The "core" of a team

I have been trying to figure out just how valuable a "core" group of players are to a team and also what makes each and every
"core" player part of such a core for many years.

At 66 years old, I played a lot of sports (although never really good at any of them) and during my teaching and coaching career
I have coached many, many seasons of various sports (again, probably never really well inany particular assignment), but I would almost dare
anyone who has played and/or coached sports to deny that their clearly is such a thing, a "core", in every sports team.

So, how valuable is the core of our present day Celtics? And, how did each player who has become part of the core gotten to this
status?

Also, what does it take for Ainge to trade away one of Brad's core guys?

Clyde,

Just a quick thought about this.

A core player, to me, is a player that you would not trade unless there was a significant upgrade coming to replace him.  The replacement doesn't have to be a one-for-one deal, a SF for a SF, it could be giving up a guard to significantly upgrade the PF position for example, but you have to see that significant upgrade somewhere in the core to give up a piece of that core.  Therefore, I find it hard to consider a young player (read Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum) a core player.  Someday?  Sure, absolutely they could become a core player but they aren't yet because they are still too raw and undeveloped to be deemed "irreplaceable".


bob


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bobheckler wrote:Clyde,

Just a quick thought about this.

A core player, to me, is a player that you would not trade unless there was a significant upgrade coming to replace him.  The replacement doesn't have to be a one-for-one deal, a SF for a SF, it could be giving up a guard to significantly upgrade the PF position for example, but you have to see that significant upgrade somewhere in the core to give up a piece of that core.  Therefore, I find it hard to consider a young player (read Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum) a core player.  Someday?  Sure, absolutely they could become a core player but they aren't yet because they are still too raw and undeveloped to be deemed "irreplaceable".


bob


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bob

"Therefore, I find it hard to consider a young player (read Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum) a core player.  Someday?  Sure, absolutely they could become a core player but they aren't yet because they are still too raw and undeveloped to be deemed "irreplaceable"."

Exactly my sentiments - plus 1

swish

so who (if any) are the core group of players?

one would think Horford (due to his deal), IT (due to his play) make most lists.

anyone else?

Bradley certainly deserves consideration as an all defensive player with a solid offensive game and being the longest tenured Celtic.

KDP,

I would say that to varying degrees that all of last year's roster (Young, Williamson and Mickey to a lesser degree) had something to do with our team's successful season.

Certainly the three guys you mentioned were large parts of our core although I would disagree about Horford being there only because of his salary. He had a very nice second half of the year for us and was even better in the playoffs.

Crowder is part of the core, in my book anyways, because of his drive and leadership towards individual and team accountability. No question that his arrival from Dallas did a lot for them becoming a better team.

Smart is a core player because he is just always going a million miles an hour with his toughness and aggressive style of play.

Brown and Rozier are parts of the core due their efforts to improve, humility, athleticism and progress throughout the season.

Johnson, Jerebko, Olynyk and Zeller are pros who do not complain yet give all they have when given the opportunity.

My opinion - with perhaps minor exceptions - core player equals a minimum of 1500 minutes per year and 24 minutes per game with a lessor value placed on a team with a loosing record.


swish

Until a group of players have really accomplished something like a championship or at least the finals, I question whether any player is a "core" player. Bird, McHale, and Parrish would probably be core players on that team. Take any one away and you have a hard time figuring out a better replacement. What about DJ? Or take PP, KG, or Allen away from that team. Maybe you could replace Allen. Rondo? But on today's team if you could upgrade at any position, and I think you could arguably upgrade at every position, is there really a core team? Ainge and Stevens like high IQ, high character, team-first players so most of the guys on this team seem like a good fit. That's why they're on the team in the first place. But I don't think that makes any of them part of a core until there is actually a team that you wouldn't want to ruin by replacing the wrong piece.