2019-20 Boston Celtics Season

Thats what I meant to say.

 I just read something about him going to the practice facility after the game to get some work in. He didn't think much of his game either. He will get it together.

The issue isn’t that he’s having mamba type practice sessions. The issue is the shot selection. If he went one for eighteen With 12 missed threes I would have the same reaction is one bad game. But this isnt a bad game, it’s a bad mindset that has plagued Tatum for the last year.

Gotcha

The Celtics really look good right now. The Wizards aren't good, but good to bank wins, especially with no GH.

Remember when some guy on this thread tried to say Smart is a below average shooter?

Good times, y'all

Cheers to 9-1

To be fair Marcus Smart wasn’t just a below average shooter he was a piss poor one until last season and plenty of guys have one season blips so if it takes some longer to buy in that’s pretty reasonable. That being said, it’s clear to me anyways that his shot is greatly improved. When he takes an open three after that ball is swung to him the worry is gone.

Here’s to hoping last night was what Carsen Edwards needed to get his confidence. The first 9 games when he played he was clearly very tentative and his shot suffered as a result. The dude is a gunslinger / confidence is the most important thing for him. Had a good game last night. Kemba has been talking with him off the court trying to keep up his confidence so hopefully knowing the vets have his back and a good night will catapult him. Stevens needs to get him good minutes early next game.

Don’t overlook tomorrow’s game even though GS sucks. 3rd game in 5 days and have to fly across the country.

Irving's preferred style of play just doesn't fit Stevens offense or the teams talent and Irving wasn't willing to change. As good as he is, he can be stopped when teams focus their D to stop him. Walker is taking a ton of shots but most come within the offense. Walker also doesn't mind playing off the ball with Hayward or Smart leading the way. Something Irving just hated. It's really a win win, because Irving with Durant is a much better fit for him also.

It will be very interesting to see how they do come the playoffs if they keep playing this way and Hayward comes back and picks up where he left off. Most championship teams need that alpha, yet have we seen many very good defensive teams with four scorers like the Celtics? Makes it crazy hard to game plan to stop and on any given night they have four guys that can go off for 30 points. Best way to destroy good defenses is with good ball movement and team play. The team two years ago proved that. This team has way more firepower then that team. We don't see long stretches every game where they really struggle to score. 

Still think it comes down to our bigs and bench. Yet so far Robert Williams has made huge gains and Edwards just had his breakout game we hope. They are Grant Williams taking off away from having one of the deepest teams in the league and they play team Basketball. The NBA should be worried, this team should only get better as the season goes along. I can't wait for the playoffs.

Something to watch as the season goes along and Smart goes back to the bench when Hayward returns is how he shoots in a bench role. Last year he was 37.7% from deep as a starter, 30.6% when he was on the bench, not including his 1-11 in the playoffs. This year 26.1% in bench role, and 43.2% when playing as a starter.

I sure do hope he continues to shoot this well, it would be one of the greatest transformations in NBA history after his 6 years stretch of being bad. Which is why I'm skeptical and will be very cautious. RJP knows Smart has had plenty of hot streaks over the years. We've had plenty of debates after he had them and raised his average up high, only to have a cold stretch follow it. Heck all the way back in 2014 he had games of 3-7, 4-8, 4-7, 4-5, 4-9, and 7-12. Smart having good stretches is nothing new. The new part is the volume. I have no problem with Smart taking Quality three point attempts within the offense, I still don't want him taking very hard off the dribble threes like Walker and Irving take. He has a long way to go before he reaches that level.

I’d agree he’s a long shot at best but I’m not sure it’s because it’s necessarily harder for a guard to impact the game as much as a big, I just don’t think their impact is as respected as a bigs impact is. How do you measure what Smart does with loose balls, holding his own against bigs allowing the team to make weird lineups that no one else could pull off and his perimeter D? There’s some measure for it but it’s not as sexy as blocks and shooting percentage allowed at the rim etc.