2017-18 Celtics Season Thread

Add: Contrary to some of the early opinion, the above was one of the smartest moves they could have made. It led directly to the second half blowout. And they've done this before. Stevens is playing 3D chess, everyone else is into checkers.

Not even the fact that LeBron alone had more turnovers than the whole Celtics team?

He also had 21 points in the first and only 21 points the rest of the game. I say only, but for him that's not great. It was a great game by a great player, but he wasn't epic. Kinda shocked at his lack of clutch play towards the end. He had a few chances to take over in the 4th and never did.

You can't feel bad about his team, he litterally wanted those players. It's like his own handpicked team. I will have zero respect for him if he leaves again after getting everything he wanted in Cleveland. Him going back to the Cavs and winning a tiitle for them is why he regained my respect after that stupid special when he left for the Heat. He needs to learn to trust a GM and learn from his mistakes. LeBron the GM and Coach has hurt LeBron the player.

The Kings got the number 2 pick. That was the only blow to the Celtics last night. The Kings should be a lot better now next year.

I think the C's win in 5.

The Kings will likely get Ayton who’s another Center for them and who quits and can’t play defense. He’s a perfect King. A non-winning player. Suns are taking Donic. They just hired his national team coach, plus he’s a great fit next to Booker and versitile wings are the NBA gold standard these days. Him, Booker and Jackson is a great core to build on.


Add: does a healthy Giles actually exist?

 Based on what I have seen the C's will take 1 in Cleveland, the Cavs really aren't that good beyond Lebron and Love. Right now I would say the C's have the best 6 players not named Lebron or Love and the Cavs are showing zero toughness. Lebron is going to quit on them if they don't show up big for both games in Cleveland.

While last nights game is fresh in everyone’s mind, I want to take the opportunity to circle back on the discussion we had about LeBron and Jordan. Last night is a great example as to why LeBrons numbers at the end of the day will paint him as they greatest player ever but also why those numbers can’t be trusted. LeBron is missing the Jordan compete level and overall obsession with winning that flowed to his teammates and made them perform. Yes, LeBron makes his teammates better but he also makes them worse - Jordan never did that. 20 years from now, people will look back at last nights box score and think LeBron was a monster who just didn’t get enough help. The reality is, he was a monster for the first quarter then was just another great player for the rest but one who didn’t even attempt to take over the game. It was weird and noticeable to the point the announcers were openly talking about it with a ton of time left and the game within reach. That’s not an uncommon thing in LeBrons career and it’s why despite all his numbers screaming he’s he greatest ever - those who saw both him and Jordan and aren’t a slave to statistics know better.

I know a lot of people don’t agree, and Stephen A Smith brought this take up on ESPN so if very well may be trash, but I think this team could be much better in the long run without Kyrie. You get to keep Rozier and Smart, Larkin plays fine enough with the 3rd unit, and Horford runs that point forward position pretty well. Imagine you scooped up a pick by dealing him or maybe a halfway decent big to take all the minutes from Monroe and some from Baynes... I know Kyrie is legit and an incredible finisher but he punishes the ball and the C’s play well when that’s not happening. 

I saw both & don't know better either.

I'm also no "slave to statistics," but I prefer them to overarching unsupported narratives. "Kobe is such a fierce competitor, clutch," yet statistics tell us with the game close & late he makes less than 25% of his shots -- Idk, maybe he should've involved his teammates more? 

Agreed and it's not even close. Besides, did anyone ever discuss the possibility of Jordan not playing defense?

Anyone have any idea or seen any numbers that talk about the impact of sports gambling on the NBA salary cap?

I will start off by saying I have no clue what we should do. Irving is a great player, but he has issues. Even though he gets a good amount of assists he's not really a PG, he's a SG. He's not the greatest fit in Stevens offense because he plays a lot of hero ball. One thing for a wing to do that, it's another when your PG does. Nevermind he's the weak link on D.

Watching LeBron go off for 42 and his team lose big just shows it's about the best team, not just the best player. Our offense has improved since Irving went down, which is surprising isn't it? Tatum, Brown, Horford and Rozier have all gone off by simply playing Stevens ball movement offense. Is Irving willing to play more team ball? He litterally left the Cavs because he wanted to be LeBron leading a team. So I do have questions if he can become a true team player at this point in his career.

So I haven't forgotten Irving is one of the best offensive players in the league, just like I haven't forgotten how I hate how he runs the offense. Been saying that all year. The question isn't is Rozier and Smart better than Irving, its are the Celtics a better team with Rozier and Smart over Irving? That isn't an easy question to answer.