On numerous occasions over the next few months you’re going to see the Celts grind out wins.
Like you, I too enjoy the performances like we saw against MIL or DAL.
Who couldn’t love when this team plays near perfect basketball and kicks the shit out of someone.
But I’ve also been wtaching this team and this league for a long time.
On paper, the Celts should have won this game by no fewer than 10,000 points.
Once you get into SA/HOU territory, you’re moving into the worst team in league category.
The Thunder are under .500, but they’re frisky and certainly not the worst in the league.
The Spurs are in their tank/rebuild phase where they need to avoid losses.
With no Devin Vassel or Jakob Poeltl either, things were pointing to another blowout.
In the end, the Celts had to win ugly.
The Celts could certainly play better, I feel confident in suggesting that.
With teams around them continuing to win, the Celts need to keep pace and stack Ws.
That’s why I honestly just feel mostly relief after last night.
Something he’d never done is have 11 assists in a game.
That ended last night.
From there, I have full trust in whatever he wants to do.
If he wants to take the floater, hell yes.
Let that shit fly.
Then once he starts to feel that confidence, the threes will fall.
What’s been the driver behind this solid stretch of play recently?
New Haircut Derrick might just be the perfect player.
Something to think about.
- Part of not losing to very bad teams is making sure your star players actually show up.
With Jaylen it was 29/3/4/2 on 12-25 (2-7).
From a production standpoint, they certainly gave you enough.
That seems like a pretty clutch shot to me, but what do I know.
- There’s a strong possibility that we are watching Malcolm Brogdon snap out of his month long slump.
It’s early, but the indicators are there.
What you just watched was First 25 Game Malcolm Brogdon.
Those were the exact shots he hasn’t been making for a month.
That’s what I care about.
Basically, this was the Brogdon we expect to see.
Take the shot making out of it and just think about how he played.
He was aggressive, he was unselfish, and he filled his role perfectly.
When Smart went out he had to step up and provide a spark.
That’s big time guard play.
- Something I’ve been very adamant about is the fact that Rob looks like Rob.
I can’t tell that man had knee surgery and you’re able to’t either.
His bounce is back, his conditioning and getting better as is his defensive timing.
Our latest confirmation of this can be seen below
Rob is perfect.
I’m only half kidding.
Every single time this man steps on the floor, he only does the right thing.
His impact is immediate and it is nearly always positive.
Try and convince me that Rob’s 10/11/3/2/4 on 5-6 shooting wasn’t flawless?
We saw players literally shit themselves whenever they had the ball anywhere near the rim.
Nobody wanted to do anything knowing Rob was lurking, which is a huge part of his overall value.
When Rob is out on the floor, youfeelhim.
The huge debate will now be whether or not Rob should start.
I can certainly understand the thinking, shit I’m someone who loves the original starting five.
To me, keeping perspective is still important.
He’s still a positive impact player.
But I think we all agree Rob looks great.
Such a fun player to watch.
- Quick update on Mazzulla Ball for those who maybe lost a little faith during the skid.
The ball movement was sensational with 30 assists, and the TOs were relatively low at 14.
The difference was they didn’t shoot a horrific 25%.
The goal of Mazzulla Ball offensively is to generate open looks through movement and unselfish basketball.
It’s then on the players to pull their weight and convert a respectable percentage of them.
When they do, this offense is a juggernaut.
They said knee bruise or bone bruise or something but I don’t believe that shit for a second.
I was told KG had a knee bruise and look what happened.
It goes without saying that losing him for a long stretch would be pretty significant.
- Things on the offensive end looked great.
Especially coming off a game where you held the Mavs (6th ranked offense) to under 100.
How does that make any goddamn sense.
Romeo Langford was bullying people for example.
Some out of control TOs, some boneheaded ones, the ball security needs to be much better.
- Not the best I’ve ever seen Al defensively.
He sort of just let everyone take a layup.
At the same time, I have no doubt he’ll be awesome against the Bulls.
This is part of the ups and downs of an older player.
You have to pick your spots I guess.
The Ugly
- What the shit was this.
What the hell was this
How is this physically possible?
I’ve watched this a million times and I cannot process how it might be possible.
This was the 2nd TO the Celts had while inbounding the ball after a basket.
I despite it with every fiber of my being.
JUST KEEP PLAYING
Up 9 with 3:49 in this game, the Celts did the opposite.
They kept going for the knockout three off isolation instead of just playing their normal offense.
Couldn’t get stops on one end and played like a buch of dickheads on the other.
A big week ahead, the hope is the Celts are able to keep building.
We’re almost at the midway point and things are as close as ever.
Exhale after this win and turn the page.
A much better effort will be required tomorrow night.
