Not just rotation guys, but stars.
In Game 2 it was the Celts without Porzingis/Jaylen, and last night it was the Sixers missing Embiid/Maxey.
The same is true with any big matchup.
Fans want to see the stars out there.
We also know that in a game like this, it can be easy to overlook the opponent.
In the end, it was one of the grossest wins we’ll probably see all year.
One of those where you’re grateful for the W, but also pretty disgusted with what you watched.
Zero defense, careless with the basketball, and the stars playing like shit, it was brutal.
You don’t get half a win because you looked like shit, they ultimately all count the same.
But before we can fully erase this game from our memories, we first have to talk about it.
At the very least, he cannot be shooting 23-24% from three.
Then came Game 10.
On the road, undermanned against Joel Embiid on November 15th.
Immediately, Al snapped back into the Horford we know and love.
He dominated Embiid defensively, shot 55/50% with 4 3PM and guess what?
Whatever worry you may have had to start the season, I can’t imagine you still have it.
He becomes possessed whenever these two teams play and it’s no secret why.
That’s where I’m at with Al right now.
That, is a very important detail moving forward.
Guys are careless and make bad decisions essentially every other time down the floor.
You know who I trust to make the right decision every time he touches the ball?
Whether that’s creating for himself or others?
The answer is Derrick White.
Tatum dribbling/passing right now?
The exact performance that has become the norm for White this season.
People realize what an awesome start Bald Derrick is off to right?
The thing is………that’s kind of exactly what’s happened.
Mind you, White only takes 9.6 FGA a game.
That’s often a quarter total for Jaylen or Tatum.
Even still, Bald Derrick has started his season with 14.3/3.9/5.1/1.1/0.8 on 46/40% split with 2.2 3PM.
Yes, what you’re thinking right now is correct.
We’re basically witnessing career year Derrick White.
Derrick White evolving into Bald Derrick didn’t just bring us an awesome season.
It has unleashed the best season of his entire career.
Don’t be stupid.
But Bald Derrick has brought a completely different mentality.
This version is aggressive, and comfortable calling his own number at the right moments within the game.
Everything always seems to come within the flow of the offense.
His isolation moments don’t feel selfish or overdone.
Neither do his pull up 3s.
Everything in moderation is the best way I could explain it.
Pretty sure he also leads the NBA in +-, so yeah.
Bald Derrick is something different.
It’s what we expected from Brogdon and it’s what I think the expectations should be for Payton.
The good news is he’s good enough to where he can clearly live up to it.
- Everything about that fourth quarter deserves to be in this section.
All of those were huge plays.
This is what he’s here for"
As it turned out, he did just that.
The thing is, it probably wasn’t in the way most were expecting.
He played within the game.
When it came time to make the extra pass, he made it.
When it came time for him to shoot, he took a high percentage shot and made it.
When it came time for him to make his 4th quarter FTs, he did.
To me, that’s growth not only as a player, but as a leader.
Instead, he played winning basketball.
As it then turned out, it was the best Celtics quarter of the game it.
- I continue to be intrigued by Neemias Queta’s offensive rebounding.
He just inhales them at an alarming rate.
As far as I’m concerned the #3 big spot can be fluid.
That’s fairly outrageous.
Once they start doing that, it’s very hard for the Celts to lose.
It’s the magic number for a reason.
- Sam Hauser off the bench with another 3-5 (3-4).
It’s crazy what a difference the splits are depending on if he starts or comes off the bench.
He’s too automatic as a bench shooter to mess with that right now.
Pat Bev went wherever he wanted and got whatever he wanted.
The defense sucked ass for 3 quarters.
That’s what happened.
- Once again offensive rebounds were a problem.
How do you let an undermanned team hang around?
You fuck around on the glass.
Box out and grab the fucking ball.
This is Day 1 stuff.
The evidence clearly shows that when the Celts get lazy on the glass, they lose.
When they limit OREB, they win.
Don’t let the win last night fool you, this is still very much a problem.
In fact, it was awful.
Guys immediately started attacking Luke in space, he wasn’t rebounding, they simply were not effective minutes.
Had the Celts lost this game, you could probably look at that moment as a key factor why.
The Ugly
- I’m not sure where else you expected the 20 TOs to go.
I mean holy shit is that pathetic.
Very unserioius basketball is being played if you end up with 20 turnovers.
Add in the 15 OREB and there’s your game.
Turnovers and offensive rebounds.
In no world is it acceptable for Jayson Tatum to have 7 TOs.
Shit, he had more TOs than FGM before getting tossed.
What the hell are these?
Over his last 3 games, Tatum is shooting 50% from the field.
What’s not so great is he has 17 TOs.
A brutal 5.7 a game.
He’s simply been way too careless.
Turnovers are going to happen for primary playmakers, I get it.
But not 17 in 3 games.
Not simple dribbling turnovers.
We already have that problem with Jaylen.
I can’t now also have to worry about that with Tatum as well.
Add in getting tossed, it was not the best Tatum performance we’ve ever seen.
He’s in this weird 9 game rut which feels similar to how Tatum has historically started his season.
But as we said at the top of the blog, a win is a win is a win.
