Celtics Regular Season News

[nickagneta]

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP about 31 minutes ago

The Celtics now have a 45% chance to reach the Finals according to @FiveThirtyEight. The most likely NBA Finals matchups as of March 24.. Boston-Phoenix 18% Boston-Denver 10% Milwaukee-Phoenix 9% Boston-Memphis 6% Milwaukee-Denver 6% Miami-Phoenix 6% Phoenix-Philadelphia 4%.

Seems high, but no longer ridiculous.

No Brooklyn?  makes me feel a bit happier inside

They're still only +450 so the wiseguys still think highly of them

PHX +250
BKN +450
GSW +650
MIL +650
PHI +590
BOS +1100
MIA +1100

I suspect Boston to be +500 by the end of the regular season. At +1100, it's still a good yield to what it will be later

[Goldstar88]

So was Brad not using him as a point guard? 

“My whole career, I’ve been a point guard,” Smart said. “Went to college as a point guard, got drafted as a point guard and to be actually used as a point guard, I can say that’s just where it’s at. I’m finally in the right position and it fits me and it also helps this team. … So it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, something I’ll continue to do.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/03/celtics-notebook-jaylen-brown-says-jayson-tatum-stole-his-celebration-marcus-smart-thriving-as-point-guard.html%3foutputType=amp

[Celtics2021]

So was Brad not using him as a point guard? 

“My whole career, I’ve been a point guard,” Smart said. “Went to college as a point guard, got drafted as a point guard and to be actually used as a point guard, I can say that’s just where it’s at. I’m finally in the right position and it fits me and it also helps this team. … So it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, something I’ll continue to do.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/03/celtics-notebook-jaylen-brown-says-jayson-tatum-stole-his-celebration-marcus-smart-thriving-as-point-guard.html%3foutputType=amp

Not primarily, no.

When Smart was drafted, Rondo was on the team.  He was traded in December, but then 6 weeks later IT came.  IT was here for 2.5 seasons, then it was Kyrie.  After Kyrie left, it was Kemba.  And Rozier was in the rotation for the last IT season and the Kyrie era as well.

This year, Smart has been the PG since day 1, and it’s been his primary position, as opposed to a role he steps into when someone else is out or for a handful minutes a game.

[#1P4P]

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP about 31 minutes ago

The Celtics now have a 45% chance to reach the Finals according to @FiveThirtyEight. The most likely NBA Finals matchups as of March 24.. Boston-Phoenix 18% Boston-Denver 10% Milwaukee-Phoenix 9% Boston-Memphis 6% Milwaukee-Denver 6% Miami-Phoenix 6% Phoenix-Philadelphia 4%.

Seems high, but no longer ridiculous.

No Brooklyn?  makes me feel a bit happier inside

They're still only +450 so the wiseguys still think highly of them

PHX +250
BKN +450
GSW +650
MIL +650
PHI +590
BOS +1100
MIA +1100

I suspect Boston to be +500 by the end of the regular season. At +1100, it's still a good yield to what it will be later

Wow!

The Celtics were +1600 earlier in the season. I’m surprised that Vegas still has us in the 11 to 1 range. I like our chances against every team especially in the playoffs. Nothing travels better than an elite defense, our personnel can play big or small at an elite level, Tatum, Brown, Smart, Horford, and Theis have proven in multiple playoffs for several rounds that their gameplay is consistent, and the one question that remains is “how good we are at closing games against the best teams?”

No more picking on Kemba, Kyrie cratering the offense due to distrusting his teammates, and Tatum’s inexperience limiting him late. Again, I like our chances and respect the Bucks and Suns as last season’s Champions, finalist, and GSW as former Champions with Curry, Klay, Draymond, and a younger supporting cast.

I think the Nets are a force to be reckoned with, Durant is one of the 2 best players in the league, but with Simmons out with a herniated disk, Durant becoming injury prone, that team being thin, and an iso-heavy offense the playoffs are going to get tougher as they go.

[Goldstar88]

So was Brad not using him as a point guard? 

“My whole career, I’ve been a point guard,” Smart said. “Went to college as a point guard, got drafted as a point guard and to be actually used as a point guard, I can say that’s just where it’s at. I’m finally in the right position and it fits me and it also helps this team. … So it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, something I’ll continue to do.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/03/celtics-notebook-jaylen-brown-says-jayson-tatum-stole-his-celebration-marcus-smart-thriving-as-point-guard.html%3foutputType=amp

Not primarily, no.

When Smart was drafted, Rondo was on the team.  He was traded in December, but then 6 weeks later IT came.  IT was here for 2.5 seasons, then it was Kyrie.  After Kyrie left, it was Kemba.  And Rozier was in the rotation for the last IT season and the Kyrie era as well.

This year, Smart has been the PG since day 1, and it’s been his primary position, as opposed to a role he steps into when someone else is out or for a handful minutes a game.

Other than Rondo, none of those guys look to pass first, though. Guess starting with Jaylen the roles are more defined.

[Celtics2021]

So was Brad not using him as a point guard? 

“My whole career, I’ve been a point guard,” Smart said. “Went to college as a point guard, got drafted as a point guard and to be actually used as a point guard, I can say that’s just where it’s at. I’m finally in the right position and it fits me and it also helps this team. … So it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, something I’ll continue to do.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/03/celtics-notebook-jaylen-brown-says-jayson-tatum-stole-his-celebration-marcus-smart-thriving-as-point-guard.html%3foutputType=amp

Not primarily, no.

When Smart was drafted, Rondo was on the team.  He was traded in December, but then 6 weeks later IT came.  IT was here for 2.5 seasons, then it was Kyrie.  After Kyrie left, it was Kemba.  And Rozier was in the rotation for the last IT season and the Kyrie era as well.

This year, Smart has been the PG since day 1, and it’s been his primary position, as opposed to a role he steps into when someone else is out or for a handful minutes a game.

Other than Rondo, none of those guys look to pass first, though. Guess starting with Jaylen the roles are more defined.

Right, but that's not the point.  The point is that Smart's role has changed relative to when Brad was coaching, in large part because the personnel on the team has changed.  And he's now flourishing in this role that he's always said he's wanted.

[Goldstar88]

So was Brad not using him as a point guard? 

“My whole career, I’ve been a point guard,” Smart said. “Went to college as a point guard, got drafted as a point guard and to be actually used as a point guard, I can say that’s just where it’s at. I’m finally in the right position and it fits me and it also helps this team. … So it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, something I’ll continue to do.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/03/celtics-notebook-jaylen-brown-says-jayson-tatum-stole-his-celebration-marcus-smart-thriving-as-point-guard.html%3foutputType=amp

Not primarily, no.

When Smart was drafted, Rondo was on the team.  He was traded in December, but then 6 weeks later IT came.  IT was here for 2.5 seasons, then it was Kyrie.  After Kyrie left, it was Kemba.  And Rozier was in the rotation for the last IT season and the Kyrie era as well.

This year, Smart has been the PG since day 1, and it’s been his primary position, as opposed to a role he steps into when someone else is out or for a handful minutes a game.

Other than Rondo, none of those guys look to pass first, though. Guess starting with Jaylen the roles are more defined.

Right, but that's not the point.  The point is that Smart's role has changed relative to when Brad was coaching, in large part because the personnel on the team has changed.  And he's now flourishing in this role that he's always said he's wanted.

So if he was playing with other guards that would rather shoot more, why couldn’t Smart have played the point with those other guys? Maybe it was Brad or maybe Marcus wasn’t ready. Even going into this season and for a good portion of the first half of the year, many thought that Schroder was more of a pure point guard and should start. I think it has less to do with personnel and more to do with Marcus developing into a player that was capable of running the offense.

[Celtics2021]

So was Brad not using him as a point guard? 

“My whole career, I’ve been a point guard,” Smart said. “Went to college as a point guard, got drafted as a point guard and to be actually used as a point guard, I can say that’s just where it’s at. I’m finally in the right position and it fits me and it also helps this team. … So it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, something I’ll continue to do.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/03/celtics-notebook-jaylen-brown-says-jayson-tatum-stole-his-celebration-marcus-smart-thriving-as-point-guard.html%3foutputType=amp

Not primarily, no.

When Smart was drafted, Rondo was on the team.  He was traded in December, but then 6 weeks later IT came.  IT was here for 2.5 seasons, then it was Kyrie.  After Kyrie left, it was Kemba.  And Rozier was in the rotation for the last IT season and the Kyrie era as well.

This year, Smart has been the PG since day 1, and it’s been his primary position, as opposed to a role he steps into when someone else is out or for a handful minutes a game.

Other than Rondo, none of those guys look to pass first, though. Guess starting with Jaylen the roles are more defined.

Right, but that's not the point.  The point is that Smart's role has changed relative to when Brad was coaching, in large part because the personnel on the team has changed.  And he's now flourishing in this role that he's always said he's wanted.

So if he was playing with other guards that would rather shoot more, why couldn’t Smart have played the point with those other guys? Maybe it was Brad or maybe Marcus wasn’t ready. Even going into this season and for a good portion of the first half of the year, many thought that Schroder was more of a pure point guard and should start. I think it has less to do with personnel and more to do with Marcus developing into a player that was capable of running the offense.

Are you seriously suggesting that IT, Kyrie, and Kemba shouldn’t be point guards because they shoot more?  And just because some fans here thought that Schröder should be the PG over Smart, doesn’t mean that was actually an opinion that a basketball professional would have held, as evidenced by the fact that Schröder was in fact the backup and then traded away.

[td450]

So was Brad not using him as a point guard? 

“My whole career, I’ve been a point guard,” Smart said. “Went to college as a point guard, got drafted as a point guard and to be actually used as a point guard, I can say that’s just where it’s at. I’m finally in the right position and it fits me and it also helps this team. … So it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, something I’ll continue to do.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/03/celtics-notebook-jaylen-brown-says-jayson-tatum-stole-his-celebration-marcus-smart-thriving-as-point-guard.html%3foutputType=amp

Not primarily, no.

When Smart was drafted, Rondo was on the team.  He was traded in December, but then 6 weeks later IT came.  IT was here for 2.5 seasons, then it was Kyrie.  After Kyrie left, it was Kemba.  And Rozier was in the rotation for the last IT season and the Kyrie era as well.

This year, Smart has been the PG since day 1, and it’s been his primary position, as opposed to a role he steps into when someone else is out or for a handful minutes a game.

Other than Rondo, none of those guys look to pass first, though. Guess starting with Jaylen the roles are more defined.

Right, but that's not the point.  The point is that Smart's role has changed relative to when Brad was coaching, in large part because the personnel on the team has changed.  And he's now flourishing in this role that he's always said he's wanted.

So if he was playing with other guards that would rather shoot more, why couldn’t Smart have played the point with those other guys? Maybe it was Brad or maybe Marcus wasn’t ready. Even going into this season and for a good portion of the first half of the year, many thought that Schroder was more of a pure point guard and should start. I think it has less to do with personnel and more to do with Marcus developing into a player that was capable of running the offense.

Are you seriously suggesting that IT, Kyrie, and Kemba shouldn’t be point guards because they shoot more?  And just because some fans here thought that Schröder should be the PG over Smart, doesn’t mean that was actually an opinion that a basketball professional would have held, as evidenced by the fact that Schröder was in fact the backup and then traded away.

You can define positions any way you want. Smart's role on the team hasn't changed much. IT, Kyrie, Kemba and Schröder were all are scorers who play point on defense. Smart handled the ball roughly the same amount he does now.

There are a lot of different ways to play point guard in the NBA. Smart isn't handling the ball more. The current starters all have some playmaking role, which definitely wasn't true in the last few years.

If it makes Smart feel good to be called the point guard, then great, but the problem was those scoring point guards, plus Tatum and Smart, dominated the ball and it didn't move much. When we shed the last of that breed of point (Schröder) and got Smart and Tatum to trust ball flow and cutting to break the defense instead of trying to do it with iso moves all the time, boom... everything came together.

[Goldstar88]

Some interesting pieces from today’s interview with  Brad Stevens on 98.5.
https://985thesportshub.com/podcasts/toucher-rich/

He was asked what you look for in college players that you think can make it in the pros. Brad basically said that the first thing you look at is athleticism. Do they have the minimum amount athletic ability to even step on the court. Said that’s a huge part of it.

Brad mentioned that when you assess players they must have a super special skill and be able to guard at least their own position. Said to get on the court with the C’s current group, you better be able to guard 3 or 4 positions if you are going to play significant minutes. Also said that college players that may be able to do a little bit of everything in college won’t be able to do any of those things well in the NBA, but a guy that can’t do a lot of different things, but can really shoot and defend multiple positions can fit right in.

[Goldstar88]

So was Brad not using him as a point guard? 

“My whole career, I’ve been a point guard,” Smart said. “Went to college as a point guard, got drafted as a point guard and to be actually used as a point guard, I can say that’s just where it’s at. I’m finally in the right position and it fits me and it also helps this team. … So it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, something I’ll continue to do.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/03/celtics-notebook-jaylen-brown-says-jayson-tatum-stole-his-celebration-marcus-smart-thriving-as-point-guard.html%3foutputType=amp

Not primarily, no.

When Smart was drafted, Rondo was on the team.  He was traded in December, but then 6 weeks later IT came.  IT was here for 2.5 seasons, then it was Kyrie.  After Kyrie left, it was Kemba.  And Rozier was in the rotation for the last IT season and the Kyrie era as well.

This year, Smart has been the PG since day 1, and it’s been his primary position, as opposed to a role he steps into when someone else is out or for a handful minutes a game.

Other than Rondo, none of those guys look to pass first, though. Guess starting with Jaylen the roles are more defined.

Right, but that's not the point.  The point is that Smart's role has changed relative to when Brad was coaching, in large part because the personnel on the team has changed.  And he's now flourishing in this role that he's always said he's wanted.

So if he was playing with other guards that would rather shoot more, why couldn’t Smart have played the point with those other guys? Maybe it was Brad or maybe Marcus wasn’t ready. Even going into this season and for a good portion of the first half of the year, many thought that Schroder was more of a pure point guard and should start. I think it has less to do with personnel and more to do with Marcus developing into a player that was capable of running the offense.

Are you seriously suggesting that IT, Kyrie, and Kemba shouldn’t be point guards because they shoot more?  And just because some fans here thought that Schröder should be the PG over Smart, doesn’t mean that was actually an opinion that a basketball professional would have held, as evidenced by the fact that Schröder was in fact the backup and then traded away.

I’m suggesting that if Smart was ready and a better fit at point on those teams, then he would have had the ball in his hands more. Especially when the other combo guards he was playing with were looking to score first. Regarding Schroder, did an actual basketball professional tell you that Schroder was never going to start over Smart? hindsight is 20/20. If they knew he wasn’t going to be a good fit, they wouldn’t have brought him in.

[Goldstar88]

Sorry, Rob. You might not love the nickname, but it has officially stuck.


Gobert, Time Lord, Thybulle ... VanVleet? The new metrics that show the NBA's elite defenders.

We know Rudy Gobert is an elite defender, but Fred VanVleet? Here's why the numbers say he and others are just as worthy of consideration.


https://www.espn.com/nba/

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/33584857/the-new-advanced-metrics-show-on-nba-all-defense-teams-2021-22

[umpacu]

Sorry, Rob. You might not love the nickname, but it has officially stuck.


Gobert, Time Lord, Thybulle ... VanVleet? The new metrics that show the NBA's elite defenders.

We know Rudy Gobert is an elite defender, but Fred VanVleet? Here's why the numbers say he and others are just as worthy of consideration.


https://www.espn.com/nba/

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/33584857/the-new-advanced-metrics-show-on-nba-all-defense-teams-2021-22

I think he might have come around on Timelord though. During one of the breaks in last game, a clip in the jumbotron showed players being asked what name would they give to a yacht if they own one, and Rob said "Timelord or Lord of time". That's pretty cool.

[SHAQATTACK]

Sorry, Rob. You might not love the nickname, but it has officially stuck.


Gobert, Time Lord, Thybulle ... VanVleet? The new metrics that show the NBA's elite defenders.

We know Rudy Gobert is an elite defender, but Fred VanVleet? Here's why the numbers say he and others are just as worthy of consideration.


https://www.espn.com/nba/

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/33584857/the-new-advanced-metrics-show-on-nba-all-defense-teams-2021-22

I think he might have come around on Timelord though. During one of the breaks in last game, a clip in the jumbotron showed players being asked what name would they give to a yacht if they own one, and Rob said "Timelord or Lord of time". That's pretty cool.

Maybe , I’ll christen  my 1972 Ford Pinto  Timelord II …LOL 

[Goldstar88]

Gotta love the shoutout from 2-3 minute mark and the shade thrown on the Miami Heat. #Bleedgreen

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlHpeHFnl70