Celtics 2025-26 Regular Season Discussion

[Neurotic Guy]

So they are 8-7.  Good chance to go 9-7 and maybe 10-7.

What?s your guess on their record if JT were playing? 

[Phantom255x]

So they are 8-7.  Good chance to go 9-7 and maybe 10-7.

What?s your guess on their record if JT were playing?

I think 10-5 or 11-4. A few of these 4th quarter losses might have been different if JT was there playing the quarter.

[keevsnick]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

[Donoghus]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

They're not a bad team.

[Jiri Welsch]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

They're not a bad team.

As much as I would love to see them get a high lottery pick, I think they will -- assuming health -- continue to hover around .500 (and maybe a bit better if Joe cuts down on the rotation as the year goes along)

[Darth_Yoda]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

They're not a bad team.

As much as I would love to see them get a high lottery pick, I think they will -- assuming health -- continue to hover around .500 (and maybe a bit better if Joe cuts down on the rotation as the year goes along)

Hovering around 500 is the absolute stupidest thing this franchise can do.

There is ZERO chance of winning it all, there is minimal chance of even being in a play-in.

We are at 500 early in season when other teams are still figuring out, and this completely ignores that the wins came against the Pelicans, Clippers,  Wizards, Magic, Grizzlies and Brooklyn.

[Donoghus]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

They're not a bad team.

As much as I would love to see them get a high lottery pick, I think they will -- assuming health -- continue to hover around .500 (and maybe a bit better if Joe cuts down on the rotation as the year goes along)

Hovering around 500 is the absolute stupidest thing this franchise can do.

There is ZERO chance of winning it all, there is minimal chance of even being in a play-in.

We are at 500 early in season when other teams are still figuring out, and this completely ignores that the wins came against the Pelicans, Clippers,  Wizards, Magic, Grizzlies and Brooklyn.

And you don't think this team isn't still figuring it out?

This is most likely a gap year due to the Tatum injury.  This roster, when healthy, is not a bottom feeder.  You can yell & scream about tanking but this organization seems to be taking a different direction and currently has a roster that is not among the dregs of the league and due to nature of the east, will most likely remain that way.  They have much more than a "minimal chance of even being in the play-in" if they continue to play this way.

They're not gonna win a title or anything but they're also not going to remain a treadmill team for the foreseeable future unless Tatum just never gets back to even 50% of his old self.  People so hellbent on lottery balls that they can't even enjoy the season.

[mobilija]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

They're not a bad team.

As much as I would love to see them get a high lottery pick, I think they will -- assuming health -- continue to hover around .500 (and maybe a bit better if Joe cuts down on the rotation as the year goes along)

Hovering around 500 is the absolute stupidest thing this franchise can do.

There is ZERO chance of winning it all, there is minimal chance of even being in a play-in.

We are at 500 early in season when other teams are still figuring out, and this completely ignores that the wins came against the Pelicans, Clippers,  Wizards, Magic, Grizzlies and Brooklyn.

Extreme view point to say the least.

Continue to develop the players while installing a competitive mind set, add Tatum and a one or even two more  B level players and this team is back on top of the East NEXT year.

We are not injured enuff to truly tank and trading away one of our current best players likely pushes the championship window farther away than ?26.

[Darth_Yoda]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

They're not a bad team.

As much as I would love to see them get a high lottery pick, I think they will -- assuming health -- continue to hover around .500 (and maybe a bit better if Joe cuts down on the rotation as the year goes along)

Hovering around 500 is the absolute stupidest thing this franchise can do.

There is ZERO chance of winning it all, there is minimal chance of even being in a play-in.

We are at 500 early in season when other teams are still figuring out, and this completely ignores that the wins came against the Pelicans, Clippers,  Wizards, Magic, Grizzlies and Brooklyn.

Extreme view point to say the least.

Continue to develop the players while installing a competitive mind set, add Tatum and a one or even two more  B level players and this team is back on top of the East NEXT year.

We are not injured enuff to truly tank and trading away one of our current best players likely pushes the championship window farther away than ?26.

Just jerk with lineups, play youth a bunch and the losses will pile up.

Add a good lotto pick in a generation draft, get Tatum back and healthy and make noise NEXT year.

It is the only play. Finishing around 500 and being, at best, a playin team with no chance of winning is a bad idea.

[slamtheking]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

They're not a bad team.

As much as I would love to see them get a high lottery pick, I think they will -- assuming health -- continue to hover around .500 (and maybe a bit better if Joe cuts down on the rotation as the year goes along)

Hovering around 500 is the absolute stupidest thing this franchise can do.

There is ZERO chance of winning it all, there is minimal chance of even being in a play-in.

We are at 500 early in season when other teams are still figuring out, and this completely ignores that the wins came against the Pelicans, Clippers,  Wizards, Magic, Grizzlies and Brooklyn.

Extreme view point to say the least.

Continue to develop the players while installing a competitive mind set, add Tatum and a one or even two more  B level players and this team is back on top of the East NEXT year.

We are not injured enuff to truly tank and trading away one of our current best players likely pushes the championship window farther away than ?26.

Just jerk with lineups, play youth a bunch and the losses will pile up.

Add a good lotto pick in a generation draft, get Tatum back and healthy and make noise NEXT year.

It is the only play. Finishing around 500 and being, at best, a playin team with no chance of winning is a bad idea.

no need to play crappy line-ups to force a bad record.  C's team isn't great and will lose more than we'd like against the better teams in the league.  Also, any games missed by JB (figure 10-15 like any typical year), White and PP (figure 5 each) will be an automatic loss because there's no depth to replace what JB contributes and we do not have the PG depth to make up for White or PP if they're out.

I've been saying since the preseason that we have the worst frontcourt in the league and that's still true.  we're not getting killed as badly on the offensive boards as we did to start the season but Queta's the only real rebounder we have.  Boucher has been a disappointment.  Tillman is well, Tillman.  Garza's not much of a defensive rebounder.  Minott has been a great energy guy but is not a strong rebounder.  This will continue to be an achilles heel against teams that hit the offensive glass. 

The C's are currently in a short stretch against bad teams they should beat but have a 7-game stretch coming up shortly that's against much better competition and will be a better indicator of what this team could accomplish this year.  I still think they'll be a late lottery team -- just miss the play-in in the East.  Wash and Brooklyn just really stink.  Charlotte can't get healthy but if they do, they'll be competitive.  Indy too -- healthy they'll be competitive but injuries are killing them.

other than those teams, who else is really a worse team than the C's this year in the East?  Everyone else either has a star player that can carry them or a better-fitting/deeper roster of talent that can get them more wins than the C's.

[Celtics2021]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

They're not a bad team.

As much as I would love to see them get a high lottery pick, I think they will -- assuming health -- continue to hover around .500 (and maybe a bit better if Joe cuts down on the rotation as the year goes along)

Hovering around 500 is the absolute stupidest thing this franchise can do.

There is ZERO chance of winning it all, there is minimal chance of even being in a play-in.

We are at 500 early in season when other teams are still figuring out, and this completely ignores that the wins came against the Pelicans, Clippers,  Wizards, Magic, Grizzlies and Brooklyn.

Hovering around .500 for season after season is a bad decision.  Hovering around .500 for the first month of the season when your star player is out and you?re trying to give 10-11 players minutes every night is absolutely fine.  Just a couple of seasons ago we were at .500 through 50 games before going on a run to the NBA finals four months later.  I am not saying that is in our future this year, but I also would not guarantee it is not.

[Darth_Yoda]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

They're not a bad team.

As much as I would love to see them get a high lottery pick, I think they will -- assuming health -- continue to hover around .500 (and maybe a bit better if Joe cuts down on the rotation as the year goes along)

Hovering around 500 is the absolute stupidest thing this franchise can do.

There is ZERO chance of winning it all, there is minimal chance of even being in a play-in.

We are at 500 early in season when other teams are still figuring out, and this completely ignores that the wins came against the Pelicans, Clippers,  Wizards, Magic, Grizzlies and Brooklyn.

Extreme view point to say the least.

Continue to develop the players while installing a competitive mind set, add Tatum and a one or even two more  B level players and this team is back on top of the East NEXT year.

We are not injured enuff to truly tank and trading away one of our current best players likely pushes the championship window farther away than ?26.

Just jerk with lineups, play youth a bunch and the losses will pile up.

Add a good lotto pick in a generation draft, get Tatum back and healthy and make noise NEXT year.

It is the only play. Finishing around 500 and being, at best, a playin team with no chance of winning is a bad idea.

no need to play crappy line-ups to force a bad record.  C's team isn't great and will lose more than we'd like against the better teams in the league.  Also, any games missed by JB (figure 10-15 like any typical year), White and PP (figure 5 each) will be an automatic loss because there's no depth to replace what JB contributes and we do not have the PG depth to make up for White or PP if they're out.

I've been saying since the preseason that we have the worst frontcourt in the league and that's still true.  we're not getting killed as badly on the offensive boards as we did to start the season but Queta's the only real rebounder we have.  Boucher has been a disappointment.  Tillman is well, Tillman.  Garza's not much of a defensive rebounder.  Minott has been a great energy guy but is not a strong rebounder.  This will continue to be an achilles heel against teams that hit the offensive glass. 

The C's are currently in a short stretch against bad teams they should beat but have a 7-game stretch coming up shortly that's against much better competition and will be a better indicator of what this team could accomplish this year.  I still think they'll be a late lottery team -- just miss the play-in in the East.  Wash and Brooklyn just really stink.  Charlotte can't get healthy but if they do, they'll be competitive.  Indy too -- healthy they'll be competitive but injuries are killing them.

other than those teams, who else is really a worse team than the C's this year in the East?  Everyone else either has a star player that can carry them or a better-fitting/deeper roster of talent that can get them more wins than the C's.

preach

[Phantom255x]

I'm becoming more and more convinced Simons is gonna get traded at the deadline. He's just a frustrating player and I don't even think the team knows his best role here.

Whether it's some sort of a salary dump or maybe using him as salary to acquire a big man, he's gonna get dealt. I'd prefer the latter

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

So they are 8-7.  Good chance to go 9-7 and maybe 10-7.

What?s your guess on their record if JT were playing?

Well, if JT were playing, we'd also probably still have Horford. And possibly one of Holiday or Zinger? But even if not, having JT and Al would make a huge difference for this team, especially the frontcourt.

[Ilikesports17]

Celtics are now:

#10 in net rating
#9 in offensive rating
#9 in defensive rating
#1 in offensive TOV%
#5 in defensive TOV%
#8 in offensive OREB%
#28 in defensive OREB%
#30 in offensive FTr
#28 in defensive FTr

All numbers according to cleaning the glass, which filters out garbage time.

They're not a bad team.

As much as I would love to see them get a high lottery pick, I think they will -- assuming health -- continue to hover around .500 (and maybe a bit better if Joe cuts down on the rotation as the year goes along)

Hovering around 500 is the absolute stupidest thing this franchise can do.

There is ZERO chance of winning it all, there is minimal chance of even being in a play-in.

We are at 500 early in season when other teams are still figuring out, and this completely ignores that the wins came against the Pelicans, Clippers,  Wizards, Magic, Grizzlies and Brooklyn.

Extreme view point to say the least.

Continue to develop the players while installing a competitive mind set, add Tatum and a one or even two more  B level players and this team is back on top of the East NEXT year.

We are not injured enuff to truly tank and trading away one of our current best players likely pushes the championship window farther away than ?26.

Just jerk with lineups, play youth a bunch and the losses will pile up.

Add a good lotto pick in a generation draft, get Tatum back and healthy and make noise NEXT year.

It is the only play. Finishing around 500 and being, at best, a playin team with no chance of winning is a bad idea.

Im sorry man. Wed all love to add a Boozer or Dybantsa or Peterson to the roster, but its just not happening unless we get Mavs level lottery luck. The team is 8-7 and nearly all the more predictive metrics suggest we are better than our record.

Our saving grace is that the East is strangely deep this year and we arent as good as the metrics say in my opinion. So its possible, if the rest of the East cooperates we can drop out of the play in. The real issue is that the tankers are so good at tanking and we are too good to drop into the 30ish win range required to project favorably for a top 7-8 pick.

If you are still hoping for tons of lottery balls it will have to come via trade or injury.

I suppose a reasonable ceiling would be the 11 seed in the East and the 10th best lottery odds. That gives us about a 14% chance at picking top 4, a 66% chance at picking 10th and about a 20% chance of picking 11th.

Id honestly take that.