2021-22 Celtics Playoffs Discussion

[liam]

I know JT gets most of the attention, but can we talk about how good JB has been in this series? He’s been excellent at getting to the rim and some of his individual moves are just incredible.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Viep039U38

22.7 PPG
4.3 RPG
4.7APG
50.9% FG%
77% FT%
28.6% 3PT%

He is playing amazing defense except for a few plays over the 3 games where he missed a switch. His 3 point shooting hasn't been good but he isn't taking a lot of those shots.

But, he has been pretty awesome in the fourth quarters the last couple games that essentially helped catapult Boston to wins in both games. He has been a bit hot and cold scoring per half but his final numbers have been very consistent.

What I love is that Jaylen seems to be making the right and good pass consistently and has been averaging almost 5 assists per game. Combined with Jayson's 30 PPG and 8 APG that means the Jays are making or creating at least 79 points a game. That's incredible when you consider the energy each expends on the defensive end playing All-Defense quality defense.

Jaylen is also doing the fasting for Ramadan so it should get even better after the end of the month.

[pokeKingCurtis]

I know JT gets most of the attention, but can we talk about how good JB has been in this series? He’s been excellent at getting to the rim and some of his individual moves are just incredible.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Viep039U38

His grandfather is a boxer or something

I keep getting reminded of that watching him play

His dribble moves...His finishes....Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee

[Roy H.]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

[Neurotic Guy]

Quick word about uptick in Marcus Smart’s three attempts.  In the first 3 games Smart was 1st, tied for first, and second, respectively, in number of three attempts.  In game 3 he shot 10 times from 3 second only to Tatum’s 13 while no other Celtic shot more than 4. His 3pt % in these games - 44%, 17%, and 20%.  Overall 7-25 or 28%.

Obviously this hasn’t cost the Celtics a victory and without his good shooting in game 1 they would have lost.  But, increased attempts is a trend for Smart over the last weeks of the season and into the playoffs.  He is still passing up threes late  (as he deferred to Tatum in the 4th yesterday) but it concerns me if his mindset is shifting from distributor to shooter. Hope not as he’s been terrific and is a legit force on this team.  I just still cringe when he hoists them up (usually- sometimes they are wise shots) and I think he should be back down to 3-5 attempts a game.

While I agree with you, that I’d like to see him take less 3’s, he really didn’t take any bad ones. The Nets were giving him the shot, so he has to take it.
Obviously be better if he could hit them.

If the Nets are daring him to beat them from 3, like we are with Bruce Brown, then Marcus has got to take those.
But I'm wondering if it also doesn't have to do with Marcus not having his pick and roll lob partner Timelord? As Rob is reaclimated and the opponent changes, I think we'll see a change in Smart's three point attempts.

I think you may be right -- Marcus' 3-point shots have increased since Rob's injuries and hopefully will reduce when they are back in the flow together.

I disagree with others here that all his 3 attempts have been good ones, or that he should take all the good looks he gets. Smart has been a positive force and I love the guy, but low % 3-shooting will not play well down the road. Marcus is 3-16 in the last 2 games and shouldn't be taking every decent look he gets.  It would be one thing if Marcus was a historically good 3-point shooter, but he isn't.   I hope Simmons takes all his good looks tomorrow.

All that said, I feel like I'm whining when I couldn't be more excited about the C's right now, so I'll stop.  Looking forward to some Marcus-Rob connections tomorrow.

[Goldstar88]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

I believe it. Tatum is the most underrated defender on the team. I’m probably going to get killed for this, but I think Jayson is a better defender than Smart due to his height, length and athleticism. Bigger 2/3’s like KD, Kawhi, Middleton, Butler, can shoot over  Marcus. Can’t do that to JT, since he’s 6’10 with a 7’ wingspan. At only 24, Jayson is not even in his physical prime either. I also think that Timelord is a better defender than both of them.

[hpantazo]

I think the quicker turnaround between game 3 and 4 is also going to hurt the Nets. Those older guys on the Nets will feel it tomorrow, particularly KD. Blake Griffin may not even be able to stand up tomorrow after the action he had last night.

[td450]

Tatum has been great on defense, but this team is more switch and scheme dependent than any defense I've ever seen in the pros. No one on the team is defending anyone straight up without help, and that's especially true with Durant.

Normally a guy like Durant would just move, and use picks to get switches. Every time he goes near another defender or a pick, he's getting beaten on and rushed by two guys. There is a reason Bruce Brown is scoring over 20 ppg in the series. The whole team is committed to not giving Durant anything.

[letsgoblue86]

It just occurred to me that these eastern conference playoffs are shaping up as the Boston Celtics revenge tour.

Nets , Heat, and Bucks are the three teams who have knocked us out the last three years.

Hopefully that adds to the fire.

[Neurotic Guy]

I think the quicker turnaround between game 3 and 4 is also going to hurt the Nets. Those older guys on the Nets will feel it tomorrow, particularly KD. Blake Griffin may not even be able to stand up tomorrow after the action he had last night.

Griffin has had an unusually quick transformation from young guy to old guy.  He did seem to help the Nets for a bit yesterday and then looked like he needed oxygen. He's only 33.

[gouki88]

I know JT gets most of the attention, but can we talk about how good JB has been in this series? He’s been excellent at getting to the rim and some of his individual moves are just incredible.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Viep039U38

22.7 PPG
4.3 RPG
4.7APG
50.9% FG%
77% FT%
28.6% 3PT%

He is playing amazing defense except for a few plays over the 3 games where he missed a switch. His 3 point shooting hasn't been good but he isn't taking a lot of those shots.

But, he has been pretty awesome in the fourth quarters the last couple games that essentially helped catapult Boston to wins in both games. He has been a bit hot and cold scoring per half but his final numbers have been very consistent.

What I love is that Jaylen seems to be making the right and good pass consistently and has been averaging almost 5 assists per game. Combined with Jayson's 30 PPG and 8 APG that means the Jays are making or creating at least 79 points a game. That's incredible when you consider the energy each expends on the defensive end playing All-Defense quality defense.

His second halves have been reliably excellent. If he can put a whole game together of how he plays in the second half he's dropping 40 on these Nets.

But the pressure he applies to the interior is great. Some of the most relentless drives in the league. Not too many guys have that combination of speed and strength

[gouki88]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

I believe it. Tatum is the most underrated defender on the team. I’m probably going to get killed for this, but I think Jayson is a better defender than Smart due to his height, length and athleticism. Bigger 2/3’s like KD, Kawhi, Middleton, Butler, can shoot over  Marcus. Can’t do that to JT, since he’s 6’10 with a 7’ wingspan. At only 24, Jayson is not even in his physical prime either. I also think that Timelord is a better defender than both of them.

KD is shooting 2-15 when guarded by Jayson. 0-4 from three.

That is unbelievable. Not sure I've ever seen anything like it. Maybe from Kawhi on Giannis?

[Celtics2021]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

I believe it. Tatum is the most underrated defender on the team. I’m probably going to get killed for this, but I think Jayson is a better defender than Smart due to his height, length and athleticism. Bigger 2/3’s like KD, Kawhi, Middleton, Butler, can shoot over  Marcus. Can’t do that to JT, since he’s 6’10 with a 7’ wingspan. At only 24, Jayson is not even in his physical prime either. I also think that Timelord is a better defender than both of them.

You won’t get killed for it, but I’ll disagree.  That said, it used to be that Jaylen was the better defender of the Js, and Tatum has surpassed him at this point, which is meant as a complement to Tatum and not a knock on Brown.  It shows how elite the defense is when the debate on the worst defender in the starting lineup is between Brown and Horford.

[Moranis]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

I believe it. Tatum is the most underrated defender on the team. I’m probably going to get killed for this, but I think Jayson is a better defender than Smart due to his height, length and athleticism. Bigger 2/3’s like KD, Kawhi, Middleton, Butler, can shoot over  Marcus. Can’t do that to JT, since he’s 6’10 with a 7’ wingspan. At only 24, Jayson is not even in his physical prime either. I also think that Timelord is a better defender than both of them.

KD is shooting 2-15 when guarded by Jayson. 0-4 from three.

That is unbelievable. Not sure I've ever seen anything like it. Maybe from Kawhi on Giannis?

Tatum is one of the few guys that is long enough, fast enough, and strong enough to guard Durant.  There really are only a couple guys in the sport that can do that.  Still amazing that someone that is as good a shooter as Durant can ever go 2 of 15 against someone, but if you were going to pick players to do it, Tatum would be right there with Giannis as a guy you would pick that is capable of doing it.

[Goldstar88]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

I believe it. Tatum is the most underrated defender on the team. I’m probably going to get killed for this, but I think Jayson is a better defender than Smart due to his height, length and athleticism. Bigger 2/3’s like KD, Kawhi, Middleton, Butler, can shoot over  Marcus. Can’t do that to JT, since he’s 6’10 with a 7’ wingspan. At only 24, Jayson is not even in his physical prime either. I also think that Timelord is a better defender than both of them.

KD is shooting 2-15 when guarded by Jayson. 0-4 from three.

That is unbelievable. Not sure I've ever seen anything like it. Maybe from Kawhi on Giannis?

Tatum is one of the few guys that is long enough, fast enough, and strong enough to guard Durant.  There really are only a couple guys in the sport that can do that.  Still amazing that someone that is as good a shooter as Durant can ever go 2 of 15 against someone, but if you were going to pick players to do it, Tatum would be right there with Giannis as a guy you would pick that is capable of doing it.

Agreed. That’s why I think he’s the second most important defensive player on the team, behind Timelord. Honestly think Tatum could be a Kawhi level talent, just elite on both ends.

[colincb]

Woj on ESPN - Simmons out game 4