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Celtics Wrap: 30-Point Effort From Jaylen Brown Not Enough Vs. Spurs
This one shouldn't have been this close


NESN by Jenna Ciccotelli

BOSTON — In a back-and-forth game that featured 11 lead changes and nine ties, the Boston Celtics couldn’t finish the night ahead of the San Antonio Spurs, falling 99-97 at TD Garden.

The Spurs improve to 15-22 while Boston drops to 18-20.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Prior to the game, head coach Ime Udoka said he was looking forward to getting the Celtics’ premier starting five on the floor for just the ninth time this season. Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams haven’t played a game together since Dec. 13 and have been extremely limited all season due to a variety of different injuries and COVID-19.

It took a while for things to click, with Boston stuck in a back-and-forth game with the Spurs. Things were tied at 30 after the first quarter — at which point Brown had 14 points and no other starter had more than four. The Spurs had a two-point lead by the break, at which point Brown still was the only Celtic in double digits.

All in all, this ended a pretty evenly matched game, with the Celtics shooting 44.4 percent from the field compared to 47.7 percent from the Spurs. But against the team that entered the night in 11th place in the Western Conference, with all of Boston’s stars on the floor, it’s actually pretty concerning that this game was so close.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Brown was Boston’s only hope in the first half, with his aforementioned scoring far and away carrying the team. He finished the night with 30 points, six rebounds and one assist.

Terry Bradshaw Had Insensitive Reaction To Antonio Brown's Outburst

— Tatum ended up coming to life, too. He finished the night as the Celtics’ second-leading scorer with 19 points and logged eight rebounds and three assists.

— The Spurs, meanwhile, had pretty balanced scoring from across their starting five. Dejounte Murray finished the night with 22 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds to lead the visitors.

WAGER WATCH
The Spurs were +260 to come away with the win, so anyone who picked an upset took home a nice $260 payout on a $100 bet at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Those who bet on Brown to have a night made out nicely. His propositional bet to hit at least four three-pointers (+250) hit, as did his 30-point prop (+225). So all in all, not a bad night for Brown fans.


UP NEXT
The Celtics are off to New York for the first game of a home-and-home against Knicks, scheduled Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Boston hosts the Knicks on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

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Well we totally got outcoached. Frustrating game, seems like forever we were down 3 and would get it to 1 a few times, make a sloppy play or miss a bunny and they would go back up 5 or 6, then we’d cut it to 3 or 2, but never get the lead. Hated the opening line up with 2 bigs, this gave Spurs the quickness advantage and they were getting good looks in midrange or 3 with our bigs out of position. In the 2nd half they killed us with Murray pnr getting RWill on him on the perimeter and repeating this over and over, plus Al on switches also got beat for key baskets. Al despite a huge 3 in the last game has really regressed on offense this season. He and Tatum put up too many attempts, at that efficiency it killed us. All this switching left us vulnerable on the offensive glass as Poeltl got many key offensive rebounds. This was all brilliant strategy by Pop, beating the more talented team to spots and a clinic on mismatches. Ime try keeping the bigs closer to the basket/paint and get faster smaller guys on the perimeter, that would make sense and we would rebound better.

Jayson with one of his off games, went thru a long cold stretch, until he finds his rythmn/shot, Jaylen is our most dynamic and best player. At crunch time Smart should have gotten the ball to Jaylen, rather start seeing Jaylen doing a Pierce iso than Smart trying to finish in traffic or put up a 3. Would have liked to see more sharing and ball movement, but if it has to be iso, rather see it with Jaylen than Smart.

Could we start Romeo or JRich with Tatum Brown Smart and RWill? The 2 big line up is too slow on both ends….

Popovich is one of the greatest coaches ever. So that was our problem? Pop is a better coach than Ime? Really?
Start Romeo and we might as well admit we’re tanking.
Some of our guys just don’t listen. I wont mention any names just initials, Jason Tatum

There were two post game threads, so I merged them.

Ktron,

We're going to admit we're tanking now?!  I thought that was established long before now!  haha

I'm going to extend my January 15th assessment deadline to the trade deadline 2/10 and give our team which looks like it's all back (where was PP?) 5 weeks of playing together before the epsilon strain of the Omicron delta strain of the original alpha COVID-19 strain comes through that only affects the Celtics and no other team in the NBA. It will be marked with incessant sneezing only and no other symptoms, but again, only the Celtics will be affected by it.

OK, that may have been uncalled for.  Just seems logical.  

It was good to see everyone back.  Looks like no one worked on their 3's while they were out nor has Grant Williams provided everyone with his secret summer training 3-ball elixir.

We should really just stop shooting 3's until further notice.  Go old school down low 100%.  Use the 3's like we did in the 80's Larry Bird style.  Two bigs will work with that ala McHale and Parish since Ime is not budging on that.      

db

We’re a very poor 3 point shooting team with that starting line up, if one of J’s is off like last night, there is not enough outside shooting. Smart you never know what your gonna get, usually has weak %, Al been bricking the whole year, RWill has no 3 point shot, so only consistent is from 2 J’s and Tatum has also had bad shooting games all year. I would start JRich and we need PP off the bench badly.

Meanwhile Spurs we’re burying everything early last night.

The Spurs are the Masters of the almost extinct mid-range game. Modern basketball coaching theory is that you either want a 3 or a dunk. Even a layup is frowned upon if it is going to be contested, coaches will want you to kick it out to the arc for an open 3. The Spurs were coming around picks and were pulling up for 10-14'ers, which they hit.

Tatum 6-20, 1-6 from 3, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers and, shockingly, zero turnovers.

Al Horford's shelf life date is starting to come into clarity. He's still a well-rounded player, 5 assists and zero turnovers, but he lacks the footspeed. His shooting has been excrement too. His 43.4% fg% is the worst of his career, as is his 28.3% 3pt fg%. His rebounds/game are up and his blocks/game are slightly higher but other than that?

Jaylen with a great game, 30 points on 12-25, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (and only 3 turnovers this game!). He made a steal at the end and blew the lay up. He hits it and we're tied and going into OT.

Smart with another great game too. Anytime Marcus Smart shoots 6-12 that's a great game because you know you're going to get all the rest. 6 assists and zero turnovers. That's decent, not great but decent, point guard numbers.

Schroder shot 7-14 but his defense is awful. I've soured on Dennis the Menace after talking him up in the first month or so of the season. Brad didn't trade him on December 15th when he first became eligible for trading. I'm expecting/hoping Brad has his eyes on bigger fish he can land for Schroder. The trade deadline is exactly 5 weeks, 35 days, from today. Three weeks from now we'll be in The Twilight Zone from all the rumors, most of which will be complete crap.

Grant Williams with one of the worst games he's had in a while. Two really bone-headed screwups b2b. Chris Mannix sat in for Scal last night and opined that he now can see Grant Williams as a PJ Tucker type of player. Physical defender who can defend multiple positions and is a solid 3-baller. I take what Mannix says with a grain of salt but he has a point here. In green or not this year Grant has shown he knows what he needs to do to play in the NBA for a long time.

It seems to me refs have been letting the boys play more now. It's almost as if the league told them "we're low on bonafide talent because of COVID, so don't push players to the bench with a flurry of fouls".


Bob


.

Ktron wrote:Popovich is one of the greatest coaches ever. So that was our problem? Pop is a better coach than Ime? Really?
Start Romeo and we might as well admit we’re tanking.
Some of our guys just don’t listen. I wont  mention any names just initials, Jason Tatum

Tanking? We're already losing. How is giving Romeo and Payton more minutes tanking? It's not like they're a couple bench player rookies from the G-league. They both play much better defense than Schroder. Schroder looks to score more but he doesn't take advantage of his scoring to assist others much. I would say playing them instead of Schroder is the opposite of tanking. I'm with Bob on Schroder. My main complaint on him was his one and done contract status. But his defense is looking atrocious. He should have caught on to switch everything by now. It's not tanking to play your best players, especially when they are younger and will be around for at least a couple years.

There were quite a few shooter bounces for the Spurs.  

Our defense last night was vey good but not great.  They got a lot of dribble penetration looks off of screens.

Down the stretch we took several ill advised shots.  And JB did not get enough touches.

Funny how we go away from what works.  Running offense through our bigs lends itself to more movement however I do not think the 2-big lineup was a good decision to use.  Nevertheless if Al or RW are in at center run more offense through them.  

This game was razor close at the end of each and every quarter.  In the end we lost because we cannot make 3 point shoots.  We shot 32% last night.  I mentioned the impact of 3 point shooting in my glimmer piece.  

RW with only 5 FGA last night (3-5)

Tatum, Horford, G Williams and Schroeder a combined 2-14 from deep...hideous

Guess what members, this year is an evaluation year on all members of the Boston Celtics.  The Celtics are broken and no matter what scenario you choose to fix with the players you have, will not bring measurable results now.

Schroder is a draft pick asset and will be gone by the trading deadline if the Celtic management have any brains.  What one must understand is the Celtics cannot sign Schroder next year because they can never afford him based on the teams salary cap.  Besides, he is really only a 6th or 7th guy off the bench and not a premier PG who is focused on pass first verses shoot first who does not play tough defense.  

We have to get a young point guard who possess those attributes I mentioned above.  He may be sitting on the bench somewhere currently because he cannot break into a current lineup, and a team heading into the playoffs may want a guy like Schroder.  

Although we talk about Grant Williams improved play, which I commend him for his hard work this past summer and improvement, he is an undersized power forward.  If you move him to specific assignments away from the paint, he may be a great lock down defender and multiple position guy to defend the 2-3 and 4 (only on occasion) positions.
What I would do is to trade for Sabonis on Indiana , who is young (25), a true power forward at 6'11", can score and rebound and within the paint a shooting percentage above 53%.  He is weaker at the 3 point shot at 31% and FT at 74% but he is a nice player to have that adds height.  He also is a very good defensive player which the Celtic desperately need.

If you want to go cheaper, Miles Turner as your power forward position at 6'11" , 25 years old, better rebounder by 1.5 rebounds more a game then Sabonis (6.7) about the same percentage (53%) shooting within the arc as Sobonis, and better 3 point shooting percentage then Sebonis at 35.5% verses 31%.

Or to a lesser but very serviceable PF > TJ Warren.  Does put up good stats and at 6'8"

So ok, who goes?????   Depends on Celtic management which has been too conservative at times to make a good deal for the right player in a trade.

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Sabonis

atcross wrote:

Ktron wrote:Popovich is one of the greatest coaches ever. So that was our problem? Pop is a better coach than Ime? Really?
Start Romeo and we might as well admit we’re tanking.
Some of our guys just don’t listen. I wont  mention any names just initials, Jason Tatum

Tanking? We're already losing. How is giving Romeo and Payton more minutes tanking? It's not like they're a couple bench player rookies from the G-league. They both play much better defense than Schroder. Schroder looks to score more but he doesn't take advantage of his scoring to assist others much. I would say playing them instead of Schroder is the opposite of tanking. I'm with Bob on Schroder. My main complaint on him was his one and done contract status. But his defense is looking atrocious. He should have caught on to switch everything by now. It's not tanking to play your best players, especially when they are younger and will be around for at least a couple years.  

What more do you need to see from Payton and Romeo? I’ve seen enough to tell me that they cant be trusted to up the level of play on the floor. I’m happy that our coach isn’t Ed McMahon. It’s the NBA not Star Search.
Tanking in October says that this season doesn’t count. So you basically try to lose. Tanking mid season is throwing in the towel with a prayer attached to it. still, you’re trying to lose.
I dont a see anything that indicates that this team is trying to lose.
Starting Romeo at this point when his play doesn't deserve it or playing PP and Nesmith additional minutes when they have barely stepped up when in there is akin to a lame attempt at tanking. Sorry I’m not in the give them more minutes and see what they can do club.
Many others are and that’s Ok. I have no problem with the head coach making them earn it, be it in practice or during the few minutes they’re getting.

Looks like this will be another tough season. Unless Brad is able to pull something special at trade deadline.

I keep hearing about figure it out and I do see coaches and players trying to do things. Play with speed, defense, etc. Everything is just too inconsistent, almost like everyone is fighting their internal devils.

Oh well, it is what it is!

Ktron wrote:

atcross wrote:

Ktron wrote:Popovich is one of the greatest coaches ever. So that was our problem? Pop is a better coach than Ime? Really?
Start Romeo and we might as well admit we’re tanking.
Some of our guys just don’t listen. I wont  mention any names just initials, Jason Tatum

Tanking? We're already losing. How is giving Romeo and Payton more minutes tanking? It's not like they're a couple bench player rookies from the G-league. They both play much better defense than Schroder. Schroder looks to score more but he doesn't take advantage of his scoring to assist others much. I would say playing them instead of Schroder is the opposite of tanking. I'm with Bob on Schroder. My main complaint on him was his one and done contract status. But his defense is looking atrocious. He should have caught on to switch everything by now. It's not tanking to play your best players, especially when they are younger and will be around for at least a couple years.  

What more do you need to see from Payton and Romeo? I’ve seen enough to tell me that they cant be trusted to up the level of play on the floor. I’m happy that our coach isn’t Ed McMahon. It’s the NBA not Star Search.
Tanking in October says that this season doesn’t count. So you basically try to lose. Tanking mid season is throwing in the towel with a prayer attached to it. still, you’re trying to lose.
I dont a see anything that indicates that this team is trying to lose.
Starting Romeo at this point when his play doesn't deserve it or playing PP and Nesmith additional minutes when they have barely stepped up when in there is akin to a lame attempt at tanking. Sorry I’m not in the give them more minutes and see what they can do club.
Many others are and that’s Ok. I have no problem with the head coach making them earn it, be it in practice or during the few minutes they’re getting.

Clearly your estimation of Pritchard and Langford does no jibe with mine and a few others here. We'll have to see how the next few weeks play out.