2021-22 Celtics Playoffs Discussion

[Phantom255x]

Something that just hit me. Should we be worried the league will give us Tony Brothers and/or Scott Foster for either (or possibly both) of the next two games?? 

This could just be a complete and utter misconception on my part, but I feel as if both of those guys are doing series' out in the west. Does the league ship them all over the country mid-series?

I think they can. But that's a good observation. I hope you're right lol

Me too, keep Tony Brothers on the west coast please!

I'll have to look it up,  but I remember even in 2018 ECF, C's went up 2-0 and then we got a Tony Brothers and Scott Foster show during the Cleveland games (on  the road), which became 2-2. Would like to avoid that

[Roy H.]

The one thing that stands out to me in these playoffs is that no one, not one single team, is playing playoff defense anywhere close to the defense the Celtics have played.

And, the Celtics 2nd best defensive player hasn't even played a single minute yet. When Boston gets past Brooklyn and gets Timelord back, there is not a team that is going to figure out this defense to the tune of 4 wins out of 7.

The first title of the JT/JB/TL/Smart dynasty happens this year.

Our defense through two games hasn’t been particularly special, honestly.

https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/opponent/?sort=OPP_PTS&dir=-1

8th in PPG allowed, 15th in 3PT% allowed, 12th in FG% allowed, 15th in FTA allowed

Depending on how much you value some of the more nerdy stats for defense, the Celtics have been excellent on that end (fouls aside, but that appears to be by design - the Celtics appear perfectly content to beat the s*** out of Durant all game whether it results in a lot of FTs or not).  The Nets' expected eFG% on the shots they're taking has been very low.  To the Nets' credit, they're just making the shots anyway. 

https://www.theringer.com/2022/4/21/23035300/celtics-nets-defense-nba-playoffs

Yeah, I don't think our defence has been bad, their shot-making has just been really excellent.

The defense has been up and down, compared to its normal standards.   But, my greater point is that I don’t think there’s any evidence that our defense has been head and shoulders above the other playoff teams.

[mef730]

Something that just hit me. Should we be worried the league will give us Tony Brothers and/or Scott Foster for either (or possibly both) of the next two games?? 

Every time I hear the name Tony Brothers, all I can think about is Danny Davis:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Danny_Davis

Sorry Phantom, before your time.

Mike

[JSD]

The level of intensity is so much lower than Celtics/Nets in some of these other series. Soto/Memphis feels like a regular season game

[nickagneta]

The one thing that stands out to me in these playoffs is that no one, not one single team, is playing playoff defense anywhere close to the defense the Celtics have played.

And, the Celtics 2nd best defensive player hasn't even played a single minute yet. When Boston gets past Brooklyn and gets Timelord back, there is not a team that is going to figure out this defense to the tune of 4 wins out of 7.

The first title of the JT/JB/TL/Smart dynasty happens this year.

Our defense through two games hasn’t been particularly special, honestly.

https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/opponent/?sort=OPP_PTS&dir=-1

8th in PPG allowed, 15th in 3PT% allowed, 12th in FG% allowed, 15th in FTA allowed

Depending on how much you value some of the more nerdy stats for defense, the Celtics have been excellent on that end (fouls aside, but that appears to be by design - the Celtics appear perfectly content to beat the s*** out of Durant all game whether it results in a lot of FTs or not).  The Nets' expected eFG% on the shots they're taking has been very low.  To the Nets' credit, they're just making the shots anyway. 

https://www.theringer.com/2022/4/21/23035300/celtics-nets-defense-nba-playoffs

Yeah, I don't think our defence has been bad, their shot-making has just been really excellent.

The defense has been up and down, compared to its normal standards.   But, my greater point is that I don’t think there’s any evidence that our defense has been head and shoulders above the other playoff teams.

The stats belie reality. The Celtics are playing a team with perhaps the best offensive duo in the league and easily the best offensive player in the game and have stifled him. The Nets have been on a torrid offensive stretch over the last 5-6 weeks of the regular season, well over the 110 PPG they have in this series.

Context matters. My guess is the Nets would probably be 2-0 and averaging over 120 points a game if playing anyone else.

[Kiorrik]

I don't currently have access to them, but I'd be curious to compare stats for this playoffs of the top 4 players

[angryguy77]

Something that just hit me. Should we be worried the league will give us Tony Brothers and/or Scott Foster for either (or possibly both) of the next two games?? 

Every time I hear the name Tony Brothers, all I can think about is Danny Davis:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Danny_Davis

Sorry Phantom, before your time.

Mike

The NBA doesn't do itself any favors by waiting until the last minute to announce the officiating crew. No other reason I can think of other than for betting purposes. Love the game but I'll never be convinced the league doesn't do what it can to help get a desired outcome.

[Phantom255x]

Uh oh, Tony Brothers and Scott Foster not in today's games. Could they be in tomorrow's Nets-C's game?

[Vermont Green]

Some thoughts on line ups so far (values represent the aggregate of the two games):

Tatum/Brown (wings):

When both are on the court together, +16.  When just Tatum, -1.  When just Brown, -5.  Clearly we are at our best when both are on the court.  There are no minutes when neither is on the court.

Horford/Theis/GWill (bigs):

Horford + Theis, +9.  Horford + GWill, +3, Theis + GWill, -10.  Just Horford, +7.  Clearly Horford is making the impact.  We suffer so far when he is not on the court.

Smart/White/Pritchard (guards):

Smart + White, +0.  Smart + Pritchard, +7.  White + Pritchard, -9.
Smart only, -2.  White only, +2.  Pritchard only, +10
The one guard lines ups are a bit deceiving as the minutes are very low for White only (3 min) and Pritchard only (5 min).  The Smart only line up is +9 when he is with the starters and -11 when out there with Theis and GWill.  Smart is +0 with Horford and GWill.  I am taking that to have more to do with Theis and GWill than Smart but maybe there is something different Smart as a PG needs to do to make that line up click.

No real surprises here but this does confirm that we drop off sharply when our best players are not out there.  In particular, Theis or GWill need Horford, White needs Smart, and everyone needs Tatum and Brown.  Horford in particular, +19 on and -11 off.  That is a big swing.  I think RWill would help with that quite a bit.

[liam]

Something that just hit me. Should we be worried the league will give us Tony Brothers and/or Scott Foster for either (or possibly both) of the next two games?? 

Every time I hear the name Tony Brothers, all I can think about is Danny Davis:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Danny_Davis

Sorry Phantom, before your time.

Mike

The NBA doesn't do itself any favors by waiting until the last minute to announce the officiating crew. No other reason I can think of other than for betting purposes. Love the game but I'll never be convinced the league doesn't do what it can to help get a desired outcome.

I think we can still win against the slanted refs but it's way harder.

[slamtheking]

Some thoughts on line ups so far (values represent the aggregate of the two games):

Tatum/Brown (wings):

When both are on the court together, +16.  When just Tatum, -1.  When just Brown, -5.  Clearly we are at our best when both are on the court.  There are no minutes when neither is on the court.

Horford/Theis/GWill (bigs):

Horford + Theis, +9.  Horford + GWill, +3, Theis + GWill, -10.  Just Horford, +7.  Clearly Horford is making the impact.  We suffer so far when he is not on the court.

Smart/White/Pritchard (guards):

Smart + White, +0.  Smart + Pritchard, +7.  White + Pritchard, -9.
Smart only, -2.  White only, +2.  Pritchard only, +10
The one guard lines ups are a bit deceiving as the minutes are very low for White only (3 min) and Pritchard only (5 min).  The Smart only line up is +9 when he is with the starters and -11 when out there with Theis and GWill.  Smart is +0 with Horford and GWill.  I am taking that to have more to do with Theis and GWill than Smart but maybe there is something different Smart as a PG needs to do to make that line up click.

No real surprises here but this does confirm that we drop off sharply when our best players are not out there.  In particular, Theis or GWill need Horford, White needs Smart, and everyone needs Tatum and Brown.  Horford in particular, +19 on and -11 off.  That is a big swing.  I think RWill would help with that quite a bit.

a rarity when the +/- seems to matchup with the eye test but this more or less aligns with what I'm seeing from White this series -- he's not helping so far.  everyone else has had at least 1 good/decent game to solidify their numbers and that this team really needs the J's on the floor to compete with the Nets

[Vermont Green]

Some thoughts on line ups so far (values represent the aggregate of the two games):

Tatum/Brown (wings):

When both are on the court together, +16.  When just Tatum, -1.  When just Brown, -5.  Clearly we are at our best when both are on the court.  There are no minutes when neither is on the court.

Horford/Theis/GWill (bigs):

Horford + Theis, +9.  Horford + GWill, +3, Theis + GWill, -10.  Just Horford, +7.  Clearly Horford is making the impact.  We suffer so far when he is not on the court.

Smart/White/Pritchard (guards):

Smart + White, +0.  Smart + Pritchard, +7.  White + Pritchard, -9.
Smart only, -2.  White only, +2.  Pritchard only, +10
The one guard lines ups are a bit deceiving as the minutes are very low for White only (3 min) and Pritchard only (5 min).  The Smart only line up is +9 when he is with the starters and -11 when out there with Theis and GWill.  Smart is +0 with Horford and GWill.  I am taking that to have more to do with Theis and GWill than Smart but maybe there is something different Smart as a PG needs to do to make that line up click.

No real surprises here but this does confirm that we drop off sharply when our best players are not out there.  In particular, Theis or GWill need Horford, White needs Smart, and everyone needs Tatum and Brown.  Horford in particular, +19 on and -11 off.  That is a big swing.  I think RWill would help with that quite a bit.

a rarity when the +/- seems to matchup with the eye test but this more or less aligns with what I'm seeing from White this series -- he's not helping so far.  everyone else has had at least 1 good/decent game to solidify their numbers and that this team really needs the J's on the floor to compete with the Nets

Maybe White is due for a break out game.  For those that like Net Rating (combined 2 games), White is -5.5 but GWill is not far behind at -5.4.  These two in particular have been hurting the team.

The big winner is Horford, he has a net rating of +14.0,  Tatum and Brown are +6.8 and +6.2 respectively.   Smart and Theis are +3.3 and +2.3 so holding their own.  Pritchard is +13.2 which is probably an outlier but still impressive.

[SHAQATTACK]

Uh oh, Tony Brothers and Scott Foster not in today's games. Could they be in tomorrow's Nets-C's game?

Of course they will Nets need extra help from refs …..KD and Cryre. Can’t play defense and need a million fouls called in their favor to win……it’s the NBA way …..no two players are treated equal.

[wiley]

Some thoughts on line ups so far (values represent the aggregate of the two games):

Tatum/Brown (wings):

When both are on the court together, +16.  When just Tatum, -1.  When just Brown, -5.  Clearly we are at our best when both are on the court.  There are no minutes when neither is on the court.

Horford/Theis/GWill (bigs):

Horford + Theis, +9.  Horford + GWill, +3, Theis + GWill, -10.  Just Horford, +7.  Clearly Horford is making the impact.  We suffer so far when he is not on the court.

Smart/White/Pritchard (guards):

Smart + White, +0.  Smart + Pritchard, +7.  White + Pritchard, -9.
Smart only, -2.  White only, +2.  Pritchard only, +10
The one guard lines ups are a bit deceiving as the minutes are very low for White only (3 min) and Pritchard only (5 min).  The Smart only line up is +9 when he is with the starters and -11 when out there with Theis and GWill.  Smart is +0 with Horford and GWill.  I am taking that to have more to do with Theis and GWill than Smart but maybe there is something different Smart as a PG needs to do to make that line up click.

No real surprises here but this does confirm that we drop off sharply when our best players are not out there.  In particular, Theis or GWill need Horford, White needs Smart, and everyone needs Tatum and Brown.  Horford in particular, +19 on and -11 off.  That is a big swing.  I think RWill would help with that quite a bit.

a rarity when the +/- seems to matchup with the eye test but this more or less aligns with what I'm seeing from White this series -- he's not helping so far.  everyone else has had at least 1 good/decent game to solidify their numbers and that this team really needs the J's on the floor to compete with the Nets

Maybe White is due for a break out game.  For those that like Net Rating (combined 2 games), White is -5.5 but GWill is not far behind at -5.4.  These two in particular have been hurting the team.

The big winner is Horford, he has a net rating of +14.0,  Tatum and Brown are +6.8 and +6.2 respectively.   Smart and Theis are +3.3 and +2.3 so holding their own.  Pritchard is +13.2 which is probably an outlier but still impressive.

I guess Net Rating doesn't account for GWill rescuing the team from doom in the first half....

[Phantom255x]

If Timelord can actually come back, then that will make it tougher for the Nets. I don't know if they really have a solid answer for him, and it'd mean less Theis who at times gets abused by the Nets.