That’s a future you problem.
All you’re focused on at that time is just getting through the day and into vacation mode.
Why we think NBA players wouldn’t be the same way in their job is odd to me.
They’re human just like anyone else.
They have vacations planned just like normal people who use their PTO.
It’s all just human nature.
But you know what matters?
You know what the Celtics are doing?
In fact, nobody in the NBA has done more of it.
Does this mean they should be perfect?
Does this mean they won’t ever make mistakes or play a shitty level of basketball?
I look at it like this.
This team needs to show they can win anyway!"
is a line you hear all the time.
For the most part, I agree.
Having variation in how you are winning games is important.
Are people just bored or something, because that doesn’t really add up to me.
Again, this team is 40-12.
Last time I checked this is still the NBA.
Of all the moves Brad has made since taking over for Danny Ainge, this is it.
This is the one.
What a bunch of morons.
Was he the only one watching Wizards games?
I think he might have been.
Find a way to be successful without relying on 3PA?
Then on the other end of the floor, it’s not just about the block totals.
His ability to challenge and make shots tough without fouling is just as important as his blocks.
We haven’t even mentioned the outside shooting yet either, so yeah, things get even better.
That should be encouraging to you, especially if you are someone that screams about adjustments and exploiting mismatches.
That is what Tatum/KP did all night.
Some nights it’s going to be your night, others your role is going to have to adjust.
That’s true for pretty much every player on the roster not named Jayson Tatum.
He’s really the only guy who’s role and shot diet will never change.
For something like this to work, the guys at the top have to fully buy in.
If they do it, everyone else falls in line.
That’s exactly how I would describe Jaylen Brown’s play these last handful of games.
Even in a game where Jaylen shot 9-15, he didn’t force things.
Only 5 FGA in the second half, that was 4th among the starters.
To me, that shows Jaylen’s growth.
It’s been the exact opposite, and to me that screams leader.
That’s a luxury that not many other teams can say they have.
When you get stops, buckets feel easier.
Shots start to drop and the next thing you know you’ve won the quarter 36-16.
- And just like that, the Celts have checked the 40/20 rule box.
To anyone who pays attention, you know what a huge deal this is.
Checking that off the list matters, and it took the Celts only 52 games to do it.
The Bad
- You know what, let’s talk about that defense.
Here’s what I know.
There’s no spinning that.
Just compare that 3rd quarter to the other three we had to live through and it’s pretty clear.
Last night, it was some pretty awful three point defense.
Was it a prayer that the Wizards went 20-47 from deep as a team?
But here’s the thing.
Of that 39.4 number, here are the two concerning parts
1.
The Celts are giving up 13.0 “open” 3PA a game
2.
The Celtics are giving up 22.7 “wide open” 3PA a game
That #2?
That’s the worst in the NBA over the last 7 games.
15 more of those for 40% shooting.
That’s bad defense.
In a playoff series, you have to guard the line.
Shooting is going to come and go.
The Ugly
- This might have been the worst transition defense we’ve ever seen the Celtics play.
An insane 36-18 fastbreak point difference, this was probably the biggest area of shit from this game.
In no world should a team be putting up nearly 40 goddamn points in transition.
Find a body for me one time, it cannot be that hard.
- I would now like to talk about the end of games.
I am now begging.
This was why some said the team needed to move on from Smart right?
At this point, just let Derrick do everything.
Run some White/KP PnR and call it a day, because everything else doesn’t seem to work.
What we know is coming is teams doubling Tatum/Brown at the top when a game is close late.
What I also know is coming is most likely a brutal turnover.
Until that gets cleaned up, things won’t look different at the end of these games.
