Celtics (3-1) at Knicks (2-1) Preseason Game #5 10/15/16

[tarheelsxxiii]

IT sucks at half speed is all. He will be fine.

You suck at full speed, pal.

[trickybilly]

IT sucks at half speed is all. He will be fine.

In 1 play today, he did that thing where he dribbles toward the break as the screener moves up, hesitates, then explodes towards the rim, except he didn't.. He pulled back and tried to feed the screener who flared to the foul line. He is just experimenting with new stuff with Al.

[tankcity!]

Omg why are people complaining about IT? He shot 43% from the field last season so he has never been efficient. Just don't understand why people are suddenly complaining now. He's never been that great in the first place. This team has no superstar so this is what Brad has left to work with. And he is better than Smart. I'm sorry, but we can't start a dude who can't shoot 3's. Actual good teams will just sag off him unlike the preseason.

[Rondo9]

Omg why are people complaining about IT? He shot 43% from the field last season so he has never been efficient. Just don't understand why people are suddenly complaining now. He's never been that great in the first place. This team has no superstar so this is what Brad has left to work with. And he is better than Smart. I'm sorry, but we can't start a dude who can't shoot 3's. Actual good teams will just sag off him unlike the preseason.

He is an All star

[trickybilly]

Omg why are people complaining about IT? He shot 43% from the field last season so he has never been efficient. Just don't understand why people are suddenly complaining now. He's never been that great in the first place. This team has no superstar so this is what Brad has left to work with. And he is better than Smart. I'm sorry, but we can't start a dude who can't shoot 3's. Actual good teams will just sag off him unlike the preseason.

Omg. lol. TP.

[trickybilly]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cZY5xfW-3hU

Full highlights

[JaylenBrown7]

Not a bad game all around, do we have any games at TD garden in preseason?

[Surferdad]

I voiced my concern about this a few days ago, and people reassured me it's nothing.

But I'm still concerned that Isaiah hasn't gotten anything going for him yet this preseason. He might be hurt, maybe the wrist is hurting him still. Or maybe the defenses are making a more concerted effort to contain him.

But I sure as hell hope it's not a problem he's gonna have with Horford. Isaiah hasn't gotten in rhythm with Horford yet, it seems.

Or, maybe it's a change in offensive philosophy, with Brad trying to get a more even offensive contribution from everyone, and so he's not asking Isaiah to do as much. Which is bad, if you ask me, because Isaiah is the engine that makes this team go for most regular season games still. He hasn't been looking for his shot, he hasn't been able to get to the basket with ease. Something's up. Either he's hurt, it's an adjustment period still, or a change in offensive roles for him.


Edit: glad to see I'm not the only one who's noticed this. Footey, i see you. Isaiah definitely doesn't look like himself.

It's definitely a change in offensive philosophy that puts a lot of the playmaking on others, but IT is also looking out of sorts still trying to figure his way out with the new additions. Just watch him when someone else brings up the ball in a fast break. He doesn't really know what to do with himself.

Horford's presence has seemingly drastically cut down the amount of time IT has the ball in his hands. And here's the thing - it's been working. Horford's playmaking, both for himself and others, has been excellent in giving us a team-wide offensive attack that wasn't solely reliant on IT. We've looked downright unstoppable at times with his added playmaking.

IT is simply going to have to learn to play without the ball in his hands as much. Luckily, he's a good enough shooter that this shouldn't be a problem, but he's been having trouble picking his spots off the pass. He's passed up quite a few open jumpers and lanes to try and create something else for himself.

Ultimately, I hope Smart can eventually take the starting position from him this year. IT is best suited as the sixth man type anyways, especially with as ball-dominant as he plays. It also would be best for us long-term if we wish to retain both of them. IT is going to expect a HUGE payday if he continues to start and star for us by 2018.

I wonder if moving Isaiah to the bench, and thus having a drop off in production from him, would decrease his "ego" (for lack of a better word), or maybe "expectations" is a better word. What i mean by this is, if Isaiah's value clearly starts coming down due to age and coming off the bench, but the team is still winning and he still plays a key role off the bench, whether then he would be more willing to take a paycut, to stay in a winning situation, while also understanding that his role isn't the same as it was this past season.

Regarding the role change for Isaiah, though, I agree. I remember we were all excited about having Isaiah play off the ball last year, since it would mean the defenses couldn't press up on him as much as they did when he had the ball in his hands. It hasn't worked out for him individually yet, but the team is winning still. So maybe he really is gonna be less involved  with the ball. I have to wonder how good this team can be, though, once Isaiah gets it going too.

If I was an opposing coach, my strategy would be to stop the point of attack, IT, who also happens to be one of 2 all-stars on the starting 5. Not saying something isn't wrong with IT or that the offense isn't different, but this could be a factor in his production too.

[jambr380]

My problem with bringing IT off the bench (and starting Smart) is I don't like the IT/Rozier combination much at all. I suppose if you have Jaylen in there trying to get physical with guys, it would be okay, but even then you are left with a front court of KO and one of JJ/Zeller/Green. The defense would be less than menacing at that point.

The Smart/Rozier combo still has to work itself out, but I am loving Rozier pushing the ball up on the break and Smart setting up the half-court sets. While I might prefer an Amir/KO swap, the balance in the first and second units is still very nice.

[Snakehead]

A few different people on this board losing their mind over pre-season now.  I thought this board was surprisingly together until now but no surprise I guess.

IT will be starting and he will be really good again.

[KGs Knee]

I'm really not understanding how anyone can have watched these preseason games and come away anything but impressed with the offense of the starting lineup. The defense looks even better than last year, for the most part, too.

Interestingly enough, despite the wailing about IT's supposed "diminished role" he had been the team's leading scorer in preseason, prior to last night. Horford and Bradley passed him last night, but who cares, the sample size is minuscule. I doubt we see a huge drop in IT's scoring over 82 games. It will likely drop a little, but that is what should happen when you add a guy like Horford, while also seemingly asking Bradley to take a larger role in the offense as well.

By design this team isn't going to rely on IT as much this year, and that's a good thing. Horford is our best player anyway, not IT, who will still have plenty of opportunities to 'get his'. But by being a more diverse offense, and less reliant on any one individual, we become a more dangerous offense.

Remind me again why people are complaining?

[hwangjini_1]

I'm really not understanding how anyone can have watched these preseason games and come away anything but impressed with the offense of the starting lineup. The defense looks even better than last year, for the most part, too.

Interestingly enough, despite the wailing about IT's supposed "diminished role" he had been the team's leading scorer in preseason, prior to last night. Horford and Bradley passed him last night, but who cares, the sample size is minuscule. I doubt we see a huge drop in IT's scoring over 82 games. It will likely drop a little, but that is what should happen when you add a guy like Horford, while also seemingly asking Bradley to take a larger role in the offense as well.

By design this team isn't going to rely on IT as much this year, and that's a good thing. Horford is our best player anyway, not IT, who will still have plenty of opportunities to 'get his'. But by being a more diverse offense, and less reliant on any one individual, we become a more dangerous offense.

Remind me again why people are complaining?

primarily because simply moaning and groaning about something is low hanging posting fruit for many folks. 

you make good points above, thanks and a tp for you. this is preseason, nothing counts for the regular season. what is most fun is to watch the bench guys and younger players gain experience and to watch them develop.

the regular season starts soon folks. then we can moan and groan. 

[manl_lui]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISWqX7PRJPA

Jaylen Brown's highlights from yesterday. Still like the aggressiveness, there was a nice little post move in that highlight too.

I think he can still improve on his free throws though 4-8 yikes, certainly room to grow

[trickybilly]

I'm really not understanding how anyone can have watched these preseason games and come away anything but impressed with the offense of the starting lineup. The defense looks even better than last year, for the most part, too.

Interestingly enough, despite the wailing about IT's supposed "diminished role" he had been the team's leading scorer in preseason, prior to last night. Horford and Bradley passed him last night, but who cares, the sample size is minuscule. I doubt we see a huge drop in IT's scoring over 82 games. It will likely drop a little, but that is what should happen when you add a guy like Horford, while also seemingly asking Bradley to take a larger role in the offense as well.

By design this team isn't going to rely on IT as much this year, and that's a good thing. Horford is our best player anyway, not IT, who will still have plenty of opportunities to 'get his'. But by being a more diverse offense, and less reliant on any one individual, we become a more dangerous offense.

Remind me again why people are complaining?

Exactly. The sets are almost exactly the same as last year.

[trickybilly]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISWqX7PRJPA

Jaylen Brown's highlights from yesterday. Still like the aggressiveness, there was a nice little post move in that highlight too.

I think he can still improve on his post move though 4-8 yikes, certainly room to grow

I'm prepared to say I'm more fanboy about jaylen than anyone on here, but he is still in that Jeff green, nick young, Rudy gay pool of potential.