Sixers (0-0) at Celtics (0-0) Preseason Game 1 10/6/14

[Csfan1984]

Well my thoughts of each C's player this game is as follows

Smart C, Good passing, D and Ball handling. Bad shooting.
Pressey C+, Solid all around.
Turner B+, Did it all. Still could have shot better % and use better lane angles to create.

Bradley C-, Good D and movement without the ball. Bad shooting and more TO than assist.
Thornton C+, He hit the 3 and showed a little d. Better shot selection needed in some cases.

Young C-, Fast at getting shots off but needs to shoot better.
Wallace C+, Hustle and effort was brought. Lacks scoring touch typical Wallace game.

Sully C-, Rebounded well and that is about it.
Bass C+, Played as expected a Bass "lunch-pail" type game.

Olynyk C, Had good moments but a few times got embarrassed IMO.
Zeller  D-, Guy looked lost at times and he lacked awareness. Hope he was just nervous.

[ummidkme]

Found this interesting. Turner talking:

“I think I just started finding a little rhythm,” he said. “I think (Rajon) Rondo helped me a lot with my patience of it and kind of told me what he was seeing … I think finally I just started slowing down and letting the game come to me.”

From http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/turners-lesson-learned-singles-over-home-runs

[pokeKingCurtis]

Found this interesting. Turner talking:

“I think I just started finding a little rhythm,” he said. “I think (Rajon) Rondo helped me a lot with my patience of it and kind of told me what he was seeing … I think finally I just started slowing down and letting the game come to me.”

From http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/turners-lesson-learned-singles-over-home-runs

Was gonna say, could Smart and Turner's more patient play today be a result of Rondo's teaching?

But I was afraid that I would be bombarded with virtual tomatoes from the anti-Rondo crowd.

Guess the answer is: maybe.




And yes. I lurk here. A lot.

[Nerf DPOY]

I just appreciate that they put "Rajon" in parentheses in Turner's quote. I was clueless otherwise.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Turner B+, Did it all. Still could have shot better % and use better lane angles to create.

The shots he missed? All at rim attempts. He did not settle for little flip shots, just went at the basket.

One missed at-rim attempt led to a Sullinger O-Reb and putback.

There was also a stretch he kept going to the rim and eventually got one. I loved that.

Plus he got to the line 4 times. I believe his TS% for the night was pretty good.

Gotta say again that I'm pleasantly surprised with Turner and Smart's decision making today given their reputations.

I'm thinking when Rondo returns, there'd be yet another dimension as we'll see Turner and Smart scoring more.

[j804]

Good old Celtics basketball is back gotta love it. I missed Tommy forget what he said but we were shooting %15 and he spun it so it seemed like a good thing. We got a that's bogus from him in the 1st quarter. Lol

I think this team will be fun to watch this year unlike last year it was just painful at times. I know we'll probably not win a lot but Rondo heathy in his contract year, watching Sully and Olynyk trying to take the next step, watching our young kids drafted look who look pretty [dang] good its going to be fun.

[sofutomygaha]

Here are my initial impressions before I go back and read what you guys have posted-

1) Evan Turner looked like the only player on the team who can finish at the rim. He also uses screens beautifully, and knows how to keep his defender on his hip on a pick and roll. I also love seeing a guard rebound like that. This is the extent of the nice things I have to say about him, however. He was making terrible, horrible, hot potato passes and was looked blind on defense.

2) Jared Sullinger was always in good position, always made smart decisions with the ball, and showed excellent technique on defense. As always, he was great on the board. Put all that together, and he's still a merely decent player because he can't run or jump. I don't see how he gets better playing so fat.

3) Kelly Olynyk missed the easy, wide open ones and looked overmatched all night, but the team was undeniably better with him on the court. Same as always, I guess. He played great defense on Nerlens Noel, but I think that right now the book on Noel is too keep your hands up and feet down, and let him beat himself.

4) "All this stuff about how beautiful James Young's shot is is silly unless it goes in," is what I was thinking until I watched him and could have sworn he was 3/5 instead of 1/5 from distance.

5) Marcus Smart's defense was awesome.

6) The play where Gerald Wallace made that amazing hustle steal... and then missed the layup... summarizes Gerald Wallace perfectly at this point.

7) Zeller was terrible in every way. I hated every second that he was on the court.

Bass and Bradley were typical. Nothing interesting to say about them.

9) Thornton can shoot; we knew that.


Finally- Nerlens Noel is incredibly fun to watch. He's pretty useless on offense, but on defense holy crap. Turner was the only guy we have who could even test him near the basket. How many times did he get popped off his feet and still somehow manage to swallow the shooter up?

[TwinTower14]

Smart - looked like a guy that was very concerned with running a team and thinking rather than just playing.  Still, as I have stated since the C's drafted him, he is the PG of the future and he will be the PG on the next great C's team.  His defense is incredible, he beats guys to the spot, he draws chargers, he is physical etc....whether Rondo is here or not, he is going to play a lot of minutes. 

Does Avery Bradley know he doesn't have to shoot every time he touches the ball??

Young - really like his game, he is smooth, not intimidated and he just has a knack for getting buckets....

Sully was solid as usual, just disappointed that in his body, doesn't look like he did a thing this offseason....

[Celtics4ever]

I noticed several things.

1) Sully - still our best rebounder by a long shot, was benched twice and replaced by Zeller after taking and missing threes.   He looked out of shape and could not make a three.   Had some nice low post moves.  I think the green light on threes is now a red light which it should be if he is not making them.

2) Smart - Can't shoot or get to the rim and is offensively challenged.   Played great D and did everything else at a high level.  TO's were low, passes were good.  I was most impressed by his strength as guys bounced off him.   May have been game managing as Twintowers said rather than playing.

3) Oly - Showed high basketball IQ but shot poorly.   Aside from his IQ and size doesn't have many other tools on defense.   Rebounded OK.   Played like a backup much of the game.   Had one really nice floater over three defenders.

4)  AB -shot poorly.   In fact, some of his shots were flat out bricks.   Did play some good D in stretches and the Smart and AB backcourt looked good on D but has nothing behind it, at least in this game.

5) Zeller -   looked horrible in about every facet of the game.   I do not like where he is positioned in our offense sets.   Looked lost and I am glad we gave very little to get him because we got very little out of him.  I was hoping for a little better.  Eric Montross lives in spirit.

6)  Turner - was not surprised by his play but I am from Ohio.  Played like he did at OSU, where he played a lot of PG as well.   He can get to the rim and did some nifty scoring.  If he gets a PG down low with his height it's two points.   Good signing.

7) Thornton - Instant offense off the bench.   May be better than some of the guys starting at least last night he was better than AB.

Pressey - Solid third string PG actually better than Smart on offense at this point.  Played good D and hit a three.

9)  Young - silky smooth jumper and played hard on D.   I think he will be a solid player in a few years has ideal size and wasn't afraid to let it rip on O.  More offensively advanced than Smart at this point.  Several of his shots went half way down and came back up.

10) Wallace - plays hard as usual and does little things that coaches love.

11) Rest of team - yawn, not much displayed.

First preseason game, so take it with a grain of salt.  I think RR and Green will help us and they were out.    But to guys who think we are going to make noise in playoffs.  Philly had guys out too, and for a half they had our number.  I hope the NBA changes the lotto rules because we are likely to miss the playoffs and be in it.   Were it up to me, I would play Turner at SF, Green at PF and Sully at C with AB at SG and RR/Smart at PG.   I think this team would be better in up tempo than the  Sullynyk lineup.

It was great to have Celtics Basketball again.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Most disappointing thing I saw last night was the lack of Olynyk Ponytail.

[aingeforthree]

I noticed several things.

1) Sully - still our best rebounder by a long shot, was benched twice and replaced by Zeller after taking and missing threes.   He looked out of shape and could not make a three.   Had some nice low post moves.  I think the green light on threes is now a red light which it should be if he is not making them.

2) Smart - Can't shoot or get to the rim and is offensively challenged.   Played great D and did everything else at a high level.  TO's were low, passes were good.  I was most impressed by his strength as guys bounced off him.   May have been game managing as Twintowers said rather than playing.

3) Oly - Showed high basketball IQ but shot poorly.   Aside from his IQ and size doesn't have many other tools on defense.   Rebounded OK.   Played like a backup much of the game.   Had one really nice floater over three defenders.

4)  AB -shot poorly.   In fact, some of his shots were flat out bricks.   Did play some good D in stretches and the Smart and AB backcourt looked good on D but has nothing behind it, at least in this game.

5) Zeller -   looked horrible in about every facet of the game.   I do not like where he is positioned in our offense sets.   Looked lost and I am glad we gave very little to get him because we got very little out of him.  I was hoping for a little better.  Eric Montross lives in spirit.

6)  Turner - was not surprised by his play but I am from Ohio.  Played like he did at OSU, where he played a lot of PG as well.   He can get to the rim and did some nifty scoring.  If he gets a PG down low with his height it's two points.   Good signing.

7) Thornton - Instant offense off the bench.   May be better than some of the guys starting at least last night he was better than AB.

Pressey - Solid third string PG actually better than Smart on offense at this point.  Played good D and hit a three.

9)  Young - silky smooth jumper and played hard on D.   I think he will be a solid player in a few years has ideal size and wasn't afraid to let it rip on O.  More offensively advanced than Smart at this point.  Several of his shots went half way down and came back up.

10) Wallace - plays hard as usual and does little things that coaches love.

11) Rest of team - yawn, not much displayed.

First preseason game, so take it with a grain of salt.  I think RR and Green will help us and they were out.    But to guys who think we are going to make noise in playoffs.  Philly had guys out too, and for a half they had our number.  I hope the NBA changes the lotto rules because we are likely to miss the playoffs and be in it.   Were it up to me, I would play Turner at SF, Green at PF and Sully at C with AB at SG and RR/Smart at PG.   I think this team would be better in up tempo than the  Sullynyk lineup.

It was great to have Celtics Basketball again.

Are we watching the same player ?  A rookie who ran the show like that at the point is not 'offensively challenged'.  He would've had 10 assists in the first quarter if Bradley could hit an open shot.  His shot wasn't there but the kid can play the point & play it darn well already.  He understands how to run an offense.  This is a 20 yr old were talking about. Now just get him a SG who can shoot.

[2short]

I noticed several things.

1) Sully - still our best rebounder by a long shot, was benched twice and replaced by Zeller after taking and missing threes.   He looked out of shape and could not make a three.   Had some nice low post moves.  I think the green light on threes is now a red light which it should be if he is not making them.

2) Smart - Can't shoot or get to the rim and is offensively challenged.   Played great D and did everything else at a high level.  TO's were low, passes were good.  I was most impressed by his strength as guys bounced off him.   May have been game managing as Twintowers said rather than playing.

3) Oly - Showed high basketball IQ but shot poorly.   Aside from his IQ and size doesn't have many other tools on defense.   Rebounded OK.   Played like a backup much of the game.   Had one really nice floater over three defenders.

4)  AB -shot poorly.   In fact, some of his shots were flat out bricks.   Did play some good D in stretches and the Smart and AB backcourt looked good on D but has nothing behind it, at least in this game.

5) Zeller -   looked horrible in about every facet of the game.   I do not like where he is positioned in our offense sets.   Looked lost and I am glad we gave very little to get him because we got very little out of him.  I was hoping for a little better.  Eric Montross lives in spirit.

6)  Turner - was not surprised by his play but I am from Ohio.  Played like he did at OSU, where he played a lot of PG as well.   He can get to the rim and did some nifty scoring.  If he gets a PG down low with his height it's two points.   Good signing.

7) Thornton - Instant offense off the bench.   May be better than some of the guys starting at least last night he was better than AB.

Pressey - Solid third string PG actually better than Smart on offense at this point.  Played good D and hit a three.

9)  Young - silky smooth jumper and played hard on D.   I think he will be a solid player in a few years has ideal size and wasn't afraid to let it rip on O.  More offensively advanced than Smart at this point.  Several of his shots went half way down and came back up.

10) Wallace - plays hard as usual and does little things that coaches love.

11) Rest of team - yawn, not much displayed.

First preseason game, so take it with a grain of salt.  I think RR and Green will help us and they were out.    But to guys who think we are going to make noise in playoffs.  Philly had guys out too, and for a half they had our number.  I hope the NBA changes the lotto rules because we are likely to miss the playoffs and be in it.   Were it up to me, I would play Turner at SF, Green at PF and Sully at C with AB at SG and RR/Smart at PG.   I think this team would be better in up tempo than the  Sullynyk lineup.

It was great to have Celtics Basketball again.

agree to a lot you say, my thoughts:
i felt bass played good defense and was very efficient scoring and play for limited minutes
smart looked good on defense, real good i should say, i hope he develops an outside shot, looks to be a solid backup pg for rondo, not in same class though for those saying "the future"
bradley, granted its only one game, but he looked like he could loose the starting sg spot to smart, thornton or turner when rondo returns
kelly…he's our starting center, nice improvement on defense, would like him to become more of a focal point on offense
he's our starting center because zeller is lost, bad game maybe but he looked like a deer in the headlights
turner some silly turnovers but besides that looks really solid (defense not so hot)

loving it
wonder if a rondo and thornton or turner backcourt makes sense?
second unit bradley & smart

rondo, turner, green, sully, kelly

[danglertx]

Well my thoughts of each C's player this game is as follows

Smart C, Good passing, D and Ball handling. Bad shooting.
Pressey C+, Solid all around.
Turner B+, Did it all. Still could have shot better % and use better lane angles to create.

Bradley C-, Good D and movement without the ball. Bad shooting and more TO than assist.
Thornton C+, He hit the 3 and showed a little d. Better shot selection needed in some cases.

Young C-, Fast at getting shots off but needs to shoot better.
Wallace C+, Hustle and effort was brought. Lacks scoring touch typical Wallace game.

Sully C-, Rebounded well and that is about it.
Bass C+, Played as expected a Bass "lunch-pail" type game.

Olynyk C, Had good moments but a few times got embarrassed IMO.
Zeller  D-, Guy looked lost at times and he lacked awareness. Hope he was just nervous.

I'd hate to see your grades when they lose by 20.  Sheesh!

[Celtics4ever]

i felt bass played good defense and was very efficient scoring and play for limited minutes

I totally forgot Bass , I too, thought he played well. 

[Nerf DPOY]

Maybe reactionary, and forgive me if I'm echoing other posters in the 20+ previous pages, but Young looked surprisingly NBA ready to me. He seemed to be engaged and in the right spots on both ends of the court. That said, due to the log jam I see him going to Maine early anyways. At least he'll get minutes up there, and you simply can't send a guy like Thornton to the D-League. Long term depending how the season goes, if they go into "play the kids" mode and can't find a taker for Thornton, they can just buy him out or cut him. And that's really worst case scenario.