Who's better...'16 or '17 Celtics?

[KGBirdBias]

For one I don't even think it's close. This team would run circles around that team. If that team had any scoring drought throughout the game, this team would bury them. This teams bench is better and this year's version of Smart and Rozier are better than last year.

This team leaves a lot of points out on the floor.

The Cavs seems to forget that the Celtics know how to play IT. When IT comes back Smart, Brown and Rozier will have their chance to guard him. Stevens is going to force the Cavs to put IT on Irving.

[Eja117]

And what's the big difference?

[cltc5]

This years TEAM is way better.  Arguably IT was the better Individual player last year, but that's why this is a TEAM sport.

[knuckleballer]

17, but either way, Horford would be exhausted after that game.

[Tr1boy]

Really?

[KGBirdBias]

To have players hit clutch shots as the shot clock is ticking down is so enjoyable. For some reason Smart always has the ball as quarters end and I know it's going up. LOL

Now I know Ainge got tired of watching the team scrap and claw just to stay in games. The game flows so easy for this team. Just all around better basketball players.

Now I want to completely BURY the Lakers tomorrow and embarrass Lonzo Ball. I think their best player is Kuzma.

[TA9]

And what's the big difference?

That we have finally fixed our REBOUNDING issue. It was a pain to watch the Celtics '16 team getting outrebounded every single game.

[jdz101]

As much as I loved last year's team.

This year's is bigger, longer, tougher, deeper, and more talented.

Nothing personal against last year's guys. They battled their asses off for the jersey.

[Eja117]

And what's the big difference?

That we have finally fixed our REBOUNDING issue. It was a pain to watch the Celtics '16 team getting outrebounded every single game.

That's definitely absolutely huge

[manl_lui]

17 by a landslide

For starters, let's go with the bigs

17 Horford is playing with better efficiency in my opinion than 16
Baynes > Amir Johnson
Theis > Theis

our rebounding has been MY biggest surprise of the season

a more matured Rozier, and a surprise in Semi

Irving > Thomas (I love Thomas but I'll take a 6'2 over 5'9 any time, I think our defense last year also had to cover for Thomas' flaws. This year is different, I think Irving can hold his own

[Fafnir]

Well in a 11 games we have a SRS of 7.04, an expected win/loss record of 9-2 at our 9.09 point differential, and a win percentage of .818.

Last year's team had an SRS 2.45, an expected win/loss record of 48-34 at a 2.7 point differential, and a win percentage of .646.

This year's team certainly has played better so far, though I imagine the C's had some similarly stellar stretches of basketball last year. We had a more balanced Offense/Defense last year and the lack of offense worries me.

I think this year's team is better given how good Tatum/Brown have been and our improved rebounding, but there is a lot of season left.

[Roy H.]

This year’s defense and point differential is much better so far.  The offense has thus far taken a step back, but the overall team has played better.

That said, we’ve played something like the 8th easiest schedule, so it’s tough to say conclusively.

[KGBirdBias]

17 by a landslide

For starters, let's go with the bigs

17 Horford is playing with better efficiency in my opinion than 16
Baynes > Amir Johnson
Theis > Theis

our rebounding has been MY biggest surprise of the season

a more matured Rozier, and a surprise in Semi

Irving > Thomas (I love Thomas but I'll take a 6'2 over 5'9 any time, I think our defense last year also had to cover for Thomas' flaws. This year is different, I think Irving can hold his own

Great points. The rebounding is much better because you have 5-6 guys that can gather 5-8 rebounds verses IT, KO, Amir, AB would couldn't really rebound. You don't have to have 10+ rebounds but collective rebounding is just as important.

[Darío SpanishFan]

What annoyed me the most last year was our inability to close games before the last two minutes. We've had more comfortable games this season so far than the whole last season.

This answers the question, at least regarding my health and nerves.

[mmmmm]

17 by a landslide

For starters, let's go with the bigs

17 Horford is playing with better efficiency in my opinion than 16
Baynes > Amir Johnson
Theis > Theis

our rebounding has been MY biggest surprise of the season

a more matured Rozier, and a surprise in Semi

Irving > Thomas (I love Thomas but I'll take a 6'2 over 5'9 any time, I think our defense last year also had to cover for Thomas' flaws. This year is different, I think Irving can hold his own

Great points. The rebounding is much better because you have 5-6 guys that can gather 5-8 rebounds verses IT, KO, Amir, AB would couldn't really rebound. You don't have to have 10+ rebounds but collective rebounding is just as important.

Avery Bradley definitely could rebound.  Especially for his position.  He averaged 6.1 per game and 6.6 per 36 minutes.  That's not really that much below the 6.4/gm and 7.1/36 that Jaylen is grabbing.

And similarly, while Thomas was only good for 2.7 rebounds per game, that isn't really all that big a drop from the 3.1 /gm that Kyrie is providing.

A more meaningful difference is at the 3, where Tatum's 6.5/gm & 7.3/36 are a notable step up from the 5.8/gm & 6.4.36 rates that Jae posted last year.

But by far the biggest difference is in the front court, where all three of Horford, Baynes & Theis are all grabbing at rates of over 10+ rebounds per 36 minutes.   None of Al, Amir nor Kelly posted rates above 8.4 per 36 last year.

An another big factor here is also that Brad has simply used fewer lineups with 3 'smalls' on the floor.  Last year we used a _ton_ of lineups with three small guards (3 of IT, AB, MS, TR) on the floor.  This year we have done that a lot less.