Celtics (47-28) at Raptors (42-32) Game #76 3/28/22

[trickybilly]

Didn't watch.

Any notes on Hauser's defense?

[ozgod]

Had a chance to watch the replay, I can understand the frustrations earlier in the thread...I watched it in a no pressure environment where I already knew the result, but for those of you watching it live it must have been vexing to feel like we had chances to win and blew it. All the ifs:

• If White had made even one of those 3 layups he missed...
• if GWill had caught Smartacus's pass properly at the end and if he hadn't dribbled the ball off his foot at the end of regulation and hadn't turned it over in overtime
• if Smartacus hadn't tried to be JT and tried to take a 3 with a defender in his face at the end of OT...
• If Ime had called a timeout both at the end of regulation and at the end of OT to draw up an ATO or bring in some shooters like Payton or Hauser...

If any of those things had happened, we might have won the game. But in the cold light of day, after the emotions have settled, I think it was a great effort from our team. We can play the game of if but end of day it was just a failure of execution during those moments. If even one of those ifs had actually happened we would be celebrating a win and nobody would be complaining about choking. Probably the only one that I think I would like to have back would have been Smart bringing the ball up and taking a 3 to tie the game at the end of OT. Smart was trying to win the game for the team because he was basically the main guy left with 4 starters out. We could have probably worked for a better shot to tie the game.

But the rest of those ifs I will live with. These guys went to Toronto on a SEGABABA with 4 starters out, having to call on the likes of Nesmith to play nearly 40 mins and Kornet and Hauser 15 and 20 respectively and pushed a playoff team to overtime. They controlled the majority of the game but just lacked the polish and composure to execute in key moments which cost us the win. Smartacus tried to do too much at the end, but that can happen when he feels his role changes to be the main pointscorer as well as the facilitator.

I was curious to see if they would maintain their shape with so many players out and end of benchers in and they managed to do so for the most part. Siakam was a handful because we really didn't have anyone on our team who could shut him down but even if he scored 17 of 29 we kept the rest of the starters to 19 of 49 (38%) and the bench to 10 of 28 (35%). I was curious to see if we could rely on Kornet and while he misfired offensively I think if we needed some minutes from him defensively he could adequately play that safety big role off the bench that Timelord and probably now GWill/Theis will be playing. And offensively while we started off a little static they started cutting and moving off the ball more from the 2nd half. Just that our execution was off the pace from what we've all gotten used to the last couple of months. We didn't particularly shoot the ball that well but we were in it till the end because of our defense.

So overall it's a shame losing a winnable game, but I can't be too upset at them. I think the team's identity is clear even with the starters out, so Ime has done a good job inculcating that to the rest of the team during the practice sessions. I think we're in pretty good shape if our reserve team loses a winnable game in OT against a playoff contender. 

[Vermont Green]

Being in first place was way more fun than being in 4th place.

I will go on the record as saying that I don't understand this.  If we had played even Brown, we probably win, he probably hits at least one shot at the end when we needed it and no one else could do it.

We'll see how this all turns out.  It may turn out that this loss doesn't matter at all.  I will give the Celtics the benefit of the doubt that they know the players and decided rest was more important than a win.  But right now, this feels like one that we squandered.

[Celtics2021]

Being in first place was way more fun than being in 4th place.

I will go on the record as saying that I don't understand this.  If we had played even Brown, we probably win, he probably hits at least one shot at the end when we needed it and no one else could do it.

We'll see how this all turns out.  It may turn out that this loss doesn't matter at all.  I will give the Celtics the benefit of the doubt that they know the players and decided rest was more important than a win.  But right now, this feels like one that we squandered.

We know Brown has some chronic leg issues, and was listed on the injury report before the Minnesota game.  They were likely going to sit him 1-2 more games before the end of the season, and this was one.  I suspect at Chicago will be another, and then the last game of the year at Memphis.  Seeding is important, but health is more important.

[Donoghus]

Gotta look at big picture.  A healthy squad is far more important than seeding.

[Roy H.]

Gotta look at big picture.  A healthy squad is far more important than seeding.

Yep.

I just want to avoid the #2 seed, because that's probably where BRK is going to end up.  Otherwise, I'm good.  #4 is just fine with me.

[Atzar]

Being in first place was way more fun than being in 4th place.

I will go on the record as saying that I don't understand this.  If we had played even Brown, we probably win, he probably hits at least one shot at the end when we needed it and no one else could do it.

We'll see how this all turns out.  It may turn out that this loss doesn't matter at all.  I will give the Celtics the benefit of the doubt that they know the players and decided rest was more important than a win.  But right now, this feels like one that we squandered.

You didn't see how Brown was moving at the end of the Wolves game, did you?

That dude needed the day off. 

[Atzar]

Didn't watch.

Any notes on Hauser's defense?

He's a weakness.  He tries, but he lacks footspeed and strength as a defender.  Toronto didn't really recognize it in the first half but started punishing him in the second half. 

I can't speak to his team defense because I didn't follow his rotations closely.  I'd have to watch it again.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Let the chips fall where they may

[Sophomore]

Didn't watch.

Any notes on Hauser's defense?

He's a weakness.  He tries, but he lacks footspeed and strength as a defender.  Toronto didn't really recognize it in the first half but started punishing him in the second half. 

I can't speak to his team defense because I didn't follow his rotations closely.  I'd have to watch it again.

I agree it’s not a strength though he was better than I thought. For my money he was decent moving laterally/staying in front. A real problem is that he’s not strong enough. Raptors would put a shoulder into him and just move him. I can imagine he might be playable next year if he builds more strength.

[johnnygreen]

We're Jayson and Jaylen at the game last night?

[JohnBoy65]

Question - Could Jaylen and Jayson's absences have anything to do with the vaccination requirement to play in Toronto? I don't remember them saying specifically they've been vaccinated. In all likelihood it was a day of rest, but are we sure?

[Walker Wiggle]

Didn't watch.

Any notes on Hauser's defense?

He's a weakness.  He tries, but he lacks footspeed and strength as a defender.  Toronto didn't really recognize it in the first half but started punishing him in the second half. 

I can't speak to his team defense because I didn't follow his rotations closely.  I'd have to watch it again.

I agree it’s not a strength though he was better than I thought. For my money he was decent moving laterally/staying in front. A real problem is that he’s not strong enough. Raptors would put a shoulder into him and just move him. I can imagine he might be playable next year if he builds more strength.

Completely agree. Hauser's defense has been way better than I anticipated. Coming out of college the scouting reports made it sound like he was a complete turnstile defensively. He's clearly not that, at least. Put some more muscle on this guy and teach him team defense and you've got yourself an NBA-caliber bench guy.

[celts55]

Question - Could Jaylen and Jayson's absences have anything to do with the vaccination requirement to play in Toronto? I don't remember them saying specifically they've been vaccinated. In all likelihood it was a day of rest, but are we sure?

They both played in New York, so
I doubt it.
Both have had some knee issues and probably needed a rest anyway.

[Donoghus]

Question - Could Jaylen and Jayson's absences have anything to do with the vaccination requirement to play in Toronto? I don't remember them saying specifically they've been vaccinated. In all likelihood it was a day of rest, but are we sure?

They both played in New York, so
I doubt it.
Both have had some knee issues and probably needed a rest anyway.

That rule didn't affect road team players. 

Regardless, I'm pretty sure this whole thing is just sports radio manufactured conspiracy theory.