25 games in @ 15-10

swish wrote:

bobheckler wrote:It is not unreasonable to identify which horses are running well "at the quarter pole" and, 25 games into an 82 game season, we are already past the quarter pole.

Trying to figure out which horse runs well in the flats and which closes and finishes well, who has the top jockeys and guessing which horses will be ending up in the money at the finish line is what horse-racing is about too, it's not just about past performance.  I do believe Vegas does a nice piece of business predicated upon this.  That's all we're doing here, minus the $.  We're looking at how we've done, how we've done vs our peers and how we think we will do AND how we think they'll do.


bob


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Every summer I spend numerous hours handicapping thoroughbred horse racing - just a hobby to replace my Celtic interests. It's true that handicapping the races is quite similiar to handicapping basketball - but I believe there is one major difference - while the cold calulating numbers that dictate the selection process in horse racing exist in basketball as well, there is ( at least in a basketball forum dedicated to one team ) the added probability of home town bias creeping into the handicpping process.



  swish

swish,

Even jockeys wear tinted goggles. Can't be all bad...





bob


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While on this topic, I had a patient who is a math genius. He has never been to a horse race, but he devised an algorithym into which his staff of 25 plugs in many, many variables related to horse racing for races at over 100 tracks around the world. He runs the computer program which recommends on which horses he should bet in which races at which tracks around the world. Then he bets. Usually about $100 million a year now which he has won from prior bets. He averages 25-30% net profit per year on these bets or about $25-30 million a year. He had never seen an actual horse in person until he bought a ranch in Eastern Washington state. He now owns that mega ranch, a home in California, one in Austria, one in Panama, and he is trying to figure out how to move money to Singapore and maybe relocate there. He and his wife fly hither and yon in their private G5 jet. Two years ago they gave the massage therapist in my office a Prius. I got bupkis but am still glad to know them.

worcester wrote:Marcus' 3 point % is up to .321  Great for a batting average. Pete Runnels won batting titles with .320  and .326

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smartma01.html

I am assuming this is a joke - as if that is the one thing you are focused on with Marcus, you are missing the point IMO.

Marcus is shooting a career best FG%
Taking Less shots per game than any year in his career
Per 36 he is averaging a career best in
steals,
rebounds,
blocks, and
lowest # of turnovers

Since he moved into the starting lineup, he is handling the ball a lot more - with even less turnovers than in past years. All in all one of the most important factors to the recent Celtics turnaround and one of their most valuable players.

Mrkleen, It is not a joke
...his 3 point percentage (his worst stat) is up significantly while his number of 3 point shots is down a good bit per game as are his overall # of shots, and his 2 point fg efficiency is way up as are all his other stats...and there are few defensive stats, but he is playing great D.
Marcus is having a breakout year. I am proud of him, and Pistol Pete. So glad we resigned Marcus. A bargain, truly.

worcester wrote:Mrkleen, It is not a joke
...his 3 point percentage (his worst stat) is up significantly while his number of 3 point shots is down a good bit per game as are his overall # of shots, and his 2 point fg efficiency is way up as are all his other stats...and there are few defensive stats, but he is playing great D.
Marcus is having a breakout year. I am proud of him, and Pistol Pete. So glad we resigned Marcus. A bargain, truly.

Comparing his shooting % to a batting average is a pretty strange way to compliment someone. but glad we are on the same page.

Good thing I did not include a summary of every players' performance in this 25 game in review.

The Celtics have a roster filled with a lot of talent.  Some players have exceeded expectations and some have not but as this season continues I am seeing more consistency across the board.

That is a good thing but it remains to be seen if the improvement can be sustained against better competition.  I hope that it can and I suspect that it will.    

I will be doing a 50 game in review to see where we are.

We are now 16-10 after the win over NOP, but here's a stat:

Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
2 hours ago
Celtics since Nov. 26 …

Offensive rating: 125.3, 1st in NBA. Next closest: GSW, 115.2.

Net rating: +25.6, 1st. Next closest: OKC, +10.9

Plus/minus: +156, 1st. Next closest: IND, +75

Celtics shooting 51 percent overall, 42.7 beyond arc — both best in NBA in span.

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bob


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bobheckler wrote:We are now 16-10 after the win over NOP, but here's a stat:

Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
2 hours ago
Celtics since Nov. 26 …

Offensive rating: 125.3, 1st in NBA. Next closest: GSW, 115.2.

Net rating: +25.6, 1st. Next closest: OKC, +10.9

Plus/minus: +156, 1st. Next closest: IND, +75

Celtics shooting 51 percent overall, 42.7 beyond arc — both best in NBA in span.

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bob


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Pretty impressive numbers.

I hope they can continue this surge. I think they may have figured out some things.

As you know they are tied for 2nd in the league in terms of Point differential at +7.6 along with the Raptors.

It will be very interesting to see how Toronto plays on the road. They are @ Clippers tonight.