Celtics 2023-24, Season Thread, (con't)

[Fencer reregistered]

6. The Celtics were expected to struggle on the glass, but through nine games, they are third in defensive rebounding percentage at 74.8. The bigs aren’t dominating — Porzingis is in the 15th percentile among bigs as a rebounder, while Al Horford is in the 22nd, per Cleaning the Glass. But they do seem to be actively boxing out for players like Tatum (who is in the 96th percentile among forwards) and Jrue Holiday (who is in the 97th) to swoop in from the wing, which helps make up the difference.

7. Sam Hauser is doing his part as a rebounder as well — he’s in the 56th percentile among forwards, and he appears to have a nose for the ball when he’s able to crash away from the play.

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2023/11/11/celtics-sweep-back-to-back-by-blowing-out-raptors-10-takeaways/

[Deivork]

Brad's bet for roster flexibility seems to be paying off so far (8-2), with the starters getting a lot of minutes together and a relatively shortened bench rotation.

We've had no important injury 12% into the regular season. We can consider ourselves lucky so far, but we might sing a different tune if/when one of our top-6 guys is out for say 3 weeks. Guess we'll need patience until the deadline, but I predict PP or Kornet will take some blame anyhow.

I still wish we'd kept Grant or Muscala for continuity. Grant in particular for his multiple skills. Bill Simmons said in a recent podcast that Smart and Grant were let go because they were contrarians to Joe's voice, so to speak, or that their voice was too strong. Food for thought I guess.

I think Sam Cassel's presence is definitely felt in the locker room and for the better. Team defense feels more tight overall. Teams are scoring 5% less on us than last year (106 from 111 OP/ppg).

Hopefully White gains back his crisp offense from the first few games that he yet hasn't got back since his family break (15.5 vs 9.25 ppp). Team offense should only benefit from that.

Tatum's play is sensitively better than last year, as evidenced by an improvement in eFG% (.543 to .616). He's missing some stupid free-thows though (down to 79% from 85% last season). His AST/TO is down from 1.6 to 1.4. He's great but he's chucking sometimes.

Kristaps is up from .57 to .65 eFG% . And he still feels a bit underutilised, as others have pointed out. Wouldn't mind him being a tad less effective but pressuring the defenses more down low to open up the perimeter even more for the rest of the guys.

[sam_I_am]

The 2023-24 Celtics just entered the chat. They landed 4th on this list, having outscored opponents by 137 points (1196 vs. 1059) in their first 10 games.

I believe this season’s Celtics have had the hardest strength of schedule in NBA so far.

[Hal14]

They hate each other lol

Read on Twitter

[ConstableGeneva]

Spoiler:

The 2023-24 Celtics just entered the chat. They landed 4th on this list, having outscored opponents by 137 points (1196 vs. 1059) in their first 10 games.

I believe this season’s Celtics have had the hardest strength of schedule in NBA so far.

Yep, through the first 3 weeks of the season, they've had the hardest SOS in the league, per BBRef. Their SRS (margin of victory + strength of schedule) is currently otherworldly.

[Deivork]

They hate each other lol

Read on Twitter

Their chemistry defitinely feels better and the team only benefits from that. There will always be some kind of competition between them, but I guess it's only natural. I guess them training together this summer helped a lot with commitment.

[Hal14]

They hate each other lol

Read on Twitter

Their chemistry defitinely feels better and the team only benefits from that. There will always be some kind of competition between them, but I guess it's only natural. I guess them training together this summer helped a lot with commitment.

JB said this wasn't the first time they've trained together during the summer - it's just that the other times no one was taking pics/videos of them.

But agreed that their chemistry seems pretty good.

[Fierce1]

The hardest one will be the first championship for the Jays.

Once they get that first one, Banner 20 will be the next goal.

Only way the Jays gets broken up is if the Cs fail to win a chip in 2024 and 2025.

[KillahGhostface]

Read on Twitter

[ConstableGeneva]

I think this thing is saying we have four MVPs on the roster. I lie. I dunno what this all means.

Read on Twitter

[Fencer reregistered]

This play doesn't happen if Jaylen's man is content to stay between Jaylen and the basket, let Jaylen catch the ball in peace, and then defend him one-on-one. I.e., perceived ISO scoring ability matters.

Read on Twitter

[BK_2020]

This play doesn't happen if Jaylen's man is content to stay between Jaylen and the basket, let Jaylen catch the ball in peace, and then defend him one-on-one. I.e., perceived ISO scoring ability matters.

Read on Twitter

More like, if Mitchell Robinson isn't at the three point line it doesn't happen.

[ConstableGeneva]

This play doesn't happen if Jaylen's man is content to stay between Jaylen and the basket, let Jaylen catch the ball in peace, and then defend him one-on-one. I.e., perceived ISO scoring ability matters.

Read on Twitter

Brunson was expecting a handoff. Read the play wrong. As soon as Brunson stepped over to cut off JB's angle, JB streaked towards the basket. Robinson nowhere near the paint cos of KP. Whether this was by design or our players just reading the defense and reacting, play was great!

[GoCeltics123]

Read on Twitter

This is what drop coverage at it's best looks like

[Fencer reregistered]

This play doesn't happen if Jaylen's man is content to stay between Jaylen and the basket, let Jaylen catch the ball in peace, and then defend him one-on-one. I.e., perceived ISO scoring ability matters.

Read on Twitter

More like, if Mitchell Robinson isn't at the three point line it doesn't happen.

Both can be true. Bigs that can shoot 3s have advantages. Also having advantages are perimeter players who threaten to score in multiple ways.

[Parliament10]

Read on Twitter

[BK_2020]

This play doesn't happen if Jaylen's man is content to stay between Jaylen and the basket, let Jaylen catch the ball in peace, and then defend him one-on-one. I.e., perceived ISO scoring ability matters.

Read on Twitter

More like, if Mitchell Robinson isn't at the three point line it doesn't happen.

Both can be true. Bigs that can shoot 3s have advantages. Also having advantages are perimeter players who threaten to score in multiple ways.

Both can be true but that's not what's happening on that play. The Knicks or for that matter most teams don't sag off by multiple feet from perimeter players like it's 1985 when they play defense. Short of the perimeter player being Ben Simmons or Clint Capela or something, you'll see a similar coverage. Do you think it was Malaki Branham's scoring threat that made this backdoor cut possible or Wemby's gravity?

[bisme37]

Actually the MOST points by a Celtics trio through 10 games "since" Bird/McHale/Parish. (2nd most ever in C's history, even above Pierce/Ray/KG. Bird/McHale/Parish is #1.)

Read on Twitter

[ConstableGeneva]

Jrue is DJ. DWhite is DAinge. And no, I won't pump the breaks. CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

[Floody23]

Spoiler:

More like, if Mitchell Robinson isn't at the three point line it doesn't happen.

Both can be true. Bigs that can shoot 3s have advantages. Also having advantages are perimeter players who threaten to score in multiple ways.

Both can be true but that's not what's happening on that play. The Knicks or for that matter most teams don't sag off by multiple feet from perimeter players like it's 1985 when they play defense. Short of the perimeter player being Ben Simmons or Clint Capela or something, you'll see a similar coverage. Do you think it was Malaki Branham's scoring threat that made this backdoor cut possible or Wemby's gravity?

God you’re f***ing unbearable on this site

This is a duplicate account of a currently suspended poster. So it's being banned. -b