Celtics News

[Celtics2021]

Interesting tidbit I noticed on Reddit:

Teams with the best Plus/Minus Per Game in the last 15 games this season :
    Boston Celtics  +9.7
    Detroit Pistons +9.3
    Oklahoma City Thunder +7.3
    Los Angeles Clippers  +7.1
    Phoenix Suns  +6.9
    Golden State Warriors  +6.4
    Minnesota Timberwolves  +6.1
    Charlotte Hornets  +4.2
    Cleveland Cavaliers +3.5
    San Antonio Spurs  +3.1

Do you think this makes Brad think twice about swinging for a big trade? Were playing really well and winning but I also read somewhere that we?re not as good against above 500 teams? Trade deadline can?t come any sooner.

We are 14-12 against teams that are .500 and better, which does not sound awesome but is still second in the East behind Detroit, and 6th in the NBA.  We have the 2nd best record in the East an 6th best record overall, so our record against winning teams mirrors our overall position.  And only 7 teams overall are above .500 against winning teams, so we are definitely still a contender by that measure.

[Goldstar88]

Jaylen Brown: I feel like I?ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team. And I think now, I think we?re getting to see that a little bit. What exactly, you know, I was capable of and what I was sacrificing. I think before maybe it wasn?t so obvious. I think now, I think being able to be at the helm of things and, um, us being the second seed in the East?versus last year we finished second seed in the East. it?s almost been no drop-off with four players, five players that are essentially gone. Um, I feel like that the work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has?has been great. And, um, you know, I just tried to make myself available every single night.

[Roy H.]

Jaylen Brown: I feel like I?ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team. And I think now, I think we?re getting to see that a little bit. What exactly, you know, I was capable of and what I was sacrificing. I think before maybe it wasn?t so obvious. I think now, I think being able to be at the helm of things and, um, us being the second seed in the East?versus last year we finished second seed in the East. it?s almost been no drop-off with four players, five players that are essentially gone. Um, I feel like that the work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has?has been great. And, um, you know, I just tried to make myself available every single night.

I've never loved this mentality.  "Sacrificing" touches and stats to win a championship isn't a sacrifice at all.

Also, there *has* been a drop off.  Our defense has dropped from 5th to 12th.  Our offense, defense, and net rating are all worse than last year.  The Celtics have overachieved to a large degree, but JB seems to be saying that JT and others aren't the true difference makers, and that's nonsense.

EDIT:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_-1ORYB9mw  Context @ 3:20

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Jaylen Brown: I feel like I?ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team. And I think now, I think we?re getting to see that a little bit. What exactly, you know, I was capable of and what I was sacrificing. I think before maybe it wasn?t so obvious. I think now, I think being able to be at the helm of things and, um, us being the second seed in the East?versus last year we finished second seed in the East. it?s almost been no drop-off with four players, five players that are essentially gone. Um, I feel like that the work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has?has been great. And, um, you know, I just tried to make myself available every single night.

It sounds like he was asked a leading question. I am happy for his personal success. I just hope when Tatum comes back, they can continue to play at a championship level together.

I think Brown and Tatum are both bought to the system and the right mindset.

[SparzWizard]

Jaylen Brown: I feel like I?ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team. And I think now, I think we?re getting to see that a little bit. What exactly, you know, I was capable of and what I was sacrificing. I think before maybe it wasn?t so obvious. I think now, I think being able to be at the helm of things and, um, us being the second seed in the East?versus last year we finished second seed in the East. it?s almost been no drop-off with four players, five players that are essentially gone. Um, I feel like that the work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has?has been great. And, um, you know, I just tried to make myself available every single night.

I've never loved this mentality.  "Sacrificing" touches and stats to win a championship isn't a sacrifice at all.

Also, there *has* been a drop off.  Our defense has dropped from 5th to 12th.  Our offense, defense, and net rating are all worse than last year.  The Celtics have overachieved to a large degree, but JB seems to be saying that JT and others aren't the true difference makers, and that's nonsense.

EDIT:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_-1ORYB9mw  Context @ 3:20

But if you aren't willing to sacrifice for the greater of the team then you won't be able to coexist and succeed. Both players demand the ball. It'll be interesting when Tatum comes back. Will one sacrifice or will both try to demand for the ball?

[Roy H.]

Jaylen Brown: I feel like I?ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team. And I think now, I think we?re getting to see that a little bit. What exactly, you know, I was capable of and what I was sacrificing. I think before maybe it wasn?t so obvious. I think now, I think being able to be at the helm of things and, um, us being the second seed in the East?versus last year we finished second seed in the East. it?s almost been no drop-off with four players, five players that are essentially gone. Um, I feel like that the work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has?has been great. And, um, you know, I just tried to make myself available every single night.

I've never loved this mentality.  "Sacrificing" touches and stats to win a championship isn't a sacrifice at all.

Also, there *has* been a drop off.  Our defense has dropped from 5th to 12th.  Our offense, defense, and net rating are all worse than last year.  The Celtics have overachieved to a large degree, but JB seems to be saying that JT and others aren't the true difference makers, and that's nonsense.

EDIT:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_-1ORYB9mw  Context @ 3:20

But if you aren't willing to sacrifice for the greater of the team then you won't be able to coexist and succeed. Both players demand the ball. It'll be interesting when Tatum comes back. Will one sacrifice or will both try to demand for the ball?

Again, it's not a sacrifice to make the play that helps the team win.

Did Larry Bird ever talk about his "sacrifice", having to share the ball with several Hall of Famers?

It's a mindset:  stats and credit, or winning? 

[Celtics4ever]

Tatum has average 6 APG in the last year he played and 3.8 for his career.   His stats were very close to Larry's in 24-25   Bird average 6.3 APG for his career.  Bird was a better passer and rebounder and a considered by many to be the 6th best pro of all time.

Browns assists are up to 4.9 APG this year but he had years of being a black hole like Kevin McHale.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tatumja01.html

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html

A lot of split second decisions happen during an assist.   Is it a better shot than I have.  Can my team mate make that shot better than I can from here. Etc.  Having good players to pass to helps a lot.  But sometimes passing is not the best option in some cases. 

I think Brown is a better leader than Tatum,  I think this year has settled that for me.

[slamtheking]

Tatum has average 6 APG in the last year he played and 3.8 for his career.   His stats were very close to Larry's in 24-25   Bird average 6.3 APG for his career.  Bird was a better passer and rebounder and a considered by many to be the 6th best pro of all time.

Browns assists are up to 4.9 APG this year but he had years of being a black hole like Kevin McHale.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tatumja01.html

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html

A lot of split second decisions happen during an assist.   Is it a better shot than I have.  Can my team mate make that shot better than I can from here. Etc.  Having good players to pass to helps a lot.  But sometimes passing is not the best option in some cases. 

I think Brown is a better leader than Tatum,  I think this year has settled that for me.

evidently many are ignorant of the greatness of Bird.  I have him at 3 behind Russell (greatest player that dominated the league with titles and made his teammates better) and Wilt (the greatest individual player ever in term of what he could do on the court).   

[Neurotic Guy]

Jaylen Brown: I feel like I?ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team. And I think now, I think we?re getting to see that a little bit. What exactly, you know, I was capable of and what I was sacrificing. I think before maybe it wasn?t so obvious. I think now, I think being able to be at the helm of things and, um, us being the second seed in the East?versus last year we finished second seed in the East. it?s almost been no drop-off with four players, five players that are essentially gone. Um, I feel like that the work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has?has been great. And, um, you know, I just tried to make myself available every single night.

I've never loved this mentality.  "Sacrificing" touches and stats to win a championship isn't a sacrifice at all.

Also, there *has* been a drop off.  Our defense has dropped from 5th to 12th.  Our offense, defense, and net rating are all worse than last year.  The Celtics have overachieved to a large degree, but JB seems to be saying that JT and others aren't the true difference makers, and that's nonsense.

EDIT:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_-1ORYB9mw  Context @ 3:20

100% agree with you.  They actually are not a championship team right now with him at the helm.  Better than expected and he is a major reason why (not the only reason - Q, Simons, Walsh, Hugo, Garza, Sam and PP).  But they aren?t winning a championship without JT and I hope he know that what he?s calling *sacrifice* is actually just being a teammate. I think they?ll be fine (hopefully kick it up) when JT returns but that will be him and JT doing what they should do, for which both of them earn an ungodly fortune.