2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[celticsclay]

I think because we probably have the most absolutely terrible teams we have had in a very long time the discourse around how well teams are playing has been pretty funny this season. It’s is March and we still have two teams with less than ten wins. The current versions of the spurs, hornets, grizzlies and blazers are not much better. Now normally we see a lot of teams this bad in like April but for it have started in February is pretty wild. You get 6 out of ten games against those 6 one against against the bulls and beat a good team all of a sudden everyone is saying your are a great team or have turned things around. Makes it a lot harder to tell who is actually playing well.

[Birdman]

Yea the bad teams are really bad! Haven’t seen this many in awhile

[jpotter33]

A healthy Nuggets team losing to a Booker-less Suns team at home would really help take the sting off of our collapse tonight. Nuggets down 15 at the half. (And also show that sometimes these things happen even for true title contenders.)

[jpotter33]

Man, I thought the Celtics relied heavily on jump shooting. Phoenix is almost exclusively relying on jump shooting at this point, which has led to this major variance we’re seeing in this game with them now super cold.

[jpotter33]

Welp, Denver chokes in OT at home to a Booker-less Suns team, with Jokic missing the game-winning shot in regulation. This is arguably just as bad if not worse of a loss than us losing at Cleveland.

Certainly puts a bit better spin on our loss tonight, and it helps with the narrative that was certain to come out if Denver pulled this close game out while we lost.

[celticinorlando]

Woke up a little less upset after seeing Denver pull a Celtics and cough up a 22 point lead.

Really hope we see a focused Boston team tomorrow.

Spots 4-8 are just a  train wreck in East.

[RMO]

Woke up a little less upset after seeing Denver pull a Celtics and cough up a 22 point lead.

Really hope we see a focused Boston team tomorrow.

Spots 4-8 are just a  train wreck in East.

Denver didn't blow the lead.  They came back from 22 down but fell short.

[No Nickname]

Ben Simmonsis back to square one. For some reason his agent takes the blame for not getting him better medical care https://x.com/legionhoops/status/1765107386321383692?s=46

Got to think there is a decent chance his career may be over. Shame we didn’t really see him again after the hawks series.

Not winning that draft lottery is one of the best blessings in disguises the Celtics ever had.

So true.  People thought Brown was a reach at three — we weren’t passing on Simmons at 1.

Looking back at Ingram (2) vs Brown (3), seeing what you see today, would you have taken Brown at 2 if you were the Lakers GM?

And where would you have slotted Jamal Murray (7)?

In a redo of the 2016 draft I kind of see these four brackets, with it being debatable about who ranks higher in Brackets 1 and 3.

Bracket 1: Brown/Ingram/Murray
Bracket 2: Sabonis
Bracket 3: Siakam/Dejounte Murray
Bracket 4: Hield
Bracket 5: Yabusele

**The Dancing Bear inclusion made you think twice!

For health alone Ingram isn’t even a conversation against brown. Brown has played almost a full seasons more worth of games. Then on top of that brown is just a better player and his career accomplishments reflect that. Murray is a lot closer than Ingram.

So basically you're saying a redo of that draft would be:

1. Brown
2. Murray
3. Ingram
4. Sabonis

If that's the case, then basically having the two (Brown/Tatum) back-to-back "Redo #1 Picks" is quite impressive!

[Who]

Ben Simmonsis back to square one. For some reason his agent takes the blame for not getting him better medical care https://x.com/legionhoops/status/1765107386321383692?s=46

Got to think there is a decent chance his career may be over. Shame we didn’t really see him again after the hawks series.

Not winning that draft lottery is one of the best blessings in disguises the Celtics ever had.

So true.  People thought Brown was a reach at three — we weren’t passing on Simmons at 1.

Looking back at Ingram (2) vs Brown (3), seeing what you see today, would you have taken Brown at 2 if you were the Lakers GM?

And where would you have slotted Jamal Murray (7)?

In a redo of the 2016 draft I kind of see these four brackets, with it being debatable about who ranks higher in Brackets 1 and 3.

Bracket 1: Brown/Ingram/Murray
Bracket 2: Sabonis
Bracket 3: Siakam/Dejounte Murray
Bracket 4: Hield
Bracket 5: Yabusele

**The Dancing Bear inclusion made you think twice!

For health alone Ingram isn’t even a conversation against brown. Brown has played almost a full seasons more worth of games. Then on top of that brown is just a better player and his career accomplishments reflect that. Murray is a lot closer than Ingram.

So basically you're saying a redo of that draft would be:

1. Brown
2. Murray
3. Ingram
4. Sabonis

If that's the case, then basically having the two (Brown/Tatum) back-to-back "Redo #1 Picks" is quite impressive!

Mmm ... I'd put D Sabonis above Ingram at this point. Ingram feels too lightweight to be a leader of a team. Much like Sabonis, they both feel like their stat lines over-state their actual impact on games.

I am tempted by J Murray over Jaylen but I worry how J Murray would do away from Jokic. I feel like Jokic helps Murray a lot. He creates a lot of room for him to attack because Jokic commands so much attention. His passing is also a great aid both to create easier opportunities for Murray but also to make up for his less than ideal PG skills. So I wonder how he would do away from Jokic. I'd probably play it safe and stick with Jaylen over J Murray due to those doubts.

[scaryjerry]

Welp, Denver chokes in OT at home to a Booker-less Suns team, with Jokic missing the game-winning shot in regulation. This is arguably just as bad if not worse of a loss than us losing at Cleveland.

Certainly puts a bit better spin on our loss tonight, and it helps with the narrative that was certain to come out if Denver pulled this close game out while we lost.

The suns have Kevin Durant. Losing to them is not worse then getting punked by dean wade.

[celticinorlando]

Welp, Denver chokes in OT at home to a Booker-less Suns team, with Jokic missing the game-winning shot in regulation. This is arguably just as bad if not worse of a loss than us losing at Cleveland.

Certainly puts a bit better spin on our loss tonight, and it helps with the narrative that was certain to come out if Denver pulled this close game out while we lost.

The suns have Kevin Durant. Losing to them is not worse then getting punked by dean wade.

SMH at Dean Wade. That is just unreal.

[johnnygreen]

Ben Simmonsis back to square one. For some reason his agent takes the blame for not getting him better medical care https://x.com/legionhoops/status/1765107386321383692?s=46

Got to think there is a decent chance his career may be over. Shame we didn’t really see him again after the hawks series.

Not winning that draft lottery is one of the best blessings in disguises the Celtics ever had.

I would pump the brakes on that take. We simply can't discount "The Process" mentality of the 76ers when Simmons was drafted. That loser mindset filtered that whole organization. And drafting Simmons was supposed to be the answer to turning that whole team around. The amount of pressure on that kid was insane.

Now flip the script to Jaylen, who was drafted by a team dedicated to trying to win. The infrastructure was completely different and built for success.

I would put my life on the line, that if Philly drafted Jaylen and the Celtics drafted Simmons, both of their careers would be drastically different. I would feel pretty confident that everything the scouts thought Simmons could be, would have come to fruition in Boston, and be considered a top 10 player in the league today.

Players are drafted based on talent. However, the ability to fulfill that talent may be based on the environment around them.

[Roy H.]

Ben Simmonsis back to square one. For some reason his agent takes the blame for not getting him better medical care https://x.com/legionhoops/status/1765107386321383692?s=46

Got to think there is a decent chance his career may be over. Shame we didn’t really see him again after the hawks series.

Not winning that draft lottery is one of the best blessings in disguises the Celtics ever had.

I would pump the brakes on that take. We simply can't discount "The Process" mentality of the 76ers when Simmons was drafted. That loser mindset filtered that whole organization. And drafting Simmons was supposed to be the answer to turning that whole team around. The amount of pressure on that kid was insane.

Now flip the script to Jaylen, who was drafted by a team dedicated to trying to win. The infrastructure was completely different and built for success.

I would put my life on the line, that if Philly drafted Jaylen and the Celtics drafted Simmons, both of their careers would be drastically different. I would feel pretty confident that everything the scouts thought Simmons could be, would have come to fruition in Boston, and be considered a top 10 player in the league today.

Players are drafted based on talent. However, the ability to fulfill that talent may be based on the environment around them.

What personal responsibility does Simmons have?  Why have others thrived in Philly, while Simmons failed there?  And why is he still doing the same things in Brooklyn?

[No Nickname]

Ben Simmonsis back to square one. For some reason his agent takes the blame for not getting him better medical care https://x.com/legionhoops/status/1765107386321383692?s=46

Got to think there is a decent chance his career may be over. Shame we didn’t really see him again after the hawks series.

Not winning that draft lottery is one of the best blessings in disguises the Celtics ever had.

So true.  People thought Brown was a reach at three — we weren’t passing on Simmons at 1.

Looking back at Ingram (2) vs Brown (3), seeing what you see today, would you have taken Brown at 2 if you were the Lakers GM?

And where would you have slotted Jamal Murray (7)?

In a redo of the 2016 draft I kind of see these four brackets, with it being debatable about who ranks higher in Brackets 1 and 3.

Bracket 1: Brown/Ingram/Murray
Bracket 2: Sabonis
Bracket 3: Siakam/Dejounte Murray
Bracket 4: Hield
Bracket 5: Yabusele

**The Dancing Bear inclusion made you think twice!

For health alone Ingram isn’t even a conversation against brown. Brown has played almost a full seasons more worth of games. Then on top of that brown is just a better player and his career accomplishments reflect that. Murray is a lot closer than Ingram.

So basically you're saying a redo of that draft would be:

1. Brown
2. Murray
3. Ingram
4. Sabonis

If that's the case, then basically having the two (Brown/Tatum) back-to-back "Redo #1 Picks" is quite impressive!

Mmm ... I'd put D Sabonis above Ingram at this point. Ingram feels too lightweight to be a leader of a team. Much like Sabonis, they both feel like their stat lines over-state their actual impact on games.

I am tempted by J Murray over Jaylen but I worry how J Murray would do away from Jokic. I feel like Jokic helps Murray a lot. He creates a lot of room for him to attack because Jokic commands so much attention. His passing is also a great aid both to create easier opportunities for Murray but also to make up for his less than ideal PG skills. So I wonder how he would do away from Jokic. I'd probably play it safe and stick with Jaylen over J Murray due to those doubts.

This just goes to show what an amazing development path Jaylen Brown has been on. 

To basically be considered the best player in the 2016 draft is an incredible coup for the Celts.

Trade Garnett and Pierce who had basically one serviceable season left in their tanks and get the two top players in the 2016 and 2017 drafts?  What a trade!

[gift]

Ben Simmonsis back to square one. For some reason his agent takes the blame for not getting him better medical care https://x.com/legionhoops/status/1765107386321383692?s=46

Got to think there is a decent chance his career may be over. Shame we didn’t really see him again after the hawks series.

Not winning that draft lottery is one of the best blessings in disguises the Celtics ever had.

I would pump the brakes on that take. We simply can't discount "The Process" mentality of the 76ers when Simmons was drafted. That loser mindset filtered that whole organization. And drafting Simmons was supposed to be the answer to turning that whole team around. The amount of pressure on that kid was insane.

Now flip the script to Jaylen, who was drafted by a team dedicated to trying to win. The infrastructure was completely different and built for success.

I would put my life on the line, that if Philly drafted Jaylen and the Celtics drafted Simmons, both of their careers would be drastically different. I would feel pretty confident that everything the scouts thought Simmons could be, would have come to fruition in Boston, and be considered a top 10 player in the league today.

Players are drafted based on talent. However, the ability to fulfill that talent may be based on the environment around them.

What personal responsibility does Simmons have?  Why have others thrived in Philly, while Simmons failed there?  And why is he still doing the same things in Brooklyn?

i don't discount Simmons' own responsibility, but look to others during Philly's process who also didn't live up to expectations (Noel, Okafor, Fultz, Carter-Williams). i don't doubt things would be different to a significant degree had Boston drafted Simmons (still happy they didn't though).