Post Game Thread - vs Magic, Home 3/21/21

[bobheckler]

It's still early, so I'll just get this started now.

A nice win against an inferior opponent. I don't care, I'll take it. We need to build our confidence back up. We have Memphis tomorrow and then two road games in Milwaukee (God Help Us!). 8 games in the next 13 days.

Brown was unconscious. 34 points on 12-24, 10-18 from 3. He also had 3 assists and zero turnovers. The turnover figure makes me very happy given his recent past.

Theis with 32 minutes and a double double. I really don't understand why anybody is in such an all-fired rush to get rid of him. I understand the upcoming contract renegotiation and all, that's a legit reason, but otherwise? He's doing real well for us in my opinion.

We took 88 fgas. 54 of them were 3s. That's nuts. Yes, we hit 42.6% but that's one helluva skewed offense. We did have good ball movement, which got us some nice looks at 3s, but not enough cutter for my liking (although there usually isn't anyway).

In the "Who's next in Green" segment:
Vuc with 22 and 13 on 9-20
Gordon with 12 and 6 on 3-13
Fournier with 16 and 5 on 6-19, 2-8 from 3.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401307435


Bob


.

[dboss]

27 assists and just 9 turnovers is great. The defense was pretty solid as well.

54 3 point attempts does not sit well with me. That was 64% of our shot attempts.

I am glad that we won.

[112288]

Celtics Wrap: Jaylen Brown, Three-Point Barrage Lead Way Vs. Magic
Brown (34) hit 10 of Boston's 23 shots from long range

NESN by Sean T. McGuire

Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics had their best shooting touch Sunday afternoon against the Orlando Magic and it helped the hosts pull out a much-needed, 112-96 victory at TD Garden.

Most notably, the Celtics hit 23 of their 54 3-point attempts. Boston’s previous record was 24. And while that was impressive, equally as impressive was the team’s ball movement as Boston assisted on 27 of its 40 made field goals.

Brown scored a game-high 34 points on 50% from the field (12-for-24) including a noteworthy 10-for-18 from long range. Brown’s 10 3-pointers were just one shy of the team’s individual record previously set by teammate Marcus Smart.

Jayson Tatum scored 23 points on 7-for-13 from the floor after hitting all five of his seven 3-pointers in the first half. All five Celtics starters — Kemba Walker (14), Daniel Theis (13) and Marcus Smart (11), Brown and Tatum — finished with double figures.

Boston moves back to .500 with a 21-21 overall record while the Magic, who entered Sunday after having lost nine of their last 10, fell to 14-28 on the season.

Here’s how it all went down:

STARTING FIVE
PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Jaylen brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Daniel Theis

TRAILING AFTER ONE
The Magic hit six of their 11 3-point attempts during the first quarter and it allowed them to take a 31-27 lead after the opening quarter. Orlando entered the game averaging 104 points per game, second-fewest in the league, but were on pace to score 20 points more than that after the opening 12 minutes.

Tatum led all scorers with 11 points on three 3-pointers. He was an efficient 4-for-5 from the floor while the Celtics shot 46% from long range (6-for-13) but just 39% from the field (9-for-23).

Boston was sharing the ball well, though, assisting on seven of their nine field goals.

Brown chipped in eight points while Smart scored six of his own.

Orlando big man Nikola Vucevic nearly tallied a double-double in nine minutes with 10 points and seven rebounds. The Magic shot 44% from the field (10-for-23), and did not have a single turnover.

RAINING J’S
Tatum (5-for-7) and Brown (4-for-7) combine to hit nine 3-pointers in the first half as the Celtics shot 44% from long range and used both that and an uptick in ball pressure to take a 56-48 lead into the intermission.

Tatum led the way with 19 first-half points on 6-for-9 from the field while Brown added 14 points on 5-for-12 from the floor.

Boston, before closing the quarter on a run, was able to keep the game close by hitting some tough shots while the Magic benefitted from some easy ones. The C’s took a 43-42 lead midway through the quarter on a Brown 3-pointer.

Vucevic was held to just two points with one rebound in the second quarter. The Magic were 0-for-5 from long range in the second while they finished the half shooting 39% from the field (16-for-41).

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin Reveals He Was Interested In Celtics Before Joining Nets
22 hours ago

FINALLY… BETTER BASKETBALL
The Celtics played with a much better intensity on both ends in the third quarter and it helped them take a 23-point lead with 3:30 left in the period before taking a 89-73 advantage into the fourth.

Of course, Boston’s 3-point barrage didn’t hurt either and the C’s went on what was an extended 27-12 run during the quarter. The Celtics hit five of their first eight shots from beyond the arc before concluding the third quarter 20-for-41 from long range.

But those plays were not to be overshadowed by the hustle plays, which have been few and far between lately. The C’s were flying around on defense, Grant Williams dove on a loose ball, and a Walker extra pass led to Aaron Nesmith knocking down a 3-pointer of his own.

Brown climbed his point total to 25 (7-for-12 from deep) while Tatum scored 19 points with 12 minutes left.

MORE TIMELY THREES
In typical 2021 Celtics fashion, the Magic cut their once 23-point deficit to just eight points with nine minutes remaining, but the Celtics responded. (Yes, again, that’s been rare lately.)

Brown’s eighth 3-pointer put the Celtics up 13 points with 7:30 left, his ninth extended Boston’s advantage to 16 points with six minutes remaining and his 10th gave the C’s a 17-point lead with five minutes left.

PLAY OF THE GAME
The day belonged Brown (and Tatum), but did you really expect to go without a Robert Williams highlight?


UP NEXT
The Celtics will set out on a four-game road trip starting with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

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[112288]

I am beginning to believe Jalen Brown is a better player then Tatum. Brown can not only score from the arc, but he has a nice inside game as well to score points. Tatum on the other hand is a plain scorer from the arc, but he is very awkward when trying to penetrate the paint on iso moves. He got his lunch pail picked that lead to an easy score today. I have seen that happen too often with him.

Maybe the summer he spent with Kobie screwed him up. I thought he had much better moves when he was a rookie and 2nd year player then now.

Ya I know he is young, but Larry Bird was heads and tails above this kid at the same age in his career. Perhaps this is his ceiling as a player and will be just a known as a great outside shooter.

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[cowens/oldschool]

I think Tatum has some great moves, but also gets sloppy, and because he’s long he can get crowded, leading to turnovers. Both still need to be more aware and clean up things, great seeing Jaylen go off. A sign of more to come, we obviously needed that as GWill and Semi were like 1-7 combined in 37 minutes, maybe we need J’s to put up even more shots with both going for 35 plus with this kind of supporting cast. We could definitely use TT, he’s still a good rebounder and allows us to play Theis more at PF.

[cowens/oldschool]

I am beginning to believe Jalen Brown is a better player then Tatum.  Brown can not only score from the arc, but he has a nice inside game as well to score points.  Tatum on the other hand is a plain scorer from the arc, but he is very awkward when trying to penetrate the paint on iso moves.  He got his lunch pail picked that lead to an easy score today.  I have seen that happen too often with him.  

Maybe the summer he spent with Kobie screwed him up. I thought he had much better moves when he was a rookie and 2nd year player then now.

Ya I know he is young, but Larry Bird was heads and tails above this kid at the same age in his career.  Perhaps this is his ceiling as a player and will be just a known as a great outside shooter.

112288

Is it fair to compare anyone to Larry Bird? he was all NBA first team as a rookie....if they emphasized 3’s in his era like today OMG. He’d have a bunch of 35 point seasons!!

[112288]

Cowen,

What I am getting at is, is he fair game to use in a block buster trade?   I am leaning more towards yes if it is the right player or players.

Is it fair game to compare him to Bird. Yes when Danny and Management label him an untouchable, and no not Elliot Ness!

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[worcester]

Good D. A satisfying win. Kudos to Theis and Jaylen.

[worcester]

Re Tatum, with a good playmaking PG, Jaylon won't have to handle the ball so much and will be a consistently superb scorer. He can rebound well - and play very good D with the effort. No sense in trading him. Just get a PG and give the two J's their proper roles to play, which is not handling the ball 50+% of the time and playmaking.

[cowens/oldschool]

Cowen,

What I am getting at is, is he fair game to use in a block buster trade?   I am leaning more towards yes if it is the right player or players.

Is it fair game to compare him to Bird. Yes when Danny and Management label him an untouchable, and no not Elliot Ness!

112288

Danny would trade his own mother, he famously tried to talk Red into trading Larry and Kevin, no one is untradeable for the right blockbuster deal.

[112288]

AMEN!

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[dboss]

Larry Bird was not a big time 3 point shooter.  His highest average attempts was 3.3.  His first 4 years was under 2 attempts per game.  The 3 point shot was not the shot of choice.  His 1st 5 years he shot..406, .270, .212, .286 and .247. By today's standards he was below average

He was a great rebounder and passer. He was 23 in his rookie year and did not score 25 ppg until he was in year 6 and 28 years old.

The game has changed dramatically since the 80's.  

Larry was an elite player.

JT is still very young by comparison and still has upside.  He looks like a 30 PPG guy up the rd a bit.  He has work to do, a lot of work.

[worcester]

Larry won the 3 point contests with ease. How many of his in game 3 point shots were last second desperation heaves? In today's NBA he would have made the 3 with ease. Why? Because he would have worked at it to no end until he mastered it and the NBA's defense of his 3's.

[112288]

dBoss

Larry was an elite basketball player. He did it all and along the way made his teammates better.  Back then 3 point shots were not the rage of the NBA.  You must also remember the difference between the backboards and rim in the old Boston Garden verses the new backboards and rims  used in the modern NBA arenas.  Following the 1992–93 season, the NBA increased steel brace strength and increased stability of the backboard

Here are career stats of Larry and Jason:

LB - Career Field Goal Percentage - .496%.//  JT - Career Field Goal Percentage - .455%
LB - Career 3 Pt Percentage - .376%. // JT - Career Field Goal Percentage - .396%

By the way, Jason's highest 3 point percentage for a given year so far is .434% with 2 .400% seasons.  Larry's highest 3 point percentage for a given year was .427% with 6 .400+%  seasons. Not bad for a guy with a bad back through most of his years playing.

112288

[cowens/oldschool]

I remember Birds last 2 years, he was like an old king fu master who doesn’t have the dynamic young man attributes, but is so skilled he can still beat you with his touch and you can’t touch him. He would still know when to drive, the right pass, where to move and he could still hit the 3. You could see he was stiff and hurting, but he still played with so much heart. Still really enjoyed his more limited, but still great game at the end....

[worcester]

Remember when his head BOUNCED off the parquet floor? He left the game. And then came back to play!

[cowens/oldschool]

And loved the respect the stars in their peak would still give to Larry. Remember seeing some interview with Karl Malone back in the day and he said something to the effect “He’s only the greatest forward in history and it isn’t even close” Pretty amazing for a fairly unathletic guy that based his game on toughness, skill and touch/vision.

[cowens/oldschool]

Remember when his head BOUNCED off the parquet floor? He left the game. And then came back to play!

He fell head first on to the floor, then once he came back it was surreal the show he put on, the shots, the outlet passes to Reggie Lewis, trash talking with Person, the way he willed that team and the noise level of the crowd. ESPN showed highlights of that game for days it was so amazing!!

[cowens/oldschool]

dBoss

Larry was an elite basketball player. He did it all and along the way made his teammates better.  Back then 3 point shots were not the rage of the NBA.  You must also remember the difference between the backboards and rim in the old Boston Garden verses the new backboards and rims  used in the modern NBA arenas.  Following the 1992–93 season, the NBA increased steel brace strength and increased stability of the backboard

Here are career stats of Larry and Jason:

LB - Career Field Goal Percentage - .496%.//  JT - Career Field Goal Percentage - .455%
LB - Career 3 Pt Percentage - .376%. // JT - Career Field Goal Percentage - .396%

By the way, Jason's highest 3 point percentage for a given year so far is .434% with 2 .400% seasons.  Larry's highest 3 point percentage for a given year was .427% with 6 .400+%  seasons. Not bad for a guy with a bad back through most of his years playing.

112288

I think he’s the only player to do the 50-40-90% and he did it twice....

[worcester]

Larry Legend.

Reggie was special too. So sad we lost him.

[cowens/oldschool]

Larry Bird was not a big time 3 point shooter.  His highest average attempts was 3.3.  His first 4 years was under 2 attempts per game.  The 3 point shot was not the shot of choice.  His 1st 5 years he shot..406, .270, .212, .286 and .247. By today's standards he was below average

He was a great rebounder and passer.  He was 23 in his rookie year and did not score 25 ppg until he was in year 6 and 28 years old.

The game has changed dramatically since the 80's.  

Larry was an elite player.  

JT is still very young by comparison and still has upside.  He looks like a 30 PPG guy up the rd a bit.  He has work to do, a lot of work.

I thought earlier in his career those Celtic teams had so much depth, he didn’t need to score that much, but he had plenty of 30 point big games. There’s no doubt in my mind he could have put up more points earlier, but he and the teams philosophy was to spread the wealth. Later when a few pieces retired, we lost Max, it was him carrying us more.

[cowens/oldschool]

Larry Legend.

Reggie was special too. So sad we lost him.

I know, if only we had young Reggie with Lenny to play with the older Big 3 and DJ and Danny....terrible sad

Red did everything right, what a genius putting all those pieces in place!!

[dbrown4]

Per ESPN, there was a team meeting led by..you've got it...Marcus Smart! He began meeting with the end in mind.
Those usually do the trick!

Great game by all. Again Jekyl and Hyde. Please give us one of the other and go for it! Let us off the roller coaster! This has the making of a great finish and most memorable season of all time. Nothing left to do but win out.

There is no time for us to bask in victory as we have a game tonight in Memphis that will tell us if if what we believe what we just saw was for real. It will be interesting to see if Brad gets Kemba back out there for a SEGABABA and Brad is willing to let this "new" team play.

Glad we have this B2B. Let's see what we've got!

db

[Berlin-T]

There's no secrete to winning bb. Move without the ball and pass the ball on offense. Play with passion and smarts on defense.
That's it and that's how we played last night.
Now let's keep it up for the rest of the season!

Berlin-T

[worcester]

You nailed it Berlin.

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