76ers (1-1) at Celtics (1-0) Preseason Game #2 10/10/26

[Vermont Green]

Didn't see the game, or listen to it.  Based on the box score and reactions here, sounds like everyone really looked good.  I did see a few highlights including one where Paul George got a steal and a dunk.  He did not look like a gimpy, over the hill guy on that play.

I still am not sure that any of us know what to expect.  He has only averaged 48 games per season over the last 5 seasons (understanding that 25 of those missed games were due to suspension, not injury, but even if you don't count that, he is still at only 52 or 53 games).  What doesn't seem to match up is when has has played, at least recently (I am going on last season playoffs mostly) he does not look like a guy who is 36 and brittle.

I expect guys who are 36 and can't stay on the court to look more like Porzingis, kind of gimpy, like they are an injury just waiting to happen.  Paul George does not look like that to me.

Other than one season with OKC in 2018-19 where he scored 28 pts/gm, he has been in the range of 16-23 pts/gm every seasons for the last 11 seasons.  Last season he was about 17, the lower end of the range, but it is not like he has dropped off a cliff, as you see with some players who are his age and have had the number of injuries that he has had.  I don't want to be overly optimistic on him as I know all it takes is to come down wrong one time, but I am feeling way better about him than I was in the immediate aftermath of the trade.

[slamtheking]

Didn't see the game, or listen to it.  Based on the box score and reactions here, sounds like everyone really looked good.  I did see a few highlights including one where Paul George got a steal and a dunk.  He did not look like a gimpy, over the hill guy on that play.

I still am not sure that any of us know what to expect.  He has only averaged 48 games per season over the last 5 seasons (understanding that 25 of those missed games were due to suspension, not injury, but even if you don't count that, he is still at only 52 or 53 games).  What doesn't seem to match up is when has has played, at least recently (I am going on last season playoffs mostly) he does not look like a guy who is 36 and brittle.

I expect guys who are 36 and can't stay on the court to look more like Porzingis, kind of gimpy, like they are an injury just waiting to happen.  Paul George does not look like that to me.

Other than one season with OKC in 2018-19 where he scored 28 pts/gm, he has been in the range of 16-23 pts/gm every seasons for the last 11 seasons.  Last season he was about 17, the lower end of the range, but it is not like he has dropped off a cliff, as you see with some players who are his age and have had the number of injuries that he has had.  I don't want to be overly optimistic on him as I know all it takes is to come down wrong one time, but I am feeling way better about him than I was in the immediate aftermath of the trade.

in his case for a 36 year old, he has a lot less game mileage on this body so he has that going for him.  it's the other injury mileage that's going to derail him if anything. 

[Goldstar88]

Cenac Jr moves really well. If he could be a Jabari Smith Jr type that would be great.

Aim higher, my friend. I see him as a Kevin Love or possibly even Chris Bosh.

Those guys were drafted in the top 5. They were basically a sure thing. That would be great, but it is also unlikely.

[Neurotic Guy]

Geesh - another wrong thread from me.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Geesh - another wrong thread from me.

Looks like it's time to play Powerball.

[Celtics4ever]

One thing that was instantly noticeable to me was the better depth and athletic depth was improved. 

George and Robinson are really good and active defenders.

I think we will be a team that people will hate to play against.

White shot poorly from the three at 20%.  Hugo and Walsh shot out the lights this game.

[No Nickname]

I think we're going to have a smarter team this year, both offensively and defensively.  And hopefully one that shares the ball more. 

I can see the staff trying to replicate the Spurs' share-the-ball mentality.  And George compliments that well.

[Goldstar88]

I think we're going to have a smarter team this year, both offensively and defensively.  And hopefully one that shares the ball more. 

I can see the staff trying to replicate the Spurs' share-the-ball mentality.  And George compliments that well.

What do you mean by a smarter team?

[Vermont Green]

I think we're going to have a smarter team this year, both offensively and defensively.  And hopefully one that shares the ball more. 

I can see the staff trying to replicate the Spurs' share-the-ball mentality.  And George compliments that well.

What do you mean by a smarter team?

Yeah, I am not sure "smarter" is the term I would use.  I expect Paul George to be more efficient than Brown and have fewer turnovers.  Ironically, BOS had the lowest Opp Pts off TOV last season.  So even though Brown ranks high it total turnovers per game, it apparently did not lead to a lot of opponent points. 

For turnover ratio (an estimate of turnovers per possessions where the player was involved in the end result of the possession, the similar denominator as is used with TS%), Brown was 10.8% and George was only 8.5%.  Brown and George had almost the same TS% at about 57%.  Brown got to the line a lot more (7.5 FTA to 3.0 FTA).  George shot a little better from the line (82.0% to 79.5%).  George has a better assist ratio (17.6% to 15.2%).  George better from 3 (39.2% to 34.5%).   Brown better on 2pt shots (52.3% to 50.3%)

[No Nickname]

I think we're going to have a smarter team this year, both offensively and defensively.  And hopefully one that shares the ball more. 

I can see the staff trying to replicate the Spurs' share-the-ball mentality.  And George compliments that well.

What do you mean by a smarter team?

I think PG has a good basketball mind.  And that with him and Derrick White on the court, they'll feed off each other, and the others will see it and hopefully do the same, so we'll see a more cerebral game than we did last year.

[Neurotic Guy]

I think we're going to have a smarter team this year, both offensively and defensively.  And hopefully one that shares the ball more. 

I can see the staff trying to replicate the Spurs' share-the-ball mentality.  And George compliments that well.

What do you mean by a smarter team?

Yeah, I am not sure "smarter" is the term I would use.  I expect Paul George to be more efficient than Brown and have fewer turnovers.  Ironically, BOS had the lowest Opp Pts off TOV last season.  So even though Brown ranks high it total turnovers per game, it apparently did not lead to a lot of opponent points. 

For turnover ratio (an estimate of turnovers per possessions where the player was involved in the end result of the possession, the similar denominator as is used with TS%), Brown was 10.8% and George was only 8.5%.  Brown and George had almost the same TS% at about 57%.  Brown got to the line a lot more (7.5 FTA to 3.0 FTA).  George shot a little better from the line (82.0% to 79.5%).  George has a better assist ratio (17.6% to 15.2%).  George better from 3 (39.2% to 34.5%).   Brown better on 2pt shots (52.3% to 50.3%)

Thanks for the stats. Glad to see PG comparing well. What I think I might like best  about the comparison of JB to PG, besides defense, is the amount of time they hold the ball. We are not going to see PG dominating the ball. Of course sometimes JBs dribbling leads to effective attacks and good % shots, but also impacted ball movement and led to turnovers. If I didn?t expect that PG will miss a substantial number of games, I?d be pretty high on a one year JB for PG trade.  But unfortunately age will likely tell the biggest story.  But while he?s healthy, I think there?s a great chance that the team is noticeably better.