Have they flipped the switch?

[jbpats]

I know it is jumping the gun by quite a lot.. but I am starting to believe that this team just may be able to flip the switch and has taken strides into doing so. I'm still not sure that we can beat Milwaukee or Toronto but I do think we can be an extremely tough out.

I think removing Morris from the starting lineup was the first key cog to be put in place. Why Brad rode out that starting 5 with Morris for so long will be my biggest mystery of this season I think.

I think the big three we expected to have are starting to lead this team:
Horford is playing like the all star he is, and is leading by example like I expect him to
Hayward is playing, well as close to Gordon Hayward as we've seen since he's put on a Celtics Jersey
Irving is Irving

I think Tatum is still the outlier in the equation and at this point I honestly wouldn't mind seeing his minutes reduced for Jaylen's.

It's still scary to think that this teams success rides on the moods of Kyrie but as a strong doubter for most of the season, and personally calling this team the most disappointing team i've ever witnessed in my life, I am finally starting to believe a bit.

[csfansince60s]

I’m not sure if the Flip is switched, but the switch might be flipped!

EDIT: TP for what you meant. Hope it is!

Go Cs!!!

[jbpats]

I’m not sure if the Flip is switched, but the switch might be flipped!

EDIT: TP for what you meant. Hope it is!

Go Cs!!!

TP right back, i realized my subject was not clear haha

[droopdog7]

Have the switched the flip?  Who knows really?  Either way, we’ll find out come the playoffs.  No sense in worrying about it now.

[Phantom255x]

I don't know if they've truly flipped it, since inconsistency has been the theme of the season.

BUT these last few games can't be ignored. Miami has given us trouble over the years, especially when we play them AT Miami, and so getting two wins against them in a span of three days is impressive. The Heat also are in a ferocious race for a playoff spot so these games against them were definitely NOT easy. Add in that Hayward has looked a lot better in the last few weeks and I'm becoming encouraged.

We still HAVE to win tomorrow night though. Want home court advantage in the 1st round.

[gpap]

I think we can put the "flip the switch" theory to bed.

This team isn't capable of just simply flipping a switch.

The last few games, they've just been playing better (more notably, the Indy win and the two wins vs. Miami)

I think what was impressive about last night is the Celts didn't open a big lead only to blow it.

They were pretty consistent throughout the entire game, which we haven't seen much of this season.

Maybe maintaining a big lead is just something the team struggles with. It does appear Hayward seems to be playing with alot more confidence lately as well. If he can continue to improve, it would be a huge boost to our playoff chances.

[Jiri Welsch]

Two things before I put blind faith in this team:

1) Baynes needs to play better, especially offensively.
2) We need to have a full roster, and see that Brad can shorten the rotation in a way that limits Terry/Morris minutes!

[RodyTur10]

What I like is the distribution of shots. Last night there was a clear distinction between the go-to-guys and the role players:

Irving 19
Tatum 17 (in 39 minutes)
Horford 16
Hayward 10 (and 13 free throws)

Rozier 5
Smart 4
Baynes 3
Ojeleye 3
Wanamaker 2
Theis 1

[slamtheking]

I haven't seen anything this year from this team that suggests they have a switch to flip.  Too many nights of lackadaisical or inept play to get my hopes up.  Even though they've won the last 2 games, it was against teams the should have beaten more handily and it was only a couple of weeks ago they experienced a bad 4-game losing streak.

on a positive note, Hayward's been improving steadily the past few weeks and Horford has turned up his level of play in the playoffs so I think regardless of whether they have HCA against Indy, I think they make the next round.  with HCA, I could see them taking it in as little as 5 games but without it, I don't see anything less than 6 games and possibly having to gut out a win on the road in a game 7.

barring an unforeseen gelling of the team in the first round, I suspect that first round success will be the limit of their success this season.

[Donoghus]

A month ago or so, I said that I felt they were sanEdited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.ging us a bit with their play.  I still think their best basketball is ahead come playoff time.  They've been plodding through much of 2019 , playing with a seeming lack of urgency at times but I really do think that they'll turn it on for the playoffs and we'll see a better team.

I just hope Brad doesn't get cute with lineups, minute distributions, & the rotations.

[Sophomore]

I have a hard time believing that this team is going to beat Toronto or Milwaukee w/out home court advantage, but at least they might win their first-round matchup.

Some ways of improving the team seem clear: sit Morris, start Baynes. Limit Rozier to 3-5 shots (at most!).  Add a continually improving and more aggressive Hayward. (Hayward's free throw attempts are great, but don't overlook the way he grabs a rebound and immediately starts sprinting up court. With his ability to finish and pass, that should lead to easy buckets.)

All that is great. But we still go brain-dead or into hero ball too often, and our pick and roll defense is very, very uneven. I worry about what's going to happen when good playoff teams sell out to stop Kyrie at the end of games. Not seeing that we are ready for that or good enough to overcome our defensive lapses.

[Erik]

I gave Brad 3 tasks this regular season:

1) Make the playoffs
2) Figure out the rotations
3) Make sure the team enters the playoffs healthy and rested.

#1 is locked.
#2 is still not finalized, but we have some clarity on what does work.
#3 is TBD, but the way he's doing things leads me to believe that it will be met.

Notice that getting #1 seed or 60 wins was not on my list of things. That's THIS FORUM'S priority somehow. I would prefer getting the #4 seed and playing our starters 30 mins a game.

I will personally evaluate the regular season based on these 3 things. Playoffs are a completely different beast.

[Fafnir]

Horford has.

I'm not sure anyone else really has locked in all that much more than usual. Last night the overall effort and focus was pretty good.

[ederson]

That is a recurring question .... I'd like to think so but the season so far shows otherwise

[liam]

How long did it take Brad to finally go biG? Now if TIMELORD can just play those This back up minutes we'd have a really good big man rotation.