Celtics (19-12) at Jazz (12-19) Game #32 12/30/25

[Phantom255x]

Utah is starting to make some strides despite what the record says. Keyonte George is a beast. Collier, Filipowski and Clayton are good young pieces to continue to develop. Markannen probably isn't a long term fit there but I'd explore seeing if you can land another young piece and picks at some point, and then you get Kessler back next year too to go along with a Top-10 pick this year

They have some nice pieces and it will be interesting to see how Bailey develops. Team needs a quality starting wing. George and Markannen are playing at an All-star level.

Actually I also forgot Markannen signed a big extension with Utah and it started this year. They can keep and build with Lauri around, the goal will be to try and land another star player at some point via FA or trade to go along with the young pieces.

I wonder if Utah also realizes their lottery luck has been poor and are no longer truly tanking anymore. They'll still be bad this year, but probably not "atrocious" or not trying levels of bad. It's probably more now about development of the current guys.

Utah has to tank in order to keep their pick. I believe it is top 8 protected. Will go to OKC otherwise.

Oh right I forgot. But then again with their luck the lottery might still give it to OKC 

[Neurotic Guy]

Looks like we?re gonna survive despite poor shooting from 3. Too bad JB isn?t gonna break the 30 point streak but he?s still in good company with Larry Legend.

As a Larry Legend fanatic, glad he tied it and didn't break it!

Interesting to note that Larry?s highest ppg was 29.9 in 87-88 in 39mpg.  JB is currently 29.5 ppg in 34 mpg. Speaks to how great an offensive year JB is having.

That's true, but it's a different mindset now in how the game is played. 

In 87-88, Bird had 237 total 3PA or 3.1 3PAPG and made 41.4%.  Jaylen already has 135 3PA and is shooting 5.5 3PAPG and is hitting 37%.  Jaylen is doubling what players used to do.  Imagine Larry taking 487 3's which is Jaylen's high but instead of hitting 33.5% like Jaylen did, he hit 41%.  Even in Birds last year, bad back and all, he hit 52/128 3's for 40.6%!

Bird's career APG is 6.3 and 10 RPG.  Jaylen is 2.7 APG and 5.4 RPG.

Don't get me wrong, I love JB, but comparing him the LB is wrong.

You?re right - there?s no comparing a top 10 all timer to JB - but looking at cherry picked stats, JB has numbers at the moment that mirror MVP worthy stats. That?s impressive for a guy who in some rankings couldn?t break top 20 last year. He?s moved himself up to looking like a top ten player.  But yeah - he?ll never be in the stratosphere that LB lived.