on offense. Opponents will pack the paint and let the new guys shoot and miss.

[jambr380]

It'll be the first season the Jays are truly on their own. Like him or not, Kemba was a 20ppg scorer who was truly respected throughout the league and we had had All-Star PGs before him. Al was once a great anchor, but his best years are behind him.

We have killer depth, though, and I am looking forward to seeing how they fit in with this team - as well as how Ime leads this group. We really could surprise a lot of people, or we could end up a lot like last year's team...and that would be a bummer.

[blink]

I don't think anyone is going to sleep on the Celtics.  Most are going to expect us to be in the second tier in the east (Behind MIL, BKN, and maybe PHI).  We don't have the best top end talent but we do have good depth and should be able to survive injuries better than some of the other teams.

And we have flexibility to make changes along the way or bring in players with TPE.  We are in decent shape for what is really a bridge year or a building year (not rebuild, more of a continuation).

I thought what was interesting was his lack of faith in PHI.  That is more of a hot take in my mind.

Well, after your team wins the conference and then the team's franchise player and its coach throws the team's other "superstar" under the bus after a historic and blatant choke, people will talk and talk and talk and talk and so on to infinity.

Don't know it's a hot take when it's been going on for over two months and Hoopshype has 192 entries on the storyline. Latest hot take is an agent speculating BS will hold out.

NBA Rumor: Ben Simmons Trade?
192 rumors in this storyline
https://hoopshype.com/storyline/ben-simmons-trade/

Trading Simmons may make the Sixers better, assuming they get something even close to what they seem to be asking for.  If Simmons just holds out and it lasts the entire season, then yes, of course, it hurts the team.

I just have not seen many predict the Sixers will be as bad as Marks seems to think they will be.  Marks may well be right.  Wouldn't hurt my feelings.

Well I don't think that the 76'ers are going to get what they are asking for.  BS just isn't a good fit for a lot of teams, and he makes a whole lot of money.  The number of teams that fit into that puzzle are very few.   Since his market is so soft, I don't see Philly getting a great haul for him.  If Simmons holds out, the clock is ticking and eventually Philly will cave in just to get something decent.  It is def a lose / lose for the team.  Philly is in a terrible situation.

So my feeling is this whole thing won't make Philly better, especially in the regular season where Simmons has made a much bigger difference.  Simmons sitting the season out or getting traded for a reduced value is going to make Philly worse during the regular season for sure.  Maybe by the second half of the season or the playoffs Philly might have been able to adjust somewhat without Simmons.  I think their playoff seed is going to suffer at least 1 or 2 places with losing Simmons.  He was a good at helping them beat the bad teams in the league.

[Bobshot]

Yeah, I reckon they are flying below the radar.

(1) Schroder signing was huge. They needed another scorer and they got him.
(2) Horford is better than he is getting credit for.
(3) Last year's health crisis & bad bench has made many too low on the talent that was already here.

I have them 3rd in the East ahead of Miami, Philly & Atlanta.

I think Horford will do well back in Boston. He knows the style of play and is a fitness freak. He figures to play younger and will get plenty of minutes up front at 2 or 3 positions.

Robert Williams is getting plenty of ink off-season, but I have my doubts about his knees holding up for much more than 25 mins per night. That means Horford gets more PT.
And then you have backups for Tatum and Brown coming off wrist surgery.

Schroder could be big, but you don't know where he fits in touches. Offense is really about touches these days.

This team has better veteran depth than the one last year, and should be better.

The Lakers and the Nets seem content to cluster expensive stars and then use vet minimums as roster fillers. I don't know if all that age will hold up in a season.

[hwangjini_1]

No chance at the top 4. This offense is mediocre (with limited shooting). Tatum and Brown will be forced to do everything on offense. Opponents will pack the paint and let the new guys shoot and miss.

but if opposing team pack the paint, won't that allow brown and tatum to shoot open shots? that would help the celtics quite a bit it seems.

also, pritchard shot 41% from 3 point land last year. nesmith shot 37% after a very slow start and everyone thinks he will be a very good shooter.

so, packing the paint may not work all that well for other teams.

[Moranis]

With the Sixers situation there are only two teams in the East that are clearly better than Boston on paper and when healthy, especially in the regular season where more balanced teams with good depth can often end up with a record better than they actually are as a team (see the Toronto Raptors for all those years).  So Boston could pretty easily finish as high as the 3rd seed.  I think the 5th or 6th seed is most likely, but they could drop into the play-in game again also.  So I'd say anywhere from 3-8 assuming Tatum plays 70+ games.  If Tatum misses extended time, the team is in trouble.