Shams: Jrue Holiday Traded to Blazers For Simons & Two Second Rounders

[Who]

Even last season, when the Blazers dramatically improved defensively and ranked just ahead of Boston at third in points allowed per 100 possessions over the second half of the season, Simons rated near the bottom of the league in luck-adjusted defensive RAPM (regularized adjusted plus-minus) from BBall-Index.com. Simons' estimated impact of 2.0 points per 100 possessions is worse than that of an average defender ranked in the bottom 20. No Celtics player was in the bottom 170.[/b]

I'm going to interpret this to mean that a team can have a great defense, even with Simons as a core piece.

It's the playoffs when he starts getting matchup hunted that will be the issue.

[jambr380]

I'm sure all of us are familiar with Simons, but probably not overly familiar. Tomasz Kordylewski always puts together great comp videos and this one is no exception. As with most highlight videos, Simons absolutely looks like a superstar here, but I find it interesting that the last bunch of highlights are all end of the game situations where he actually comes through. I wonder if this was a factor in Brad acquiring him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbsiwhmq-8w

[A Future of Stevens]

I'm sure all of us are familiar with Simons, but probably not overly familiar. Tomasz Kordylewski always puts together great comp videos and this one is no exception. As with most highlight videos, Simons absolutely looks like a superstar here, but I find it interesting that the last bunch of highlights are all end of the game situations where he actually comes through. I wonder if this was a factor in Brad acquiring him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbsiwhmq-8w

TP. Timi is the best at Celtics highlights. He is always quick off the draw. I watched this yesterday and got excited. We will see what happens, but I'm happy we got a walking 26 year old bucket for 35 year old Holiday. I think the key will be if we can get him to be passable on defense.

[No Nickname]

I'm sure all of us are familiar with Simons, but probably not overly familiar. Tomasz Kordylewski always puts together great comp videos and this one is no exception. As with most highlight videos, Simons absolutely looks like a superstar here, but I find it interesting that the last bunch of highlights are all end of the game situations where he actually comes through. I wonder if this was a factor in Brad acquiring him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbsiwhmq-8w

I don't know how many seasons' worth of clutch shots were included (were those all from last year or the past two years?) but he already looks more clutch than anyone we've had on this team in the past 15 years save for Isiah Thomas Jr and Kryie.

I'm curious about the metrics on his "clutch" plays, with less than a minute in a three-point game or less.  This was a definitive weakness for this team the past two years.

[Vermont Green]

Even last season, when the Blazers dramatically improved defensively and ranked just ahead of Boston at third in points allowed per 100 possessions over the second half of the season, Simons rated near the bottom of the league in luck-adjusted defensive RAPM (regularized adjusted plus-minus) from BBall-Index.com. Simons' estimated impact of 2.0 points per 100 possessions is worse than that of an average defender ranked in the bottom 20. No Celtics player was in the bottom 170.[/b]

I'm going to interpret this to mean that a team can have a great defense, even with Simons as a core piece.

It's the playoffs when he starts getting matchup hunted that will be the issue.

PLAYOFFS???  Are you talking about PLAYOFFS?  "Playoffs?! Don't talk about playoffs! You kidding me? Playoffs?!"  (Jim Mora)

I think Simons will be long gone before BOS is in the playoffs again.  Sounds like he has major issues on defense.  Maybe he can be a good bench scorer (microwave) type player for a playoff team, but I don't see that being the Celtics.  Any money we have to spend for 2026-27 and beyond needs to be spent on bigs.