Celtics News

[SparzWizard]

Biggest threats to beat Boston in order from 1-7 (1 being toughest) IMO:

1. OKC
2. Orlando (IF everyone is healthy)
3. Cleveland
4. New York
5. Memphis
6. Dallas
7. Indiana 

I still think we just match up better against MIL and obviously Doc Rivers is still there, otherwise they've looked awesome lately and Giannis has been MVP-lite. Memphis has been on a run and are now the 2 seed in the West, they look sneaky elite and their roster is loaded. Marcus Smart is a role player there which to me actually fits him and the team very well.

I do think Orlando with Banchero and the Wagner brothers healthy are probably our biggest threats in the East even over CLE/NY/IND. But of course, it's if they are all healthy. It'll be a massive win if we can somehow avoid playing any of CLE/NY/ORL until the ECF while those 3 can maybe cannibalize themselves in the first two rounds.

Indiana is weird. I went into the year thinking they'd be our 2nd or 3rd biggest threats behind OKC but something is really off about them. They have been inconsistent. But I really hope we don't draw them in the first round if they are a play-in team, they can still put up points fast

You forgot Miami and what a healthy Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier can do 

[Phantom255x]

Biggest threats to beat Boston in order from 1-7 (1 being toughest) IMO:

1. OKC
2. Orlando (IF everyone is healthy)
3. Cleveland
4. New York
5. Memphis
6. Dallas
7. Indiana 

I still think we just match up better against MIL and obviously Doc Rivers is still there, otherwise they've looked awesome lately and Giannis has been MVP-lite. Memphis has been on a run and are now the 2 seed in the West, they look sneaky elite and their roster is loaded. Marcus Smart is a role player there which to me actually fits him and the team very well.

I do think Orlando with Banchero and the Wagner brothers healthy are probably our biggest threats in the East even over CLE/NY/IND. But of course, it's if they are all healthy. It'll be a massive win if we can somehow avoid playing any of CLE/NY/ORL until the ECF while those 3 can maybe cannibalize themselves in the first two rounds.

Indiana is weird. I went into the year thinking they'd be our 2nd or 3rd biggest threats behind OKC but something is really off about them. They have been inconsistent. But I really hope we don't draw them in the first round if they are a play-in team, they can still put up points fast

You forgot Miami and what a healthy Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier can do 

Oh yeah, you can't forget about the Incredible Tyler Herro too

I don't fear them anymore. Frankly that team has its own turmoil now going on as well with Riley, the fanbase and Jimmy Butler. So sad... 

[Phantom255x]

Next 10 games for the Celtics:

@Orlando
Philadelphia
Indiana
Indiana
Toronto
@Minnesota
@Houston
@Oklahoma City
@Denver
Sacramento

Pretty excited to see how they do, some spicy matchups as well in that group including OKC.

How many wins we expect? I would be ecstatic if we somehow go 7-3 in that stretch

[SparzWizard]

Next 10 games for the Celtics:

@Orlando
Philadelphia
Indiana
Indiana
Toronto
@Minnesota
@Houston
@Oklahoma City
@Denver
Sacramento

Pretty excited to see how they do, some spicy matchups as well in that group including OKC.

How many wins we expect? I would be ecstatic if we somehow go 7-3 in that stretch

I think we drop a game against the 76ers at home (one of those home trap games), and lose the Houston, OKC, and Denver games. That trip out to the Midwest will be a brutal stretch.

[Vermont Green]

This isn't exactly news, more discussion or analysis but I was looking at lineups with Porzingis + Starters vs. lineups with Horford + Starters:

Porzingis + Starters:    -6.4 per game / 29% from 3 /  85 min total
Horford + Starters:     +9.4 per game / 46% from 3 / 184 min total

Porzingis has not been good.  I also looked at Horford and Porzingis together with starters and the only line up with meaningful minutes was Porzingis, Horford, Brown, White, Holiday (so no Tatum):

Porzingis + Horford + Starters:   +4.5 per game / 38% from 3 / 33 min total

The Celtics are 8 - 4 in the games since Porzingis has come back and 6 - 4 in the games that Porzingis has played in.  That is 4 of the 7 total losses.  Horford and Porzingis with starters is only 2 games but did pretty well considering no Tatum.  Overall, Horford + Porzingis is +4.1 per game in 97 total minutes.

My solution?  Porzingis should come off the bench for a while (start Horford again).  Let him run with the bench.  His offense may be more helpful to the bench lineups than the starters lineups.  This isn't forever and doesn't mean you close games that way.  I could see Porzingis and Pritchard getting some bench mojo going.

[Vermont Green]

Just adding to the above analysis, Porzingis is -3 in 100 min when on the floor with Tatum and not Pritchard.  He is +9 in 72 min when on the floor with Pritchard but not Tatum.

Nothing definitive but seems to like running with Pritchard.  Overall, Porzingis is +26 in 139 minutes with Pritchard, +13 in 167 minutes with Tatum.  Of course there is overlap here where Porzingis, Tatum, and Pritchard are all on the floor together, +17 in 68 minutes.

[Neurotic Guy]

Bottom line to me is this is a hugely talented team that shouldn?t over rely on the three and needs be healthy (of course) when playoffs arrive.  Any premature sky-falling talk is a waste of time.  Honestly, if we hadn?t heard it all last year following every loss it would be one thing, but we?ve been there, done that, and won a championship.  Definitely can improve shooting and versatility, and probably will.  Cs are, and will be, one of a small handful of teams capable of winning the championship this year.  Hope the coaching and players are up for the challenge.

[Vermont Green]

All true about last year?s handwringing. It will help immensely though if we can get Porzingis back to full form. 

[Goldstar88]

Some good news.

Porzingis was seen leaving the Celtics' locker room without any visible brace around his left ankle, Jay King of The Athletic reports.

[Phantom255x]

Nets are selling.

Trade Springer + two second round picks for Day'Ron Sharpe. Then bring back Lonnie Walker

[Who]

Nets are selling.

Trade Springer + two second round picks for Day'Ron Sharpe. Then bring back Lonnie Walker

Should we just trade Tillman for D Sharpe?

We are not getting any use of him anyway.

[Roy H.]

Nets are selling.

Trade Springer + two second round picks for Day'Ron Sharpe. Then bring back Lonnie Walker

Should we just trade Tillman for D Sharpe?

We are not getting any use of him anyway.

We can't take back more salary than we send out, so Springer works but Tillman doesn't.

[mobilija]

Nets are selling.

Trade Springer + two second round picks for Day'Ron Sharpe. Then bring back Lonnie Walker

What?s a Day?Ron Sharpe?

[Vermont Green]

Nets are selling.

Trade Springer + two second round picks for Day'Ron Sharpe. Then bring back Lonnie Walker

Should we just trade Tillman for D Sharpe?

We are not getting any use of him anyway.

We can't take back more salary than we send out, so Springer works but Tillman doesn't.

Is Sharpe any better than Oshae Brissett?  Would Sharpe play over Quetta? 

[Phantom255x]

Nets are selling.

Trade Springer + two second round picks for Day'Ron Sharpe. Then bring back Lonnie Walker

Should we just trade Tillman for D Sharpe?

We are not getting any use of him anyway.

We can't take back more salary than we send out, so Springer works but Tillman doesn't.

Is Sharpe any better than Oshae Brissett?  Would Sharpe play over Quetta?

Sharpe is a great backup big for BKN. He'd definitely get more minutes and play better than Queta this season at least. And given Tillman not getting any playing time + KP being hurt + Horford being old, they probably have to add a PF/C at the deadline.