We have to keep Schroder

[liam]

On Celtics trade talks and potentially giving up Dennis Schroder in a deal:

Boston is very confident in simply switching Josh Richardson to Schroder's on-ball backup PG duties, per a source. Celtics don't feel they have to get back a PG for Schroder.

Keith Smith

Yes, it was noteworthy that even when Smart was out Schroder wasn't always out there to close games.  They went with Richardson-Brown-Tatum and both Williamses, and it wasn't wholly unsuccessful, albeit only in two games, although Tatum was running the offense as opposed to Richardson.  If the C's could exchange Schroder for a shooting wing, that might be a better fit.

I noticed that too.  In total, Richardson has played a total of 25 minutes where he was the PG (no Smart, Pritchard, or Schroder)  for a net plus/minus of +18 in that time.

The specific line up of JRich, Brown, Tatum, RWill, GWill is only 10 min and +1.  Most of the other line ups look like odd ball or garbage time line ups.  For example, there is a line up that includes Hauser, Thompson, and Langford that is +7 in 3 minutes.

Yeah, I've been surprised that JRich hasn't been used more as a point guard.

[Sophomore]

I think that it's important not to overreact to this latest string of games where most of our wins have come against either:

1) dumpster fire bad teams

2) hospital ward good teams

Simply, the team must shoot the 3 better and Dennis doesn't figure to be part of that solution. Against Orlando yesterday, we started two shooters and 3 questionable shooters. Yes, we won by a million points, but does that tell us more about us or Orlando. We also shot 28% from 3. Dennis's 33.8 career FG3% is not horrible, but doesn't get us where we need to be.

This is such a lazy take.  Maybe we shouldn't overreact to losses in November and December when we were a hospital ward good team for 6-8 weeks?  Maybe we should get a win on Christmas for only finishing 4 points behind the Bucks who had their top 6 players all available while we started Romeo, played Pritchard 30 minutes, and had Hernangomez and Parker on the court for a combined 28 minutes?  If the dominating wins of the past two weeks don't count because of "reasons", then the losses shouldn't either.

There is a major difference between not overreacting to wins and not counting wins. I also didn't overreact to losses when we were the "hospital ward" team.

What I react to is that we are the 22nd FG3% and are designed to win by shooting the 3. That is simply not a recipe for success.

I'll just ignore the juvenile part of your criticism.

I think it is fair to put the recent winning in context, just as it was with the earlier losing.  The reference to the 3p% rank is a fair call out.  I have not looked but I suspect that stat has improved recently along with everything else.

Injuries are the most obvious marker or contextual variable.  Clearly, Miami without Butler, and the others is not the same team.  With the Celtics, there was a direct impact from the injuries, good players not on the court on a given night, but also an indirect impact.  The indirect impact is the length of time it seemed to take to get the new coaching scheme engrained with the team and producing results on the court.  We have a new coach and we never really had core team out there together working things out.

We now look better I feel.  The defense has been fine all along but now the Celtics are moving the ball better and moving without the ball with more purpose.  This should lead to better looks and better shooting efficiency.  Overall, I still feel this team has some weaknesses.  Our primary big rotation (Williams, Horford, Grant) is pretty woeful.

MIL is clearly a cut above, looks like they will have enough of their team.  I think MIA also.  PHI and BKN who knows, injury, disfunction.  CLE, CHI, TOR are probably teams we could beat (or at least compete with in the playoffs) if we continue on the current trajectory.  That is about where I see us.

“Our primary big rotation (Williams, Horford, Grant) is pretty woeful.”

Really? The Cs starting 5 with Rob and Al has the best plus-minus in the league, and Rob is plainly an important reason.

[timpiker]

I know trading Schroder and Al and JRich is in the cards but my God, those 3 have contributed a great deal to this team.

[Big333223]

I know trading Schroder and Al and JRich is in the cards but my God, those 3 have contributed a great deal to this team.

With the East as much of a mess as it is and the Celtics now up to #2 in DRtg for the season... I can't stop myself from wondering what might happen if they stand pat and roll into the playoffs with this crew.

[liam]

I know trading Schroder and Al and JRich is in the cards but my God, those 3 have contributed a great deal to this team.

With the East as much of a mess as it is and the Celtics now up to #2 in DRtg for the season... I can't stop myself from wondering what might happen if they stand pat and roll into the playoffs with this crew.

I'd love to see a couple of minor role-player tweaks. Robin Lopez and Ty Jerome would be perfect.

[action781]

I know trading Schroder and Al and JRich is in the cards but my God, those 3 have contributed a great deal to this team.

With the East as much of a mess as it is and the Celtics now up to #2 in DRtg for the season... I can't stop myself from wondering what might happen if they stand pat and roll into the playoffs with this crew.

This is where I'm at right now.  Let's keep this 8 man rotation in tact, hope we stay healthy, and see what happens.