2022-2023 POST GAME DETROIT PISTONS - AWAY

Celtics Wrap: Boston Outlasts Pistons Despite Simplified Approach
Derrick White put together a complete performance for Boston

NESN by Keagan Stiefel

The Boston Celtics bounced back to beat the Detroit Pistons on Monday, coming away from Little Caesars Arena with a 111-99 victory.

The C’s improved their league-best record to 38-16, while the Pistons dropped to 14-41.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
The Celtics entered this game without Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, which forced them to fall back into a very simple brand of basketball.

Their replacements in the starting lineup, Derrick White and Sam Hauser, took advantage of the simplified offense and ran away with their best performances of the season.

White was allowed to run the offense through Jayson Tatum, opening up playmaking opportunities both with and without the ball. The 28-year-old capitalized on a number of cuts and picked up a few assists by making the extra pass. With Tatum off the floor, it was White’s show to run.

Hauser made the first start if his NBA career and did exactly what everyone expected him to do: take a bunch of threes. He made most of them as well, cashing in on five of his nine attempts.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Tatum took over to seal this victory, scoring 18 of his 34 points in the third quarter. He also had 11 rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block.

— White was the C’s second leading scorer, dropping 23 points while dishing out seven assists and grabbing seven rebounds.

— Robert Williams III dropped a casual double-double, scoring 15 points on nine shots while grabbing 15 boards. He also picked up his requisite steal and block.

WAGER WATCH
Alec Burks opened up the scoring to give Detroit a quick lead. His pullup jumper was costly for DraftKings Sportsbook, who gave him +1000 odds to get things started. A $100 bet on the veteran guard netted a payout of $1,100.

UP NEXT
The Celtics return to TD Garden on Wednesday night to take on the Philadelphia 76ers. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

112288

An unnecessary level of stress here, when they cut our 23 point lead down to 6 or 7.  A 12 point victory means they cut our undermanned team's lead in half.  Despite the drama this 12 point win increases our league-leading MoV.  I think this has been updated, and is now up to +6.0.  By comparison, Cleveland is #2 @ +5.3.  In the West #1 is Denver @ +3.8.  Is this because the West is more competitive than the East?  Maybe, but that doesn't mean they're better, it might just means there's more parity.  The West was the stronger Conference overall in 2008 but our Celtics had the biggest MoV by far and those who said that was because the East was weak found out their logic was flawed by the end.  As you go further into the season and you play many different teams, including a lot of games vs the other Conference, the MoV becomes more believable.  We are now 38-16, 54 games in and 28 to go.  We have played 21 games vs the West (22-11 vs East, 16-5 vs West, total 38-16).  Does a 16-5 record vs the West sound like they're stronger than us?  Stronger vs EC bottom-feeders, sure, but against us?  Milwaukee is 36-17 and 21-13 vs East.  That's 15-4 vs West.  Does that make the West stronger than even the Bucks?  No.  We're good, we just need to get out of the East.

Derrick White with the game ball.  What a game.  Tatum blew the game wide-open in the 3rd but Derrick and Sam were the stars until then.  In addition to his 23 points on 8-17 he was also 2-4 from 3 (including a HUGE bail out of Tatum who hogged the shot clock), 7 rebounds and 7 assists.  Only 1 turnover.  Give me this Derrick White all day, everyday.  This is why Brad got him.

Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
about 32 minutes ago
Celtics when Derrick White plays 28+ minutes this season: 18-4 (.818) 14.0 PPG 48.5 FG% 36.7 3PT% +215

Tom Westerholm @Tom_NBA
about 3 hours ago
I feel like Derrick White is one of the harder players in the NBA to explain to a casual fan

That's because he doesn't really do anything great, but he does everything well.


Sam with a good game.  Smoking hot early, cooled off later, he still shot 5-10 and 5-9 from 3.  He's still only shooting around 32% from 3 since the beginning of December.  This game was a good showcase for/of him.

Tatum was 3-13 at the half, 0-4 from 3.  He went 8-10 in the 2nd half, 3-5 from 3.  He also added 8 rebounds and 3 assists.  I gave credit to White and Hauser for keeping us in this game until halftime but it was Tatum who blew it wide open and made the Pistons' 4th quarter rally come up short.

RWill with a 15/15 double-double.  6 of his 15 rebounds were offensive.  The Pistons had 9 offensive rebounds, total.  He is such a game changer.

WTF is wrong with Grant?

Brogdon with a solid game.  He was 4-6 from 3.  He was shooting 44.4% from 3 going into this game.  He's now @ 45%.  That's good enough for 3rd in the league, only Damion Lee of Phoenix (46.8%) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for the Nuggets (46.2%) are better.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401468963




Bob


.

Agree, give some props to Derrick White, he played a heck of a game. Not only scoring the ball, and distributing but his usual solid defense. He is quietly having a very good year. Love it when Rob Williams dominates 15 and 15 is very nice. JT provided his MVP pop and this was a nice win. Except of course they had to let them get to within 6 with 5 minutes to go. This annoying habit has got to be rectified or it could cost us an important game.

Let us not too starry-eyed. The pstons own the second worst record in the league, just one game off for the worst.

This team needs a quick makeover regarding their bench strength especially when a starter goes flat and is haveing an off night, we need someone who can step off the bench and give the team some scoring and defense.

112288

The Celtics held the Pistons well below their season average.

I continue to see a defense that is improving.  The Celtics have to be really good on defense to win the title.  The Heat, Cavs, Sixers and Bucks are all very solid defensive teams.  We need to be better than they are on defense.

It certainly appears that Grant is struggling to get open and/or knock down shots.  The league is not going to let him set up shop in the corners and his ability to take it off the bounce is limited.  Maybe the Celtics should run more actions (screens) to open up his shot.  They should be able to do that a few times during the game, you think?

SIASJ is still playing AH TOO many minutes.  It seems to me that it is negatively effecting his ability to score and his ability to rebound the basketball.  I just do not understand why he is still logging 30 MPG.  He clearly is no longer a 30 MPG guy.  Al is logging 31 MPG in both wins and losses.  He is averaging 10.3 PPG and 6.4 rebounds in 30 wins while shooting 51.3% from the field.  In 13 losses he is averaging 6.3 PPG and 5.6 rebounds while shooting only 33.7%.  He has completely morphed into a stretch 5.  Al is 36 years old in case your are wondering and he will turn 37 if the Celtics make a deep playoff run.  

If there is any strong argument for adding another big, the continued and unmistakable decline of AH combined with the injury concern for RW is reason enough.

In some respects, adding another wing would be a luxury but getting another big may very well be a prerequisite.

A win is a win and I’ll take it. But….lets be careful here.

Sam Hauser had a good game BUT Sam Hauser has done nothing to deserve being a starter on this team yet Joe starts him and gets lucky.

I don't think you start players that are undeserving of starting. Yes we are short handed and as I said, luckily it worked out. It’s the Pistons. Yay for us this time.

I don’t like the message it sends to other players on the team that are more deserving.

Brogdan, for one has been agreeable to coming off the bench but don't think for a second that he doesn't know how good he is and is only taking one for the team. (Only 25 min. Last night. SIASJ)

Start Hauser and some other undeserving slouch and we could be looking at locker room problems. We’re also lucky that Brogdan is who he is.

We all know that Grant has not been playing well lately but none of us can pinpoint as to why. Grant playing like a “Little Lame Lamont” is still better than Hauser.

I’ll say it once again. We lucked out. Its the Pistons and Hauser came through.
if we are down to 8 healthy bodies, bare knuckles and T-shirts then we have no choice but to insert undeserving players. Otherwise, Please don’t do it again Joe. (Another nickname for Dboss. PDDIAJ)

Ktron wrote:A win is a win and I’ll take it. But….lets be careful here.

Sam Hauser had a good game BUT Sam Hauser has done nothing to deserve being a starter on this team yet Joe starts him and gets lucky.

I don't think you start players that are undeserving of starting. Yes we are short handed and as I said, luckily it worked out. It’s the Pistons. Yay for us this time.

I don’t like the message it sends to other players on the team that are more deserving.

Brogdan, for one has been agreeable to coming off the bench but don't think for a second that he doesn't know how good he is and is only taking one for the team. (Only 25 min. Last night. SIASJ)

Start Hauser and some other undeserving slouch and we could be looking at locker room problems. We’re also lucky that Brogdan is who he is.

We all know that Grant has not been playing well lately but none of us can pinpoint as to why. Grant playing like a “Little Lame Lamont” is still better than Hauser.

I’ll say it once again. We lucked out. Its the Pistons and Hauser came through.
if we are down to 8 healthy bodies, bare knuckles and T-shirts then we have no choice but to insert undeserving players. Otherwise, Please don’t do it again Joe. (Another nickname for Dboss. PDDIAJ)

ktron

I have to agree with you about Hauser starting. I am glad that he shot well in the first half. He needs to be able to come off the bench and make wide open looks.

SIASJ (aka PDDIAJ) is obtuse in his thinking about the 6th man role on the Celtics. Ktron you and I have been rolling with the Celtics since the days of the original 6th man, Frank Ramsey. Over the years we has seen a lot of players fill that role, However I do not recall the 6th man never becoming a starter for some games.

Brogdon should have gotten the start last night and there has to be a dozen or so games this year where he could have and should have been given the start.

The very notion that Brogdon can only come off the bench to lead the 2nd unit is preposterous. You would think that our coach would want to see what this team looks like with Malcolm in the starting lineup along with the Jays.

It's absurd. Did you known that he is 3rd in scoring on the team but only 7th in MPPG?

Brogdon has not had much of an opportunity to play in the same lineup with the Jays.

I am trying come up with a reason why your 3rd best scorer is not getting more playing time.

Guys Brogdon has completely bought into being the 6th man and is great/comfortable in his role, with Smart out someone had to start, Joe went with White and it worked out. I love the way both guys are playing this year, Brogdon always makes the right play and is dead eye from 3. White has been a great 2 way combo guard, very good driver and defender. Hauser needs to play with the best talent to play off of them to get open for his looks, he cannot create his own shot at all like Brogdon and White. I got no problem with Hauser starting, it worked out, hopefully he will get further going.

dboss wrote:

Ktron wrote:A win is a win and I’ll take it. But….lets be careful here.

Sam Hauser had a good game BUT Sam Hauser has done nothing to deserve being a starter on this team yet Joe starts him and gets lucky.

I don't think you start players that are undeserving of starting. Yes we are short handed and as I said, luckily it worked out. It’s the Pistons. Yay for us this time.

I don’t like the message it sends to other players on the team that are more deserving.

Brogdan, for one has been agreeable to coming off the bench but don't think for a second that he doesn't know how good he is and is only taking one for the team. (Only 25 min. Last night. SIASJ)

Start Hauser and some other undeserving slouch and we could be looking at locker room problems. We’re also lucky that Brogdan is who he is.

We all know that Grant has not been playing well lately but none of us can pinpoint as to why. Grant playing like a “Little Lame Lamont” is still better than Hauser.

I’ll say it once again. We lucked out. Its the Pistons and Hauser came through.
if we are down to 8 healthy bodies, bare knuckles and T-shirts then we have no choice but to insert undeserving players. Otherwise, Please don’t do it again Joe. (Another nickname for Dboss. PDDIAJ)

ktron

I have to agree with you about Hauser starting.   I am glad that he shot well in the first half.  He needs to be able to come off the bench and make wide open looks.  

SIASJ (aka PDDIAJ) is obtuse in his thinking about the 6th man role on the Celtics.  Ktron you and I have been rolling with the Celtics since the days of the original 6th man, Frank Ramsey.   Over the years we has seen a lot of players fill that role,  However I do not recall the 6th man never becoming a starter for some games.  

Brogdon should have gotten the start last night and there has to be a dozen or so games this year where he could have and should have been given the start.

The very notion that Brogdon can only come off the bench to lead the 2nd unit is preposterous.  You would think that our coach would want to see what this team looks like with Malcolm in the starting lineup along with the Jays.  

It's absurd.  Did you known that he is 3rd in scoring on the team but only 7th in MPPG?

Brogdon has not had much of an opportunity to play in the same lineup with the Jays.

I am trying come up with a reason why your 3rd best scorer is not getting more playing time.  

Dboss,
There have been several games where Brogdan was not even the first one off the bench. Ive seen Pritchard and even Kornet go in before Brogdan. A few times he was the 8th man instead of the 6th man. Situational? Me don’t think so. Miscalculation is more like it and I am being kind here.
As you say, this is preposterous. Absurd.
Brogdan has agreed to come off the bench as a 6th man because he wants to win. He is that selfless. However, I have heard him mention during interviews on more than one occasion that he’s been a starter in this league most of his career. He is reminding us without being an ass about it. He wants to win and we love that. But Joe, let’s not abuse it. (Another nickname Dboss-JLNAI). :.)

cowens/oldschool wrote:Guys Brogdon has completely bought into being the 6th man and is great/comfortable in his role, with Smart out someone had to start, Joe went with White and it worked out. I love the way both guys are playing this year, Brogdon always makes the right play and is dead eye from 3. White has been a great 2 way combo guard, very good driver and defender. Hauser needs to play with the best talent to play off of them to get open for his looks, he cannot create his own shot at all like Brogdon and White. I got no problem with Hauser starting, it worked out, hopefully he will get further going.

With all do respect my brother,If Hauser is a deserving starter it shouldn't make a difference who he is out there with.
To say he needs to be out there because he needs to play with the best to play off of them isn’t a compliment. Thats a handicap that we cannot afford to have. Hauser can shoot (sometimes) and thats about it. There are other players on this team that work their ass off on both sides of the ball. Those are the guys that are more deserving. Hauser has not earned the right to be a starter and I'm not so sure that he ever will. Great. It worked out last night and i am happy about last night. I’d be happier in June if we take #18. However, experimenting an dicking around with a player who is rotational at best and starting him won’t get us there. Prove me wrong Joe. (PMWJ) *Another Nickname for the Dboss archive) :>)