Pistons (18-48) at Celtics (40-27) Game #68 3/11/22

[hpantazo]

Next game will be a humdinger 


And KG’s retirement party

Love the use of 'humdinger'! Tommy would have been proud.

[Surferdad]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

[Celtics2021]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

Theis probably won’t even play in the playoffs most nights.  There are two days between most games and Udoka will go with an 8-man rotation.  Theis improving is a luxury, not a need.

It’s also worth noting he’s played only 96 minutes in the last two months, and is likely out of rhythm.

[SHAQATTACK]

Next game will be a humdinger 


And KG’s retirement party

Love the use of 'humdinger'! Tommy would have been proud.

That’s from my dad ,  he was a huge Tommy fan .

[Surferdad]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

Theis probably won’t even play in the playoffs most nights.  There are two days between most games and Udoka will go with an 8-man rotation.  Theis improving is a luxury, not a need.

It’s also worth noting he’s played only 96 minutes in the last two months, and is likely out of rhythm.

You mean White, G-Will and Pritchard are 6,7,8? My point is that that is not enough frontcourt 4/5. Horford is playing too many minutes right now, not sustainable through the playoffs.  Grant is playing well currently as a wing.

[Celtics2021]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

Theis probably won’t even play in the playoffs most nights.  There are two days between most games and Udoka will go with an 8-man rotation.  Theis improving is a luxury, not a need.

It’s also worth noting he’s played only 96 minutes in the last two months, and is likely out of rhythm.

You mean White, G-Will and Pritchard are 6,7,8? My point is that that is not enough frontcourt 4/5. Horford is playing too many minutes right now, not sustainable through the playoffs.  Grant is playing well currently as a wing.

It’s absolutely sustainable in the playoffs.  There’s normally two days of rest after the first three or four games.  If a series ends early, you can count on a few more days of rest.  Horford and the Williamses can absolutely split 96 minutes between the three of them without anyone getting gassed on a playoff schedule.

[#1P4P]

What a great game last night. Dwayne Casey always has his teams ready to compete against the Celtics.

Our defense is built to make the opposition play isolation against one of our many excellent and versatile defenders. They did that last night, Cunningham, Grant, Bagley, and Bey are just very good one on one players, Casey even allows them to post up smaller matchups (few teams do). We wore them down in the process, but their shot making was excellent

In the past, we would’ve gotten frustrated with the excellent shot making, rebounding, hustle play, and refereeing for 3 quarters. The Pistons would’ve regained their confidence and it would’ve been a close and ugly finish; instead we intensified the ball pressure, created turnovers, ran in transition, and put them away. This team is a Championship contender.

[liam]

Game ball goes to Marcus Smart. 20pts, 5ast, 5stl, 3reb, only 1TO. 6-10 from the field, 2-3 from 3pt, 6-7 from the line. Excellent defense... can’t ask for much more than that.

Smart was the clam one in this game.

He was ALL the clams.

Kelly's clams.

Clams from Woodman’s and JT Farnham’s. I miss living in the North Shore... 

Me too...

[blink]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

Theis probably won’t even play in the playoffs most nights.  There are two days between most games and Udoka will go with an 8-man rotation.  Theis improving is a luxury, not a need.

It’s also worth noting he’s played only 96 minutes in the last two months, and is likely out of rhythm.

I agree, Theis hasn't been getting enough minutes and it seems to be a bit out of sorts.  Why can't Ime get him at least 10 minutes a game?  I am not sure why that is?  He is a solid def player.

[Atzar]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

My candid opinion is that we can't reasonably expect more than spot minutes out of a guy who fell out of the rotation in Houston, of all places. 

There's nobody to sign at this point.  We have who we have, and they are who they are.  That's what I meant when I used the term "current-season ceiling."  We can get better going forward in numerous ways, but with the exception of Jaylen regaining his mojo, it's likely not going to happen between now and the end of the year. 

[Walker Wiggle]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

Theis probably won’t even play in the playoffs most nights.  There are two days between most games and Udoka will go with an 8-man rotation.  Theis improving is a luxury, not a need.

It’s also worth noting he’s played only 96 minutes in the last two months, and is likely out of rhythm.

I agree, Theis hasn't been getting enough minutes and it seems to be a bit out of sorts.  Why can't Ime get him at least 10 minutes a game?  I am not sure why that is?  He is a solid def player.

He’s not playing because the Celtics have 3 bigs in Horford, Rob, and Grant who are better than he is. Theis is likely to play a lot more next year, assuming the Celtics deal away Horford. I think that’s the main reason they acquired him.

[Celtics2021]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

My candid opinion is that we can't reasonably expect more than spot minutes out of a guy who fell out of the rotation in Houston, of all places. 

There's nobody to sign at this point.  We have who we have, and they are who they are.  That's what I meant when I used the term "current-season ceiling."  We can get better going forward in numerous ways, but with the exception of Jaylen regaining his mojo, it's likely not going to happen between now and the end of the year.

I’m not sure you can judge his position in the Houston rotation on much.  I don’t know why Houston signed him, but they were trying not to win, and dropped him from the rotation in January so he wouldn’t get hurt before the trade deadline.

Theis is a floor-raiser, in that if there is an injury to Rob or Horford he can help them tread water more than Kanter would have, so if either are unavailable for maybe a game or two all might not be lost.  If he’s needed for longer, however, we’ll probably have more limited results.

[Sophomore]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

My candid opinion is that we can't reasonably expect more than spot minutes out of a guy who fell out of the rotation in Houston, of all places. 

There's nobody to sign at this point.  We have who we have, and they are who they are.  That's what I meant when I used the term "current-season ceiling."  We can get better going forward in numerous ways, but with the exception of Jaylen regaining his mojo, it's likely not going to happen between now and the end of the year.

And Horford fell out of the rotation in OKC last year. The proof is on the court; and I disagree with your appraisal of Theis. For a third big he is above average.

We aren’t going to have an all-star in that spot, or even an NBA starter. He’s the third big. In that role he’s better than what a lot of teams have, and in no way a barrier to our success.

[smokeablount]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

Theis probably won’t even play in the playoffs most nights.  There are two days between most games and Udoka will go with an 8-man rotation.  Theis improving is a luxury, not a need.

It’s also worth noting he’s played only 96 minutes in the last two months, and is likely out of rhythm.

I agree, Theis hasn't been getting enough minutes and it seems to be a bit out of sorts.  Why can't Ime get him at least 10 minutes a game?  I am not sure why that is?  He is a solid def player.

He’s not playing because the Celtics have 3 bigs in Horford, Rob, and Grant who are better than he is. Theis is likely to play a lot more next year, assuming the Celtics deal away Horford. I think that’s the main reason they acquired him.

I hope not, but unfortunately I agree. Theis is a huge drop off from Al.

[Goldstar88]

At this point I feel like the only thing between us and current-season ceiling is getting Jaylen healthy and out of his funk. Everything else is going about as well as we can reasonably expect.  There are definitely things that we can hope to improve going forward (continued improvement from our younger players where possible, getting White integrated into our team, perhaps some roster changes where it makes sense to do so) but all of those are longer-term projects that won't happen in the next month or two.

I don't know whether we're contenders or dark-horse contenders or just a tough out or whatever, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Disagree. That's the most important thing but not the only need for a deep playoff run.  Most prominent in the Pistons game was how ineffective Theis was.  Bad shooting, bad defense, just looked awkward out there.  Going back to previous games, he is missing free throws too.
 Right now with Timelord and Horford both on the bench, team has no one to sop up minutes at the 5.  I hope they sign somebody because this team will not reach its "current-season ceiling" with this bench.

Theis probably won’t even play in the playoffs most nights.  There are two days between most games and Udoka will go with an 8-man rotation.  Theis improving is a luxury, not a need.

It’s also worth noting he’s played only 96 minutes in the last two months, and is likely out of rhythm.

I agree, Theis hasn't been getting enough minutes and it seems to be a bit out of sorts.  Why can't Ime get him at least 10 minutes a game?  I am not sure why that is?  He is a solid def player.

He’s not playing because the Celtics have 3 bigs in Horford, Rob, and Grant who are better than he is. Theis is likely to play a lot more next year, assuming the Celtics deal away Horford. I think that’s the main reason they acquired him.

I hope not, but unfortunately I agree. Theis is a huge drop off from Al.

What do you mean he’s a huge drop off from Average Al? C’s should have kept Kemba! stupid Brad!!