Raptors (11-18) at Celtics (24-6) Game #31 12/29/23

[Goldstar88]

C’s actually took less 3’s(39) than the Raptors tonight(44).

[radiohead]

C’s(39)actually took less 3’s than the Raptors tonight(44).

Speaking of threes, Luke was known as a three point shooter early on in his career. I wonder why that is not being utilized with the Cs, considering three point shooting is a huge part of our offense. He had a couple of open threes which he passed on earlier.

[Phantom255x]

Raptors play the Pistons tomorrow

Will the starving Pistons fans finally get their free Wingstop 

[radiohead]

Raptors play the Pistons tomorrow

Will the starving Pistons fans finally get their free Wingstop 

I have a feeling this could be the game the Pistons finally get!

[Birdman]

No Tatum, no Porzingus, no Al & still won!!!

[SparzWizard]

Definitely winning lots of games this year that we wouldn't have last year.

Yeah this team definitely would've lost this Pistons and Raptors game last year. Hang on to a lead and then blow it away. Or just getting curb stomped all day long.

It's def the loss of Marcus Smart and addition of battle-tested vets.

[ozgod]

C’s(39)actually took less 3’s than the Raptors tonight(44).

Speaking of threes, Luke was known as a three point shooter early on in his career. I wonder why that is not being utilized with the Cs, considering three point shooting is a huge part of our offense. He had a couple of open threes which he passed on earlier.

Clearly he’s been told that’s not why Joe wants him out there. A three point shot is not considered to be a good shot option for him. Stick to lobs and rim rolls.

(Besides imagine the outcry if he starts chucking up threes) 

[ozgod]

Pheeew!!

Two fantastic wins in a row!! Love this Celtics.

Glad for the win, but this home stand has been somewhat alarming.

Eh, I'm not worried. Toronto is a tough team despite their record, and being on the second night of a B2B and without 3 of our top 6 players, that's a good win. I'm surprised their record is as bad as it is.

Last night I think was also a situation where the context matters. First game off of a long road trip, without Brown, and up against a very desperate team who was playing very freely due to low expectations and wanting to not make history. It could've been better, but we did enough to win. That's all that matters.

If anything, I think it's a positive homestand, as it further shows that we can still win ugly, when not fully healthy, and when not hitting the threes (so long as we adjust our approach).

Agree, TP. Can’t beat them by 20 every game no matter how we want them to…these types of close games where we had to fight for a win despite adversity are what build that winning habit and mindset.

[Neurotic Guy]

Did Holiday miss that last FT on purpose?

I wondered that too because it was so short.  But I don’t think it made any sense to miss. 

I’m trying to think of the game earlier in the season that Jrue missed two FTs late with an opportunity to seal it.  Anyone recall?  Lost the game I think.  That’s 2-6 FTs with the game on the line. Surprising. 

[cman88]

these are games the celtics lose last year so I take that as a positive development.

[radiohead]

Did Holiday miss that last FT on purpose?

It was against Charlotte. We were up 2 with 8 seconds to go i think. Holiday missed 2 freethrows which could have sealed the game. Instead, LaMelo Ball drove in for a quick two to send the game into OT, where we eventually lost the game.
I wondered that too because it was so short.  But I don’t think it made any sense to miss. 

I’m trying to think of the game earlier in the season that Jrue missed two FTs late with an opportunity to seal it.  Anyone recall?  Lost the game I think.  That’s 2-6 FTs with the game on the line. Surprising.

[Surferdad]

C’s(39)actually took less 3’s than the Raptors tonight(44).

Speaking of threes, Luke was known as a three point shooter early on in his career. I wonder why that is not being utilized with the Cs, considering three point shooting is a huge part of our offense. He had a couple of open threes which he passed on earlier.

Clearly he’s been told that’s not why Joe wants him out there. A three point shot is not considered to be a good shot option for him. Stick to lobs and rim rolls.

(Besides imagine the outcry if he starts chucking up threes) 

This is the clear directive for anyone not in the top-6: Get the ball in the hands of a starter. DO NOT SHOOT, unless the play is broken down and time running out.

[Vermont Green]

Kornet was a -2… 

Okay I am begging people.  PLEASE stop quoting single-game +/- as if it means anything.  It doesn't.  It is irrelevant.  It only becomes useful in much larger samples, and personally I don't like it even then, but at least it's better than single-game.

I don't agree that +/- is a bad or irrelevant stat, even one game.  The +/- from that one game may not tell you much about the player overall but it does tell you something about that player in that game.  It is not the end all, but it is representative of what that player did in that game to contribute to winning.  It is one of many things that should be looked at.

In this game, Kornet was -2, Pritchard was -3, and Hauser was -8.  Those stats all mean something (about this game), not everything, but something.

No matter how you slice it though, Kornet stepped in and played a key role in a win.  20 pts, 8 rebs, and down the stretch, he was involved in several of the game deciding plays.  He was good.  The -2 is real though.  You could dissect that and see what happened but in a close game, -2 is not that far off the norm.  It is what Kornet is.  A flawed but useful player who is more important than a lot seem to give him credit for.  And he showed all of that in this game.

[Vermont Green]

C’s(39)actually took less 3’s than the Raptors tonight(44).

Speaking of threes, Luke was known as a three point shooter early on in his career. I wonder why that is not being utilized with the Cs, considering three point shooting is a huge part of our offense. He had a couple of open threes which he passed on earlier.

Clearly he’s been told that’s not why Joe wants him out there. A three point shot is not considered to be a good shot option for him. Stick to lobs and rim rolls.

(Besides imagine the outcry if he starts chucking up threes) 

This is the clear directive for anyone not in the top-6: Get the ball in the hands of a starter. DO NOT SHOOT, unless the play is broken down and time running out.

Kornet has not shot over 30% from 3 in a season since 2018/19.  That is a long time ago.  This demonstrates part of why Luke is a useful player.  He understands what he needs to do to help the team and that does not include taking 3s.  A lot of players would still take 3s but Luke is willing to do exactly what he needs to do, the epitome of an unselfish player.  He seems to understand very well exactly who he is as a player, which is not always easy to do.

[Kernewek]

Did Holiday miss that last FT on purpose?

I’m trying to think of the game earlier in the season that Jrue missed two FTs late with an opportunity to seal it.  Anyone recall?  Lost the game I think.  That’s 2-6 FTs with the game on the line. Surprising.

It was against Charlotte. We were up 2 with 8 seconds to go i think. Holiday missed 2 freethrows which could have sealed the game. Instead, LaMelo Ball drove in for a quick two to send the game into OT, where we eventually lost the game.
I wondered that too because it was so short.  But I don’t think it made any sense to miss. 

He’s never had a reputation as a guy who raises his game in the big moments, though, so this does fit with that narrative - which, obviously, should be heavily caveatted.