Celtics (18-11) at Pacers (6-24) Game #30 12/26/25

[Silas]

TPs for those that showed up the day after Xmas.

[Redz]

A hot Hauser is really nice to see.

[ozgod]

A hot Hauser is really nice to see.

He had to got hot eventually after having a few dismal games where he was like zero of 11

[Phantom255x]

Man, from thinking about tanking the season to now being 19-11 

19-11 is kinda insane without Tatum and the lack of a frontcourt, plus considering our schedule has actually been pretty tough so far overall (played quite a few quality teams already)

[ozgod]

Man, from thinking about tanking the season to now being 19-11 

19-11 is kinda insane without Tatum and the lack of a frontcourt, plus considering our schedule has actually been pretty tough so far overall (played quite a few quality teams already)

As Roy mentioned in the other thread, a lot of credit for that has to go to Joe? We talk about tactics and timeouts and subs and all that tactical stuff but he has a whole staff to help him with that? his primary role as head Coach is to make sure everyone is aligned and pulling in the same direction, with the same goal, with personal agendas subordinated to the overall goal, and to make sure everyone that plays adopts the team culture and he?s definitely done that.

Compare that with Philly where even taking into account Embiid being in and out of the lineup, they have players that are all chasing their own agendas, some are trying to get paid, so are trying to get traded, some are trying to get scoring titles and nobody seems to be aligned and prepared to sacrifice

[Silas]

Fun team to watch and well coached by Joe.

[radiohead]

TPs all! On to the next!

[Phantom255x]

Man, from thinking about tanking the season to now being 19-11 

19-11 is kinda insane without Tatum and the lack of a frontcourt, plus considering our schedule has actually been pretty tough so far overall (played quite a few quality teams already)

As Roy mentioned in the other thread, a lot of credit for that has to go to Joe? We talk about tactics and timeouts and subs and all that tactical stuff but he has a whole staff to help him with that? his primary role as head Coach is to make sure everyone is aligned and pulling in the same direction, with the same goal, with personal agendas subordinated to the overall goal, and to make sure everyone that plays adopts the team culture and he?s definitely done that.

Compare that with Philly where even taking into account Embiid being in and out of the lineup, they have players that are all chasing their own agendas, some are trying to get paid, so are trying to get traded, some are trying to get scoring titles and nobody seems to be aligned and prepared to sacrifice

All hail Joe!

I'll give some of the players like Jaylen, Queta, Walsh, etc. credit too, they've played awesome and are certainly proving some of the doubters (including me) wrong along the way. We may have a young core to build with going forward with Tatum returning (just need to acquire another center somehow this deadline or offseason)

[Silas]

Man, from thinking about tanking the season to now being 19-11 

19-11 is kinda insane without Tatum and the lack of a frontcourt, plus considering our schedule has actually been pretty tough so far overall (played quite a few quality teams already)

As Roy mentioned in the other thread, a lot of credit for that has to go to Joe? We talk about tactics and timeouts and subs and all that tactical stuff but he has a whole staff to help him with that? his primary role as head Coach is to make sure everyone is aligned and pulling in the same direction, with the same goal, with personal agendas subordinated to the overall goal, and to make sure everyone that plays adopts the team culture and he?s definitely done that.

Compare that with Philly where even taking into account Embiid being in and out of the lineup, they have players that are all chasing their own agendas, some are trying to get paid, so are trying to get traded, some are trying to get scoring titles and nobody seems to be aligned and prepared to sacrifice

All hail Joe!

I'll give some of the players like Jaylen, Queta, Walsh, etc. credit too, they've played awesome and are certainly proving some of the doubters (including me) wrong along the way. We may have a young core to build with going forward with Tatum returning (just need to acquire another center somehow this deadline or offseason)

Agree we need another center, but in the meantime Garza is playing solid backup minutes to Q.  He had a very good game tonight.

[Phantom255x]

Man, from thinking about tanking the season to now being 19-11 

19-11 is kinda insane without Tatum and the lack of a frontcourt, plus considering our schedule has actually been pretty tough so far overall (played quite a few quality teams already)

As Roy mentioned in the other thread, a lot of credit for that has to go to Joe? We talk about tactics and timeouts and subs and all that tactical stuff but he has a whole staff to help him with that? his primary role as head Coach is to make sure everyone is aligned and pulling in the same direction, with the same goal, with personal agendas subordinated to the overall goal, and to make sure everyone that plays adopts the team culture and he?s definitely done that.

Compare that with Philly where even taking into account Embiid being in and out of the lineup, they have players that are all chasing their own agendas, some are trying to get paid, so are trying to get traded, some are trying to get scoring titles and nobody seems to be aligned and prepared to sacrifice

All hail Joe!

I'll give some of the players like Jaylen, Queta, Walsh, etc. credit too, they've played awesome and are certainly proving some of the doubters (including me) wrong along the way. We may have a young core to build with going forward with Tatum returning (just need to acquire another center somehow this deadline or offseason)

Agree we need another center, but in the meantime Garza is playing solid backup minutes to Q.  He had a very good game tonight.

He's looked great the last few games. That would be a massive development if he could become that backup, but I'm also not sure if it's a matchup thing and maybe he's only useful against these bad teams like Indiana

[ozgod]

Man, from thinking about tanking the season to now being 19-11 

19-11 is kinda insane without Tatum and the lack of a frontcourt, plus considering our schedule has actually been pretty tough so far overall (played quite a few quality teams already)

As Roy mentioned in the other thread, a lot of credit for that has to go to Joe? We talk about tactics and timeouts and subs and all that tactical stuff but he has a whole staff to help him with that? his primary role as head Coach is to make sure everyone is aligned and pulling in the same direction, with the same goal, with personal agendas subordinated to the overall goal, and to make sure everyone that plays adopts the team culture and he?s definitely done that.

Compare that with Philly where even taking into account Embiid being in and out of the lineup, they have players that are all chasing their own agendas, some are trying to get paid, so are trying to get traded, some are trying to get scoring titles and nobody seems to be aligned and prepared to sacrifice

All hail Joe!

I'll give some of the players like Jaylen, Queta, Walsh, etc. credit too, they've played awesome and are certainly proving some of the doubters (including me) wrong along the way. We may have a young core to build with going forward with Tatum returning (just need to acquire another center somehow this deadline or offseason)

Agree we need another center, but in the meantime Garza is playing solid backup minutes to Q.  He had a very good game tonight.

He's looked great the last few games. That would be a massive development if he could become that backup, but I'm also not sure if it's a matchup thing and maybe he's only useful against these bad teams like Indiana

It's really hard to tell vs Indy because they don't really have a center 

[Goldstar88]

Pritchard had 9 rebounds. He out-rebounded every player in the game.

[Jiri Welsch]

8 games above .500 this early into the season is huge. Gives them lots of wiggle room as the year goes along to withstand a mini losing streak but still remain a solid contender for 1st round homecourt.

Go Celtics!!!

[Neurotic Guy]

What is becoming pretty clear is the expectation that Cs will be competitive v good teams and will dismiss bad teams.  Thats the sign of an upper tier NBA team. Obviously they aren?t OKC, SA, Denver - however, you could argue next tier down.  Wow - credit to players, Joe, and Brad. 

There was a stretch in last nights game where JB was Bird-like (name any great shooter), unconsciously swishing 15 -18 footers. And he finishes his night with 2 bombs in a row to get to 30.  I?ll be honest, I don?t love that getting to 30 mattered but clearly Joe wanted him to have a shot at it and JB knew what he needed to get there. I guess I?d prefer that with the game in hand that JB take the rest of the night seated and not be concerned with a 30+ streak, only concerned with the win.  But probably makes no difference. 

Garza good again.  Walsh with an adjustment game post illness. Hugo and Queta contributing great energy. DW solid. Pritchard was terrific.