my not-so-popular impression of last night's game

[Celtics18]

I think people who were expecting All Star David Lee will be disappointed.  However, I do think he will prove to be a valuable contributor who shows his versatility in somewhat modest but productive minutes for this team. 

[bdo3272]

I think people who were expecting All Star David Lee will be disappointed.  However, I do think he will prove to be a valuable contributor who shows his versatility in somewhat modest but productive minutes for this team.

Agreed. I think his real value is as an court coach. It was very telling to see David leading the huddle at one point in the game last night and CBS being completely comfortable with it. David is going to be valuable, but just not in the traditional box score sense. As much as I liked having a digeridoo on our bench last year, David is a considerable upgrade.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

David Lee is going to have a big positive impact on this team—sometimes in the box score, all the time in the locker room and in the huddle.

[tstorey_97]

The Celtics became one of the NBA's better defensive teams last year. Lee will need time to become a part of the group.

Philly does not play as a team, thus, under pressure they bump into each other and call time outs or, better yet, give the ball to the other team.

Under pressure, the Celtics fight harder on defense.

Our kind of coach leading Boston Celtic's type of players.

Smart hits the 3PT with fractions on the clock at the half. This is par for the course for this group of guys...they expect it from each other. 

[jambr380]

I think it's shaping up in what the computers predicted: Olynyk and Johnson will be Stevens' go-to.  May not start the game, but will likely be in there for the crucial possessions.  Even from the naked eye, they complement eachother nicely.

I'm not worried about Zeller in the slightest but I hope Lee gets on track because he's someone where we will know fairly shortly if he has anything left to give in this league.

I would feel much more comfortable with Zeller and Sully starting the game with Amir and KO maybe getting a few more minutes. I like Lee, but kind-of saw him as a slight improvement on Wallace, but with a similar off-court influence. He may very well be great this year, but we are not about to center our offense around a declining 32 year old on an expiring contract who we just got for [possibly] the worst player in the league.

[KeepRondo]

How about the impression that IT4 could be even better then he was last year and that Amir may be the perfect fit for this team up front.

[esel1000]

How about the impression that IT4 could be even better then he was last year and that Amir may be the perfect fit for this team up front.

That would be too optimistic for CB 

[Donoghus]

How about the impression that IT4 could be even better then he was last year and that Amir may be the perfect fit for this team up front.

You can already see the chemistry between those two.  It's pretty awesome.

[PhoSita]

Lee struggled to score against length (shocker!) but he kept the ball moving, rebounded, and did his best on defense.

I think KO and Amir may very well be our best big man combo, just as Zach Lowe surmised, but I like that Stevens is pairing Lee and Zeller together and Amir and IT together.  Those pairings are developing chemistry early in the season and I think it will pay off later.

Though limited defensively, I like the Lee / Zeller pairing, especially with Smart / Bradley / Crowder starting.  We need the passing and quick, smart decision making in the frontcourt to off-set the less experienced guys in the backcourt and on the wing.

[Moranis]

the 76ers are doing what every franchise should theoretically be doing if their team is not a contender. However look at where it has gotten them. 3 years of embarrassing basketball and they are no better off then us. In fact, we are in a much much better place than they are. Yes Noel and Okafor are both better individual prospects than any player we have
.but do they have any hope of attracting free agents? Do they have any kind of semblance of creating a future championship team? imo no. They've gotten unlucky a little bit with Embiid(although it was known he would injury prone) ..Even then..they tanked and tanked and tanked and still they couldn't get the elite pg prospect that they needed.

Obviously if they landed the top pick it would be a different story..but bottoming out and tanking does not always guarantee results.

Another thing is..there is no generational talent coming out which is worth doing what Philly is doing..If we know a Tim Duncan level prospect is coming out..then yes absolutely do what Pilly is doing.

Look at our position...we have Nets unprotected pick...Dallas potential lottery pick...and we are trying to win..tons of cap space in the off season with a winning culture and developing elite complimentary players....this is awesome imo.

Philly has only had 2 seasons of embarrassing basketball.  I mean at least let them play this year out first, you never know when their other 3 starters actually play (Wroten, Stauskas, Covington), may be they will be a credible team this year (and by credible I don't mean good, I just mean not so bad). 

And I'd say starting with a base of Noel and Okafor is a pretty good start to a championship team (not to mention Saric and Embiid). 

[kozlodoev]

How about the impression that IT4 could be even better then he was last year and that Amir may be the perfect fit for this team up front.

How about the fact that those two were on the floor for less than 50 minutes combined?

It's still more of the same with Brad S where he insists on playing everyone rather than developing a real game plan that works with the strengths of his best players? I fully expect this strategy to get exposed when we play a real team.

[PhoSita]

How about the impression that IT4 could be even better then he was last year and that Amir may be the perfect fit for this team up front.

How about the fact that those two were on the floor for less than 50 minutes combined?

It's still more of the same with Brad S where he insists on playing everyone rather than developing a real game plan that works with the strengths of his best players? I fully expect this strategy to get exposed when we play a real team.

Of course it will.  This team is built to win in the regular season and fall apart when a single, talented opponent actively gameplans to stop them.

Nothing has changed from last season as far as that goes. 

I don't blame Brad for that, though.  I think that's just the roster we have right now.  Brad is getting the most out of them for now.

[kozlodoev]

How about the impression that IT4 could be even better then he was last year and that Amir may be the perfect fit for this team up front.

How about the fact that those two were on the floor for less than 50 minutes combined?

It's still more of the same with Brad S where he insists on playing everyone rather than developing a real game plan that works with the strengths of his best players? I fully expect this strategy to get exposed when we play a real team.

Of course it will.  This team is built to win in the regular season and fall apart when a single, talented opponent actively gameplans to stop them.

Nothing has changed from last season as far as that goes. 

I don't blame Brad for that, though.  I think that's just the roster we have right now.  Brad is getting the most out of them for now.

Perhaps partially true, but I'm still not sure how NOT featuring your best players is an optimal strategy -- no matter how marginally better they are for the lot.

[Donoghus]

How about the impression that IT4 could be even better then he was last year and that Amir may be the perfect fit for this team up front.

How about the fact that those two were on the floor for less than 50 minutes combined?

It's still more of the same with Brad S where he insists on playing everyone rather than developing a real game plan that works with the strengths of his best players? I fully expect this strategy to get exposed when we play a real team.

Of course it will.  This team is built to win in the regular season and fall apart when a single, talented opponent actively gameplans to stop them.

Nothing has changed from last season as far as that goes. 

I don't blame Brad for that, though.  I think that's just the roster we have right now.  Brad is getting the most out of them for now.

Perhaps partially true, but I'm still not sure how NOT featuring your best players is an optimal strategy -- no matter how marginally better they are for the lot.

It's Game 1 of an 82 game season against a clearly inferior opponent.  They didn't have to feature their best players for extended periods.

[kozlodoev]

It's Game 1 of an 82 game season against a clearly inferior opponent.  They didn't have to feature their best players for extended periods.

Technically, no. But they didn't last year, and they show no intention of doing it this year. In fact Brad is on the record for the 10-man rotation, which makes no sense whatsoever. You'll hold Amir and Isaiah to less than 30 minutes so that your 10th best player can get some burn? That's not conserving strength, that's sheer lunacy.