2018-19 Celtics Season

Hayward and Horford, the 2 max players that were available, were completely terrible. Rozier was so unbelievably bad I thought Stevens would murder him in that very early timeout. Morris was also a non factor. And it's bad out there, it's just bad. Where's all the talent?

Yeah the Nets are pretty mediocre, but look around man, who's playing well consistently? Tatum was amazing tonight, but he had a lot of rough games. Rozier is unplayable right now, so was Brown for most of the season. Horford is old, slow, injured and a goddamn small baller. Morris was pretty good but should we really expect Marcus Morris to put up Steve Nash numbers for a full season? Hayward looks like a dude you would blaze past at the local Y. Irving missed some games and didn't play team ball in others (I'm joking, calm down umass). Yabusele is packing an ass that's bigger than Alexis Texas. Smart? Theis? Wanamaker? Really? And we're waiting for Baynes to be healthy to turn things around. Baynes is our savior? Really?

Not saying Stevens has done a good job, he's been bad and I swear to god his rotations and lack of timeouts during huge runs kill me sometimes. But based Popovich couldn't save this team as they're playing right now. It doesn't look like a scheme thing, it looks like a roster thing. That elite talent just doesn't look like it's there.

Really, I like Stevens. The last several years he was "Knighted", his virtues extolled and some claimed to have seen him walk on water. He has a long history of success. Many thought the team over-achieved the past few years due to Stevens' coaching brilliance, freshness and player sacrifice/buy-in. The guy didn't become a bum overnight despite our frustration with the record and below expectation performance of many players. The fact is, the players may have been over-rated, the freshness worn off.

Who'd a thunk the league laughing stock Nets would be thumping our guys? Wake up call.

Maybe we are more than Anthony Davis away. Maybe we should keep our draft picks or bundle them to move up.

Prediction is: Danny will ride in on his white horse and save the fair maiden.

What do you consider tearing it down? Before, I jump on you for this take, I want to clarify if you truly mean tear it down or if you’re being ridiculously over exaggerated on what you mean.

Interesting Ainge quote just posted on NESN

nesn.com/2019/01/celtics-need-to-make-a-trade-why-danny-ainge-isnt-so-sure-about-that/

“I try not to get too emotional with a hot streak or a cold streak, and just look at what our team is,” Ainge said, per Himmelsbach. “How our team has played this year, I really haven’t been too surprised with anything, the good and the bad. You could anticipate both of those things happening. So, I’m not surprised. I feel like our team is in a good place and playing well. But I like the path they’re headed in.”

Color me confused at the reaction to last nights game. Almost no difference in the Magic, Heat, or Nets this year. Nets aren't the crappy crappy team they have been for years. The team scored 99, 103, and 102 points the last three games. Yet they didn't have Irving or Smart last game, shoot 40% from the field and got out rebounded by 14. Yet two of the three players that keep getting called out went off and had very good games. 34 for Tatum, 22 for Brown with both of them shooting 50% or better.

It seems clear they rushed Horford back because they were losing games and he needs rest. If he was 100% there wouldn't be a minute restriction. The bigger question is will he be able to get to 100% this year. I just can't buy Horford is done after the way he played during last years playoffs.

Baynes is like Smart. His toughness, D, physical play, nevermind his underrated ability to pass and play team ball is huge for this team. Compared to a Theis for example. We just don't have anyone like him right now. Williams just isn't ready yet. Is he a savior? Yea in a way, he makes a huge difference and with Horford not 100% its magnified even more. The last three games we played teams that start legit NBA centers and we have no one to bang with them. Don't forget in the playoffs we were 2.4 plus with him on the court. If you believe that a guy like Smart has value that doesn't show in the raw stats, you have to buy that with Baynes.

With Hayward everyone kept saying wait till the end of the year. He'll need that much time. So I'm going to wait on just that.

physioworks.com.au/injuries-conditions-1/patellofemoral-kneecap-pain-syndrome

90% of people will be pain free in 6 weeks after starting treatment. So unless we're very unlucky we can get Horford 100% this year. He just needs rest.

I'm all for getting another big. I feel like we debate this every year going on like 5 years now. Horford is the only player we can't replace, just like Baynes. There is no depth behind those guys. Theis can't handle true centers and Williams is a rookie that is raw.

If I'm Danny I go hard after Randle. Kinda the perfect fit this year and if you can resign him the future. That being said its unlikely and there just aren't a lot of bigs we can easily trade for.

Still upset at not taking Jordan Bell as he would have fixed a lot of problems and given us very good depth. Semi isn't a bad player, yet he's buried behind four players.

and Terry Rozier weighs in...

nesn.com/2019/01/terry-rozier-candidly-acknowledges-problem-with-celtics-roster/

“’I don’t think we’ve all been on a team like this,” Rozier said to Goodwill. “Young guys who can play, guys who did things in their career, the group that was together last year, then you bring Kyrie and Hayward back, it’s a lot with it.”

When asked if the roster was too talented, Rozier didn’t back down.

‘Too talented, yeah. Too talented.’”

Rozier hasn't played at a too talented level. His overall shooting stats have never been even average. He is a fair 3 point shooter. And, apart from Hayward, isn't this the same "too talented" team from a year ago.

Semi and Yabu could play OL or TE but don't appear to be offensive threats on the court...sort of AAAA players in baseball analogy. Hayward looks like Kelly O. used to... being hesitant to shoot unless he is wide open. And what's with all those jump passes?

Last year a lot of unexpectedly good things happened excepting Hayward's injury. The worm has turned this year with a lot of unanticipated bad things occuring.

Horford in defensive decline accelerated by injury at 32? Little rim protection, team wide low #s of free throws, vulnerability against teams with legit centers, yada, yada. Is it time to take a step back to take two steps forward by cracking the egg in trades?

I think people ought to stick on the Brown bandwagon - he’s been frustrating at times this year (although he’s getting more flak than he deserves), but I have a feeling he’ll take a big step forward next season when he’s back in the starting lineup for good.

Despite all that isn’t he still ahead of schedule from draft day? How raw he was supposed to be.

A quick search shows some reporters saying that Kerr doesn't like him free lancing. Yet his defensive numbers are very good just like last year. I think the bigger issue is that team is all about out scoring the other team. So they like playing a Jerebko that adds scoring rather than a defensive guy. The Warriors for some stupid reason only gave him a two year deal so he's a restricted free agent next year and they don't have full bird rights yet. Given their luxury tax issues maybe you could trade for him. Reports had them going after bigger true centers like Chandler, and Robin Lopez says he'll join them if bought out. Nevermind Cousins is close to returning.

Given this teams offensive woes I'd love to add a guy like Bell that could really help or D and add very good depth. He fits our style of play a lot better than the Warriors.