Celtics Regular Season News

[Vermont Green]

Here is some interesting data - Loose balls recovered:


1.   Marcus Smart           66
2.   Stephen Curry           65
2.   Robert Williams III   65
4.   Anthony Edwards       64
5.   LaMelo                      60
5.   VanVleet                   60
7.   Dejounte Murray        59
7.   Siakam                       59
9.   Giannis                     58
9.     Booker                     58

Team is the top rated defense in the NBA.  I can't see how Smart and/or Williams don't make 1st team all-NBA defense.

Smart absolutely will, but a) competition for bigs is tough, and b) voters take a long time to recognize defensive excellence. Smart was the best player on a top defense in his second and fourth seasons, but didn’t get All-Defense until year 5.  Time Lord will get votes this year, but he won’t get second team.  Next year he hopefully will, and conveniently enough for him his extension which kicks in next season gives him a bonus for the honor.

It is hard to quantify defense in terms of stats in basketball so there is always going to be a lot of subjectivity in trying to determine who is the best or most impactful defender.  I see Smart as quite a bit more impactful than RWill.  That is not a knock on RWill, he is great, but Smart is elite.  Stats like blocks and steals just don't tell the whole story.  No particular stat does.  All the on-court off-court stats do help tell a picture but even those don't tell a full picture.

Defense for a PG/Combo guard is also very different than defense for a center/big.  You have to compare Smart to all other combo guards and there are not many all that close.  What Smart does in terms of disruption an offense goes less noticed than when a big swats a block into the stands but what Smart does has a broader impact.

I don't expect RWill to win any all-defense team selections this year and I don't feel that is any slight or oversight.  He is in the discussion, I am thrilled with his improvement this season.  Things could change for him with some good play in the playoffs.  Then he will go into next season more on people's radar and who knows.

In his favor though is that he is the best defensive big on the best defensive team in the league.  That in of itself says something.  There is no doubt that RWill is a top defensive big in the league but there are other good defensive bigs out there who much like RWill, tend to fly somewhat under the radar.  I am actually OK with him staying under the radar for as long as possible.  Let him be our little secret.

[Moranis]

Yeah if they count Williams at center I don't think he makes either All Defense Team as I think those 2 slots go to Gobert and Embiid.

[smokeablount]

I know this is a little hard to read and it is just another way of showing what has been posted in other ways but what I did is look for each team's starting 5-man line up.  I got this by setting minimums for GP and Minutes, then sorted by Net Rating.  Each of these represent what I understand to be the starters (based on quick spot checking).  For some teams, like PHI, it is off as it does not include Harden so it may be the starters prior to recent trades.  Other team like the LAL and BKN are not showing up because their starters have been injured so much and there is not a single line up that meets the criteria that I set.  Widening the filters then catches a whole bunch of non-starting line ups for other teams.

For most of the teams at the top of the list, BOS, MIN, MIL and so on, the 5-man line up is the current expected starters.  PHX for example is a line up of their starters (Paul, Booker, Bridges, Crowder, Ayton) but surprisingly, their Net Rating is not that good.  I am not sure exactly what this tells us but for our starting line up to be on the top of this list is a good thing.  This is a sizable sample size.  Due to trades and injuries, some top teams like PHI, BKN, and maybe LAL are not represented but you can still read a fair amount from this.


        GP   MIN   NETRTG
BOS   27   343   25.3
MIN   27   337   16.5
MIL   29   292    14.1
NOP   22   345   12.8
DEN   30   556   10.9
MIA   24   339   10.4
GSW   29   347   8.2
UTA   37   589    7.3
PHX   32   625    6.6
SAS   25   308    5.4
TOR   18   299   -0.3
ORL   31   370   -0.4
CHA   30   372   -2.3
HOU   24   291   -3.8
WAS   26   319   -5.4
PHI   21   256   -10.6
NYK   24   428   -13.8
DET   20   254   -18.1
OKC   25   254   -18.2

Here's some perspective on how dominant the starting lineup is: lineup data goes back to the 2007-2008 season.  The starters have the best net rating of any lineup with at least 300 minutes since they've tracked this.  Best ever.

Can you post the top 10 or 20 of these line ups or just the team and the year or something?  I am curious if they are recognizable, title contenting types or more just statistical anomalies.  How much does this historically correlate with success?

I'll post the top one each year.

2008 - Celtics starters (won title) - 19.4
2009 - Cleveland -- Lebron, Ben Wallce, Z, Delonte, Mo Williams (#1 seed, conference finals) - 19.4
2010 - Mavs -- Dirk, Kidd, Marion, JET, Dampier (#2 seed, 1st round loss, won title following season swapping Dampier for Chandler) - 18.5
2011 - Celtics starters with Big Baby (#3 seed, 2nd round loss after Wade maimed Rondo) - 18.5
2012 - Suns -- Nash, Grant Hill, Frye, Gortat, Dudley (33-33, missed playoffs) -14.5
2013 - Heat Big 3 with Chalmers and Battier (won title) - 19.2
2014 - Warriors Big 3 + Iggy and Bogut (51-31, 6th seed, dynasty started the following season) - 15.5
2015 - Warriors with Barnes instead of Iggy (won title) - 20.6
2016 - OKC with KD, Russ, Ibaka, Adams, and Roberson (3rd place, conference finals, lost to 73-9 Warriors in 7) - 17.8
2017 - Warriors big 4 with Zaza (won title) - 23.2
2018 - Philly with Embiid, Simmons, Redick, Covington, and Saric (3rd place, lost to C's in 2nd round) - 20.5
2019 - Warriors Big 4 plus Looney (Finals, lost to Toronto after KD and Klay both went down) -- 17.2
2020 - Bucks with Giannis, Middleton, Lopez, Bledsoe, and Matthews (1st place, lost in 2nd round in bubble) - 18.9
2021 - Jazz with Gobert, Conley, Niang, Clarkson, and Ingles (1st place, but oddly Donovan Mitchell is not in this lineup, lost in 2nd round) - 15.0

So in 14 seasons, the best lineup had 4 titles, 1 finals, 2 conference finals.  So that's half the teams with deep playoff runs including titles.  A majority of the teams were the #1 seed.  The two teams with 1st round exits replaced one player in the group and went onto the title the following season.  The only truly mediocre team was the 2011-2012 Suns, in a lockout-shortened year.  They also had the lowest net rating of this group of season leaders, and in many years wouldn't have even finished 2nd (so they are an outlier both in results and in quality).

I'm not sure where this lineup will ultimately end up (it's played only 343 minutes and most of the lineups on this list exceeded 500 minutes together, so they might see a little regression as the sample-size grows), but it will very likely be the best in the league this year with at least 300 minutes. and those teams are some of the best of the recent decade.

I’ve decided I definitely want to bring Al back based on the starting lineup dominance, but I’m worried ownership has other ideas.

[colincb]

Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
about 4 hours ago

NBA plus/minus rankings in 2022 1. Jayson Tatum (+365) 2. Al Horford (+259) Brad Stevens' crucial offseason bet on the veteran big man has gone better than most could have imagined

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/03/celtics-trade-for-al-horford-looks-like-brad-stevens-savviest-move-amid-bostons-rise-to-contender-brian-robb.html

Average Al !!!

[Roy H.]

I know this is a little hard to read and it is just another way of showing what has been posted in other ways but what I did is look for each team's starting 5-man line up.  I got this by setting minimums for GP and Minutes, then sorted by Net Rating.  Each of these represent what I understand to be the starters (based on quick spot checking).  For some teams, like PHI, it is off as it does not include Harden so it may be the starters prior to recent trades.  Other team like the LAL and BKN are not showing up because their starters have been injured so much and there is not a single line up that meets the criteria that I set.  Widening the filters then catches a whole bunch of non-starting line ups for other teams.

For most of the teams at the top of the list, BOS, MIN, MIL and so on, the 5-man line up is the current expected starters.  PHX for example is a line up of their starters (Paul, Booker, Bridges, Crowder, Ayton) but surprisingly, their Net Rating is not that good.  I am not sure exactly what this tells us but for our starting line up to be on the top of this list is a good thing.  This is a sizable sample size.  Due to trades and injuries, some top teams like PHI, BKN, and maybe LAL are not represented but you can still read a fair amount from this.


        GP   MIN   NETRTG
BOS   27   343   25.3
MIN   27   337   16.5
MIL   29   292    14.1
NOP   22   345   12.8
DEN   30   556   10.9
MIA   24   339   10.4
GSW   29   347   8.2
UTA   37   589    7.3
PHX   32   625    6.6
SAS   25   308    5.4
TOR   18   299   -0.3
ORL   31   370   -0.4
CHA   30   372   -2.3
HOU   24   291   -3.8
WAS   26   319   -5.4
PHI   21   256   -10.6
NYK   24   428   -13.8
DET   20   254   -18.1
OKC   25   254   -18.2

Here's some perspective on how dominant the starting lineup is: lineup data goes back to the 2007-2008 season.  The starters have the best net rating of any lineup with at least 300 minutes since they've tracked this.  Best ever.

Can you post the top 10 or 20 of these line ups or just the team and the year or something?  I am curious if they are recognizable, title contenting types or more just statistical anomalies.  How much does this historically correlate with success?

I'll post the top one each year.

2008 - Celtics starters (won title) - 19.4
2009 - Cleveland -- Lebron, Ben Wallce, Z, Delonte, Mo Williams (#1 seed, conference finals) - 19.4
2010 - Mavs -- Dirk, Kidd, Marion, JET, Dampier (#2 seed, 1st round loss, won title following season swapping Dampier for Chandler) - 18.5
2011 - Celtics starters with Big Baby (#3 seed, 2nd round loss after Wade maimed Rondo) - 18.5
2012 - Suns -- Nash, Grant Hill, Frye, Gortat, Dudley (33-33, missed playoffs) -14.5
2013 - Heat Big 3 with Chalmers and Battier (won title) - 19.2
2014 - Warriors Big 3 + Iggy and Bogut (51-31, 6th seed, dynasty started the following season) - 15.5
2015 - Warriors with Barnes instead of Iggy (won title) - 20.6
2016 - OKC with KD, Russ, Ibaka, Adams, and Roberson (3rd place, conference finals, lost to 73-9 Warriors in 7) - 17.8
2017 - Warriors big 4 with Zaza (won title) - 23.2
2018 - Philly with Embiid, Simmons, Redick, Covington, and Saric (3rd place, lost to C's in 2nd round) - 20.5
2019 - Warriors Big 4 plus Looney (Finals, lost to Toronto after KD and Klay both went down) -- 17.2
2020 - Bucks with Giannis, Middleton, Lopez, Bledsoe, and Matthews (1st place, lost in 2nd round in bubble) - 18.9
2021 - Jazz with Gobert, Conley, Niang, Clarkson, and Ingles (1st place, but oddly Donovan Mitchell is not in this lineup, lost in 2nd round) - 15.0

So in 14 seasons, the best lineup had 4 titles, 1 finals, 2 conference finals.  So that's half the teams with deep playoff runs including titles.  A majority of the teams were the #1 seed.  The two teams with 1st round exits replaced one player in the group and went onto the title the following season.  The only truly mediocre team was the 2011-2012 Suns, in a lockout-shortened year.  They also had the lowest net rating of this group of season leaders, and in many years wouldn't have even finished 2nd (so they are an outlier both in results and in quality).

I'm not sure where this lineup will ultimately end up (it's played only 343 minutes and most of the lineups on this list exceeded 500 minutes together, so they might see a little regression as the sample-size grows), but it will very likely be the best in the league this year with at least 300 minutes. and those teams are some of the best of the recent decade.

I’ve decided I definitely want to bring Al back based on the starting lineup dominance, but I’m worried ownership has other ideas.

Apparently we owe him the same amount (against the cap / tax) if we cut him pre-season or in early January.

So, unless we get good value in trade, doesn't it make sense to play him the first couple of months?  Then, we cut him in January and sign him to a slightly-above-minimum contract (say, $3 million for the remainder of the season).  We keep Horford, we keep his Bird rights, and we save a ton of money.

[otherdave]

I fear the Big Al may be playing himself out the the great scenario that Roy H is suggesting.  Al is playing so well, that if you waive him (either prior to next season or early January 2023), some other team may be willing to pay him more than the 3 million you suggest Roy.

I feel like if the C's get knocked out of playoffs in 1st rd, the path forward might be to waive and stretch Al.

If the C's make a deep playoff run, they may have to pay Al the full 26.5 million.

Of course, I am hoping that we have a duck boat parade and the decision is then made for us (Al's contract becomes fully guaranteed)

[Celtics2021]

I know this is a little hard to read and it is just another way of showing what has been posted in other ways but what I did is look for each team's starting 5-man line up.  I got this by setting minimums for GP and Minutes, then sorted by Net Rating.  Each of these represent what I understand to be the starters (based on quick spot checking).  For some teams, like PHI, it is off as it does not include Harden so it may be the starters prior to recent trades.  Other team like the LAL and BKN are not showing up because their starters have been injured so much and there is not a single line up that meets the criteria that I set.  Widening the filters then catches a whole bunch of non-starting line ups for other teams.

For most of the teams at the top of the list, BOS, MIN, MIL and so on, the 5-man line up is the current expected starters.  PHX for example is a line up of their starters (Paul, Booker, Bridges, Crowder, Ayton) but surprisingly, their Net Rating is not that good.  I am not sure exactly what this tells us but for our starting line up to be on the top of this list is a good thing.  This is a sizable sample size.  Due to trades and injuries, some top teams like PHI, BKN, and maybe LAL are not represented but you can still read a fair amount from this.


        GP   MIN   NETRTG
BOS   27   343   25.3
MIN   27   337   16.5
MIL   29   292    14.1
NOP   22   345   12.8
DEN   30   556   10.9
MIA   24   339   10.4
GSW   29   347   8.2
UTA   37   589    7.3
PHX   32   625    6.6
SAS   25   308    5.4
TOR   18   299   -0.3
ORL   31   370   -0.4
CHA   30   372   -2.3
HOU   24   291   -3.8
WAS   26   319   -5.4
PHI   21   256   -10.6
NYK   24   428   -13.8
DET   20   254   -18.1
OKC   25   254   -18.2

Here's some perspective on how dominant the starting lineup is: lineup data goes back to the 2007-2008 season.  The starters have the best net rating of any lineup with at least 300 minutes since they've tracked this.  Best ever.

Can you post the top 10 or 20 of these line ups or just the team and the year or something?  I am curious if they are recognizable, title contenting types or more just statistical anomalies.  How much does this historically correlate with success?

I'll post the top one each year.

2008 - Celtics starters (won title) - 19.4
2009 - Cleveland -- Lebron, Ben Wallce, Z, Delonte, Mo Williams (#1 seed, conference finals) - 19.4
2010 - Mavs -- Dirk, Kidd, Marion, JET, Dampier (#2 seed, 1st round loss, won title following season swapping Dampier for Chandler) - 18.5
2011 - Celtics starters with Big Baby (#3 seed, 2nd round loss after Wade maimed Rondo) - 18.5
2012 - Suns -- Nash, Grant Hill, Frye, Gortat, Dudley (33-33, missed playoffs) -14.5
2013 - Heat Big 3 with Chalmers and Battier (won title) - 19.2
2014 - Warriors Big 3 + Iggy and Bogut (51-31, 6th seed, dynasty started the following season) - 15.5
2015 - Warriors with Barnes instead of Iggy (won title) - 20.6
2016 - OKC with KD, Russ, Ibaka, Adams, and Roberson (3rd place, conference finals, lost to 73-9 Warriors in 7) - 17.8
2017 - Warriors big 4 with Zaza (won title) - 23.2
2018 - Philly with Embiid, Simmons, Redick, Covington, and Saric (3rd place, lost to C's in 2nd round) - 20.5
2019 - Warriors Big 4 plus Looney (Finals, lost to Toronto after KD and Klay both went down) -- 17.2
2020 - Bucks with Giannis, Middleton, Lopez, Bledsoe, and Matthews (1st place, lost in 2nd round in bubble) - 18.9
2021 - Jazz with Gobert, Conley, Niang, Clarkson, and Ingles (1st place, but oddly Donovan Mitchell is not in this lineup, lost in 2nd round) - 15.0

So in 14 seasons, the best lineup had 4 titles, 1 finals, 2 conference finals.  So that's half the teams with deep playoff runs including titles.  A majority of the teams were the #1 seed.  The two teams with 1st round exits replaced one player in the group and went onto the title the following season.  The only truly mediocre team was the 2011-2012 Suns, in a lockout-shortened year.  They also had the lowest net rating of this group of season leaders, and in many years wouldn't have even finished 2nd (so they are an outlier both in results and in quality).

I'm not sure where this lineup will ultimately end up (it's played only 343 minutes and most of the lineups on this list exceeded 500 minutes together, so they might see a little regression as the sample-size grows), but it will very likely be the best in the league this year with at least 300 minutes. and those teams are some of the best of the recent decade.

I’ve decided I definitely want to bring Al back based on the starting lineup dominance, but I’m worried ownership has other ideas.

Apparently we owe him the same amount (against the cap / tax) if we cut him pre-season or in early January.

So, unless we get good value in trade, doesn't it make sense to play him the first couple of months?  Then, we cut him in January and sign him to a slightly-above-minimum contract (say, $3 million for the remainder of the season).  We keep Horford, we keep his Bird rights, and we save a ton of money.

I think making that kind of move would offend Al and he’d leave.  He’d have 29 other teams calling him, some of who would probably have a pro-rated portion of an MLE left.

The only way I can see it working is if Al agreed to it far in advance.  Like for example, over the summer Al and the team agree that they’ll release him and resign him to something less so the team has room to make another move, but they have reason to believe Detroit will claim him off waivers and give him the John Wall treatment.  So they have a mutual reason to wait to do this for a few months so that Detroit’s cap space will be used.  But out of the blue because Wyc wants to save money?  No way would he re-sign.

[gouki88]

Jayson Tatum in our last 20 games, where we've gone 17-3: 30.1PPG, 7.4RPG, 5.0APG, 1.0SPG, 0.5BPG, 49.8% from the field, 39.2% from 3, 87.3% from the FT line, all done in 35MPG.

Smart over that same period has shooting splits of 46.4/36.6/78.0, which is pretty amazing for what he usually does. Horford has been shooting 40% from three over that same period too, having finally found his shot. Williams has averaged a double-double with 2.5 blocks, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals - shooting 82% from the free throw line!

We are witnessing an awesome run of form right now.

[Vermont Green]

I am starting to feel like we are another PHX or UTA.  We have a very balanced team but not really that elite super star.  Teams like PHI, MIL, and BNK have superstars (at least one), Embiid, Harden, Giannis, Durant while BOS, PHX, and UTA have stars, Tatum, Booker, Mitchell/Gobert. I feel like for sure, as a regular season team, we are right there with PHX, UTA or anyone.  Our overall record is not quite there but for a while we have been playing as well or better.

Actually, most of these teams have two stars, Embiid/Harden, Durant/Irving, Booker/Paul, Mitchell/Gobert.  I don't consider either Holiday or Middleton to be stars, but they are both really good.  Not sure Brown is quite there for the Celtics.  It will be interesting to see how the teams with stars but not quite superstars hold up to the teams with one or even two super stars in the playoffs.

[nickagneta]

I am starting to feel like we are another PHX or UTA.  We have a very balanced team but not really that elite super star.  Teams like PHI, MIL, and BNK have superstars (at least one), Embiid, Harden, Giannis, Durant while BOS, PHX, and UTA have stars, Tatum, Booker, Mitchell/Gobert. I feel like for sure, as a regular season team, we are right there with PHX, UTA or anyone.  Our overall record is not quite there but for a while we have been playing as well or better.

Actually, most of these teams have two stars, Embiid/Harden, Durant/Irving, Booker/Paul, Mitchell/Gobert.  I don't consider either Holiday or Middleton to be stars, but they are both really good.  Not sure Brown is quite there for the Celtics.  It will be interesting to see how the teams with stars but not quite superstars hold up to the teams with one or even two super stars in the playoffs.

I believe Tatum has ascended into superstardom. I think that elevates Boston to contender. And I think the starting lineup's dominance makes up for Brown not yet reaching superstardom.

I BELIEVE!

[Goldstar88]

I am starting to feel like we are another PHX or UTA.  We have a very balanced team but not really that elite super star.  Teams like PHI, MIL, and BNK have superstars (at least one), Embiid, Harden, Giannis, Durant while BOS, PHX, and UTA have stars, Tatum, Booker, Mitchell/Gobert. I feel like for sure, as a regular season team, we are right there with PHX, UTA or anyone.  Our overall record is not quite there but for a while we have been playing as well or better.

Actually, most of these teams have two stars, Embiid/Harden, Durant/Irving, Booker/Paul, Mitchell/Gobert.  I don't consider either Holiday or Middleton to be stars, but they are both really good.  Not sure Brown is quite there for the Celtics.  It will be interesting to see how the teams with stars but not quite superstars hold up to the teams with one or even two super stars in the playoffs.

Tatum is a top 10 player. He’s better than anyone on Utah or Phoenix by a significant margin.

[sgrogan]

I am starting to feel like we are another PHX or UTA.  We have a very balanced team but not really that elite super star.  Teams like PHI, MIL, and BNK have superstars (at least one), Embiid, Harden, Giannis, Durant while BOS, PHX, and UTA have stars, Tatum, Booker, Mitchell/Gobert. I feel like for sure, as a regular season team, we are right there with PHX, UTA or anyone.  Our overall record is not quite there but for a while we have been playing as well or better.

Actually, most of these teams have two stars, Embiid/Harden, Durant/Irving, Booker/Paul, Mitchell/Gobert.  I don't consider either Holiday or Middleton to be stars, but they are both really good.  Not sure Brown is quite there for the Celtics.  It will be interesting to see how the teams with stars but not quite superstars hold up to the teams with one or even two super stars in the playoffs.

I believe Tatum has ascended into superstardom. I think that elevates Boston to contender. And I think the starting lineup's dominance makes up for Brown not yet reaching superstardom.

I BELIEVE!

I appreciate the optimism!
I think Tatum becomes Top 5/10 when the refs start treating him this way.
I thought this was going to happen after the Olypics, Durants comments etc.
It hasn't worked that way yet, but I still think it's coming. Unfortunately I think in the NBA the reputation matters.

[Celtics2021]

I am starting to feel like we are another PHX or UTA.  We have a very balanced team but not really that elite super star.  Teams like PHI, MIL, and BNK have superstars (at least one), Embiid, Harden, Giannis, Durant while BOS, PHX, and UTA have stars, Tatum, Booker, Mitchell/Gobert. I feel like for sure, as a regular season team, we are right there with PHX, UTA or anyone.  Our overall record is not quite there but for a while we have been playing as well or better.

Actually, most of these teams have two stars, Embiid/Harden, Durant/Irving, Booker/Paul, Mitchell/Gobert.  I don't consider either Holiday or Middleton to be stars, but they are both really good.  Not sure Brown is quite there for the Celtics.  It will be interesting to see how the teams with stars but not quite superstars hold up to the teams with one or even two super stars in the playoffs.

Tatum is a top 10 player. He’s better than anyone on Utah or Phoenix by a significant margin.

Clutch stats are a bit wobbly of a stat, but Devin Booker and Chris Paul are two of the best clutch performers.  I’d take Tatum, but their dominance in those situations narrows the gap considerably.  I do absolutely agree that Tatum is a top 10 player tho.   In consecutive games he outdueled Trae Young, Ja Morant, and KD, the first toe of those with his running mate Brown down with an injury.  That’s what superstars do.  Anything less than 2nd-team All-NBA would be an injustice this season.

[Goldstar88]

I am starting to feel like we are another PHX or UTA.  We have a very balanced team but not really that elite super star.  Teams like PHI, MIL, and BNK have superstars (at least one), Embiid, Harden, Giannis, Durant while BOS, PHX, and UTA have stars, Tatum, Booker, Mitchell/Gobert. I feel like for sure, as a regular season team, we are right there with PHX, UTA or anyone.  Our overall record is not quite there but for a while we have been playing as well or better.

Actually, most of these teams have two stars, Embiid/Harden, Durant/Irving, Booker/Paul, Mitchell/Gobert.  I don't consider either Holiday or Middleton to be stars, but they are both really good.  Not sure Brown is quite there for the Celtics.  It will be interesting to see how the teams with stars but not quite superstars hold up to the teams with one or even two super stars in the playoffs.

Tatum is a top 10 player. He’s better than anyone on Utah or Phoenix by a significant margin.

Clutch stats are a bit wobbly of a stat, but Devin Booker and Chris Paul are two of the best clutch performers.  I’d take Tatum, but their dominance in those situations narrows the gap considerably.  I do absolutely agree that Tatum is a top 10 player tho.   In consecutive games he outdueled Trae Young, Ja Morant, and KD, the first toe of those with his running mate Brown down with an injury.  That’s what superstars do.  Anything less than 2nd-team All-NBA would be an injustice this season.

Tatum is clutch as well and an elite defender. He can guard 1-4. Booker is not a good defender and CP3 is average at this stage of his career.

[Vermont Green]

I agree that Tatum is better than Booker And Mitchell.  It is to be seen if he is in the Durant league yet. In my mind probably still closer to Booker than Durant. But gaining ground on Durant all the time.