2017-18 Celtics Season Thread

It's not that bad a discussion actually, Lebron is within the best to ever play the game. But it's approached by his fans in a very millennial way in that people seem to think it's a sacrilege to question his claim as the best ever. One he didn't earn, which is even more fitting about our generation. And that has gotten so ridiculous that Jordan is now almost underrated, like his numbers weren't that impressive and that he sustains his hold as GOAT simply because of anecdotal evidence. Which isn't true, Jordan was clearly better than everyone else around him pretty much like Lebron is now but you could find even less flaws about his game. He didn't dominate the ball nearly as much as Lebron which kept everyone engaged, he was a good shooter and he played insane defense on top of being so dominating on offense. I think Lebron has played elite defense during his second tenure with the Cavs for exactly one possession, the block on Iguodala. Otherwise he misses rotation, doesn't close up on open guys and he basically never gets back in transition. He makes some pretty blocks now and again, but the bad great outweigh the good.

And while what you said about the league right now is true, Lebron also played with some great teams. That Heat team was crazy overpowered, in that the now goofy speech about him winning "not one, not two, not three" titles actually felt like a distinct possibility. But they didn't win as much as they probably should have won and some of that can be traced back to Lebron's inability to fully accept a more fluid offense, instead opting to QB everyone. Which is fine and dandy and it looks otherworldly while they're winning, but it costs his teams. And also I don't remember Jordan trying to GM his teams into JR Smith and Tristan Thompson kind of terrible basketball players.

So I think he was able to impose his will because he was a more well rounded player than Lebron. Lebron wants to win because he wants to be Jordan. Jordan won because he was Jordan. It kind of reminds me of Tiger Woods chasing Jack Nicklaus. In the early goings while he was still somewhat distant from him in the conversations it was all fun and games and Tiger looked relaxed winning everything and banging the wives of every other player. In the past 10 years or so as he has gotten definitely closer to the GOAT position it started getting way more serious and now he plays the majors as a guy who knows he's chasing ghosts. Lebron is also chasing ghosts.

I assumed they would play out the 5th year option to get a bigger contract but the real big max deals come after 8 years right? So it would make sense for them to do 4 then 4.

This team is going to make money hand over first, they should be paying huge tax bills or this is all for naught. I suspect they will for the right group. These owners won’t do something to lose money but they seem like the type that want the mega team more then profits. At least I hope so.

But Porter? Isn't he a wing? How would he get any playing time? I would love if Bamba was there.

I'm okay with moving on from Horford after his contract runs out. He's a good to great player right now, but he's already in his 30's. Unless he took a mid level exception and takes way less stay here, I would then keep him, but I think Horford will be replaceable by the end of his contract.

This is kind of why I want a center that can stretch the floor also in the draft. The Celtics should start grooming the next Horford replacement by the end of his contract. It'll significantly help the cap situation also imo.

I think Horford‘a game will age really well and he won’t get a max contract next time around. The guy just started shooting threes and is a 40% guy now. He’s a legit stretch 4/5 who’s also a great team defender and elite distributor/facilitator. Unless, his salary is used in a trade before it expires, I bet he’s resigned and for more than the mid level.

Jaren Jackson from this draft theoretically is the perfect Celtic. Rim protecting stretch who can shoot 3s. There are some red flags like foul trouble and he didn’t play a ton of minutes but if Ainge drafted him, I’d have confidence. However, he’s likely a top 4 pick.

A few things, it was only an interview with Porter, not a workout. I think we are jumping the gun on its meaning. He also meet with half the league and teams like the Rockets and Thunder that have no chance of drafting him.

Porter is almost 6'11'' so he might be able to play PF/C if he gains weight, like KD does now. You always take the best player, Rozier and Tatum prove just that and Danny has been great at that.

I think RJP is right about centers. As much as I beat the drum about them, true centers are becoming part-time players unless they are elite two way players. Baynes plays 30 mins a game against Embiid, but doesn't in the two other series. Even if Bamba is Gobert, I'm not sure that's the right pick for this team,given what it would cost to acquire the pick and the other players available. You could just resign Baynes or even go after Noel if you wanted. A player like Noel being a big reason why, all the numbers show he's a very good defensive player, yet his offense is bad, so at most he's a mid-level type guy now. Heck a bad defensive center in Okafor who I still think could average 15 and 10 on the right team is likely a minimum salary type guy. The age of small-ball is really hurting true centers, unless they are close to elite.

We won't have cap space and Davis has shown zero interest in leaving his current team.

I would be complaining about such a large break that clearly favors the older team, if players like Brown and Smart weren't benefiting also. I don't ever remember huge breaks like this. At the same time it givens Stevens more practice time with a very young team, which is bad news for the Cavs.

If LeBron is smart he'll get his teammates involved early and pick one of Tatum or Brown to shutdown. That's what I'll be looking for. If they can't get anyone besides LeBron and Love going, it won't matter how many points LeBron scores.

It's an absolute joke.

Pitiful start for the Celtics and this looks like its slipping away, but LeBron is literally telling the refs when to call fouls at this point. Despicable.

LeBron misses mayup gets late call with very little contact, LeBron mauls Semi it's a no call. Wow

The two Marcuses are playing like bozos.