Around The League 2023-2024 Season

Lot of road games coming up, but mostly against weaker competition. Still, we have had numerous letdowns against teams in the lower echelon. I hope, and, with caveats, believe that the break will result in fresh legs and refreshed energy for our guys. I think Tillman may get some run. KP probably wishes there was no break, as hot as he's been. I like the way the team is exploiting matchups and attacking other team's smalls with our size. It takes away some of the pressure of hitting 3s.

Bucks, 6ers and Heat are all trending down.

How sweet it is.

So just read Malcolm Brogdon is out for 2 weeks, right elbow tendinitis. Same exact injury that made him useless last year in playoffs. Don’t wish ill will on any player, but a big reason we lost to the Heat last year was he gave us nothing.

cowens/oldschool wrote:So just read Malcolm Brogdon is out for 2 weeks, right elbow tendinitis. Same exact injury that made him useless last year in playoffs. Don’t wish ill will on any player, but a big reason we lost to the Heat last year was he gave us nothing.

Cow,

And The Time Lord has been out after 6 games with knee surgery. What you said about Brogdon in the playoffs was true with RWill too.

When both of them were healthy we were invincible, but they often weren't and they aren't this year either. Brogdon has played in 39 games (Portland has played 52) and he's out for 2 weeks. With the All-Star break he'll miss maybe 5-6 games? That means even if he plays every game for the rest of the season after he comes back he'll only play 63 out of 82.

Add all these missed games up for those two players and that's what we gave up for Jrue Holiday.

Like I've said, Brad Stevens seems to be pretty good at that "GM stuff".


Bob


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While we wait for our last two games before the break, make sure you record/look-in tonight's DEN@MIL on NBATV @ 8:00pm.  I'm not going to put any pressure on MIL and in particular Doc, but if MIL comes up short again, making Doc 2-6, MIL needs to considering returning to sender.  Especially if it's a blowout by DEN.  Kinda what I'm hoping for, but I'll take 2-6 in a close one if absolutely necessary.  Doc will try to soft-shoe his way out of it with words like patience, long process, playing better defense, blah, blah, blah. But Bucks fans will start looking under the front office hood with greater scrutiny with yet another loss.  But there would be enough sample space to determine where this is all going for the Bucks...a quick playoff exit not unsimilar to last year.  DEN didn't beat the crap out of us at home.  I'll expect and demand the same from DEN with this road game.  BTW, that game is followed by MIN@LAC.  I'll guess the 2nd verse is same as the 1st with LAC in a runaway.  

If you want to see a team making a whistling sound on its way down, check out PHI@CLE.  That should be another blood-letting.  

Last but not least, GSW@UTAH.  Draymond got REAL close to snapping vs. PHX in their last game.  Also got teed up and is back to his "antics" of arguing with the refs.  Short fuse there.  Nukic does bring out the worst in Draymond, which is great, so maybe DG contains himself tonight for the moment.  But the going off the deep end/ing one's career radar is back up, right on schedule.

That's enough after a great Super Bowl and win by the Celtics. Enjoy the rest of the day off.  

db

Foot 

According to our record the Celtics have not had numerous letdowns against the lower echelon teams.

Dang it, DEN! You had one job last night. Somehow you run us down to the wire on the road but against the hapless Bucks you clam up and play like a moronic play-in team or worse!! Thanks for giving the Bucks hope, stirring crap up, leaving town and having us clean up the aftermath! Couldn't ask for anything more.

With the Knicks losing and the Clips really screwing up against MIN, last night was an ok night off for the Celtics. PHI beats CLE in CLE which should have been a blowout by the Cavs, but it did take CLE back a peg, widening our EC gap temporarily. We'll take it. A blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. Expect a Buster Douglas game every once in a while for the 76ers on the way down and out.

db

I just heard this on a local station:

The Hornets beat the Pacers last night, 111-102.  The Hornets did something last night that hasn't happened since before Thanksgiving:

They won back-to-back games.

That may mean that they have had just two 2-game winning streaks all season.

Grant Williams with 21 points in 31 minutes off the bench.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401585389

Cleveland lost last night.  They are now 5.5 games back, 5 in the loss column.  We are 2-0 in H2H and there's only one game left to play against them.  That effectively means we are 6.5 games up on them since they can't just tie us and earn the #1 seed.

Milwaukee is 7 games back in the loss column.  Our H2H record is 1-1 so far, with 2 more to go.  7 games is a big lead.  I don't want to jinx us, but we're probably safe barring a catastrophic injury.


Minny won and are 4 games back in the loss column.  Our record in H2H is 1-1 with no more games this season.  4 games is a nice lead, but it only takes a small losing streak to increase the pucker factor.  

OKC and LAC are 5 games back in the loss column.  Our record vs OKC is 0-1 with a home game against them coming.  We are 1-1 vs the Clips.  


I am comfortable with our lead in the East because it's SO big.  Not as confident vs west.  The lead is smaller.  With a 25-3 record at home I want home court advantage all the way through the playoffs which means we need to care about the WC even more than the EC.  Root for everybody against Minny, OKC and LAC.  I'm expecting some losses during the grueling schedule we have next month, from fatigue alone if nothing else, and every loss by them makes our losses hurt less.


We play b2b @ Brooklyn tonight and tomorrow.

OKC is @ Orlando tonight.
Heat @ Bucks tonight.
TWolves @ Trailblazers tonight.
Bulls @ Cavaliers tomorrow.
Clippers @ GSW tomorrow.
Bucks @ Grizzlies Thursday.
TWolves @ Trailblazers Thursday

These are all the relevant games before the ASG.

I see the leaders winning their games, maybe a loss for LAC in San Fran.


Bob

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Looks like per ESPN, GSW made a half-hearted attempt near the trade deadline for LeBron to join Steph.  He declined.  He knows to stay on the Titanic and help rearrange those deck chairs.  

db

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/clippers-send-disgruntled-p-j-tucker-and-bones-hyland-home-from-road-trip-per-report/?fbclid=IwAR02LRMny2vFca87rBYH2TjNx3Zw42bk2iAhyyCqIGxnThc9N4Np18PYAYg



Clippers send disgruntled P.J. Tucker and Bones Hyland home from road trip, per report


Both players are expected to rejoin the team after the All-Star break


By Jack Maloney
20 hrs ago
•


The Los Angeles Clippers have sent veteran forward PJ Tucker and third-year guard Bones Hyland home from their current road trip, according to Shams Charania. Both players are expected to rejoin the team after the All-Star break. The Clippers are playing their final contest before the All-Star Game on Wednesday night in San Francisco against the Warriors. They won't play again until Feb. 22.

Tucker, who arrived in Los Angeles via the James Harden trade early this season, has long been frustrated with his lack of playing time with the Clippers. He has not appeared in a game since Nov. 27 and discussions between him and the team regarding a resolution have been going on since at least December, per The Athletic.

Nothing transpired at the trade deadline, however, and Tucker posted "All this shoot is a f---ing joke," shortly afterward on his Instagram story. The Clippers' decision to send him home on Wednesday is a clear indication that the relationship between player and team still needs work.


Despite the friction, there have been no substantial talks regarding a buyout, in large part because Tucker has an $11.5 million player option for next season. He would certainly not receive such an offer on the open market this summer if he was an unrestricted free agent.

As long as the Clippers keep rolling and are in the fight for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, it's unlikely that Tucker is going to gain a significant spot in the rotation. However, he could see some playing time down the stretch in the event of injuries or if the Clippers want to load manage Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to keep them fit for the playoffs.

As for Hyland, he has also been displeased with his role. After starting a few games early in the season, Hyland has barely played since Harden arrived and got rolling. His last outing came on Jan. 31, and when he has gotten into a game these last few months, it's been for mop-up duty. He seems even less likely to break into head coach Ty Lue's rotation than Tucker.


Bob


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PHOENIX -- Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart was arrested for assault Wednesday for punching Phoenix Suns center Drew Eubanks at the arena hours before the teams played.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39527571/suns-drew-eubanks-says-pistons-isaiah-stewart-punched-pregame

I'm guessing it's too much to ask the Ja Morant Out For Season Coma Induced Grizzles to pull one out of their backsides tonight and give Doc a 3-7 record heading into the ASG Weekend. Especially since MIA ripped the Buck's hearts out the night before. Oh well, the answers always no if you don't ask. I'll always ask!!

db

Well shut my mouth!! Slap me down and call me bee-autch!! Ask and you shall receive!! The Bucks shot themselves in the foot yet again last night to an extremely depleted MEM team. Don't think the Bucks signed up for 3-7. Adrian would have gone 7-3 easy. Look like a James Harden, Jr. present. No givzies backzies.
Now their schedule gets even tougher after the break. Nothing is going to mysteriously change over the ASG Weekend. Can Doc and the Bucks follow this up with a 2-8 maybe?!! Only time will tell. I'll be generous and go with 4-6. Anyone?

Dame just ain't going to play defense...EVER. Heck even Pat Bev probably wants out. He can see the writing on the wall. The Bucks trade Jrue Holiday for Dame and have now tried to patch that Grand Canyon gaff with journeyman Pat Bev. You saw the beginning of the end for Dame as well. He was planning on shooting that last shot from the logo and probably make it. But MEM D'ed up, flustered Lillard and that last shot was pathetic. Under normal circumstances, he would have made that shot. But it's back to what we did to KD a couple of years ago in the playoffs. Yeah, you're good but our defense is better. MEM has nothing and they flustered Lillard into a brick. If Boston plays defense like they did on Wednesday, we'll go 16-0 in the playoffs.

db

Right now I don’t think Dame is worthy of being an all star. I don’t think any GM would take him over D White? Dame is such a defensive liability, teams are going right at him, making him play defense and it is effecting his offense. What an epic collapse, no names stealing the ball from him at crunch time. Poor Giannis, getting no help whatsoever.

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
yesterday
With Milwaukee's loss in Memphis, the East is now locked for the All-Star break. Using the invaluable @bball_ref projections, the Celtics have a 99.8% chance to finish 1st. Their projections for the 8 seed? Miami 21% Chicago 20% Indiana 19% Atlanta 12% Orlando 11% Brooklyn 9%


Bob
MY NOTE:  99.8% chance of finishing first in your conference is great if you're a fan of a team that hangs Conference Title banners.  We don't.  I'd like to see our chances of finishing first in the NBA, because that would give our 25-3 home team the home court advantage all the way through to #18.  Does anybody know how to work basketball-reference.com to get that stat?


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Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
yesterday
Grizzlies hang on to beat the Bucks, 113-110. Lamar Stevens in 3 games with Memphis. 75 minutes 37 points 20 rebounds 4 blocks 54% from the floor He had only played 122 minutes all year for the Celtics. Cool to see...good dude.


Bob
MY NOTE: He was misused in Boston. I have no idea why.

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bobheckler wrote:Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
yesterday
Grizzlies hang on to beat the Bucks, 113-110. Lamar Stevens in 3 games with Memphis. 75 minutes 37 points 20 rebounds 4 blocks 54% from the floor He had only played 122 minutes all year for the Celtics. Cool to see...good dude.


Bob
MY NOTE:  He was misused in Boston.  I have no idea why.

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I don’t get it, he’s like a 6’6” poor mans version of Marcus Smart. I was excited we added him to the roster, he could have helped us. We still have the best record and loads of talent, but strange that he was barely ever used.

Wow!!! Doc Rivers surprised me, didn’t know he could coach those all stars so well. I think if he gets more and more talent the 76ers can win with his coaching.

Struggling Nets fire head coach Jacque Vaughn

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39558023/struggling-nets-fire-head-coach-jacque-vaughn

Do you think those B2B losses to the Celtics including the 50 piece beatdown push the Nets Mgmt over the edge?

I am going to say yes yes yes.

dboss wrote:Foot 

According to our record the Celtics have not had numerous letdowns against the lower echelon teams.

                                       O,K, occassional letdowns then.Losses to the Timberwolves Charlotte and Orlando come to mind, and having to go overtime against 8-46 Detroit. My point was that wins against lesser competition aren't guaranteed, esopecially on the road.

Too bad, sports and life are not fair. The team stopped responding to him, I don’t think he should have been fired. The man can coach. If anything he put them into better position to draft a high quality player, since playing over their head and winning would have cost them. They actually have some talent.

jrleftfoot wrote:

dboss wrote:Foot 

According to our record the Celtics have not had numerous letdowns against the lower echelon teams.

                                       O,K, occassional letdowns then.Losses to the Timberwolves Charlotte and Orlando come to mind, and having to go overtime against 8-46 Detroit. My point was that wins against lesser competition aren't guaranteed, esopecially on the road.

foot

Theoretically one could say that every team in the entire NBA is lesser competition since the Celtics are #1.  I am sure that is not what you meant.

To me lesser competition is about good teams and not so good team.  If the Celtics do not play well but still win, I would not consider that a letdown.  As long as they are adding to the win total it cannot really be a letdown.  

Be my guess to define lower competition.  The point that I was making concerns the Celtics records against average to better than average teams and those teams that are below average.  The record against lesser teams (below .500 ) is tops in the NBA with a 95.5% win rate.   I would not worry too much about our ability to win on the road.  The Celtics have the 2nd best win rate in road games with the Cavs slightly better.  (Cav 68%, Celts 65% and T'Wolves 64.5%)  

Fact of the matter, the Celtics have only loss one road game all year long to a below average team (Charlotte Hornets)  All of their other road losses were against quality teams (T'Wolves, Sixers, Magic, Pacers, Warriors, OKC and the Bucks)  

If there is a single defining factor with this edition of the Celtics I would point to their overall efficiency in winning.  They do not string together multiple losses at home or on the road.  From what I have observed, they look like the best Celtics team since 2007-08.