I requested for mailbag questions and also you guys answered. So now I’m going to reply your questions. Teamwork makes the dream work.
pdelevett
Intestine feeling on Oshae Brissett? Laborious to suppose anyone goes to pay him greater than Boston may, though he’s understandably after extra taking part in time. I feel it might be out there in Boston this season, if Joe can chorus from operating the Jays into the bottom.
I do know we’ll wish to get a have a look at Walsh and the rooks, however Brissett has the benefit of familiarity with the system. I questioned if he may be too duplicative with Tillman, however X looks as if a 4-5, whereas Brissy can hypothetically cowl 4 spots. Is there a mutual match because the season attracts nearer?
My intestine feeling on Brissett is that he’s gone, and whereas I loved components of the Oshae expertise, I’m happy with him transferring on. He didn’t have a lot of an offensive recreation however he offered vitality on protection and rebounding. He deserves a shot at extra taking part in time on a group with an extended timeline. All of the Celtics want is a wing that eat up some common season minutes when wanted. We’ll see if any of the younger guys can step up and supply that.
Actually I’d worth preserving a roster spot open over bringing him again. Close to the top of the summer time you would possibly see a veteran free agent settle for a minimal deal to chase a hoop. Or maybe after preseason a group has to make laborious roster reduce selections that shakes free a participant you didn’t suppose can be out there.
ezwind
Will we add one other massive earlier than KP comes again or can we roll with what we have now? If we don’t, are Luke, X and Q sufficient to handle the again to again video games when Al sits or can we simply dwell with a number of losses?
What’s your tackle the JB Olympic snub and the ramifications if any? There needs to be extra to the story than we all know proper now; do you may have any entry to insider information?
I feel that Kornet, Tillman, and Queta are a adequate stopgap rotation of bigs to get us by means of a number of months with out Porzingis in addition to the load administration we’ll want to offer each Horford and Kristaps all year long.
That’s basically what we had final 12 months and so they did simply nice. Xavier Tillman specifically may see his function develop this 12 months. He’ll have extra time within the system and a coaching camp to stand up to hurry.
There shall be instances when Jayson Tatum performs a bit extra on the 5 as nicely, although I’d restrict that to sure matchups so he isn’t worn down in opposition to large facilities like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić.
As for Jaylen Brown I can’t provide any insider information on the Workforce USA snub (solely outsider observations). On one hand, I do suppose Derrick White was a extra logical match for what the group wants (defensive guard that’s used to taking part in in a deferring function). Then again, there might also be one thing to Nike influencing the group roster.
That feud between Brown and Nike at all times appeared awkward since Tatum is seemingly now one of many essential faces of Workforce Jordan. However with all issues I feel there’s nuance to remember. Brown appears to have points with issues that Nike does, not essentially with the gamers which might be incomes cash from the corporate. I’m positive he’s talked about it with Jayson and they’re cool with one another.
Brown has stated he’ll use the snub as motivation going ahead. Cue the Michael Jordan “and I took that personally” meme. This can be a man that signed the richest contract in historical past and got here again higher than ever. I’m not nervous in any respect about his motivation or work ethic.
TalesOfaCelticFan
Affect of wear and tear and tear from Olympics and lengthy submit season? Now we have three Celtics Olympians on Workforce USA who simply had an prolonged jaunt by means of the postseason, plus Pritchard is on the choose group serving to out (and a few rumors that Brown may nonetheless be added to Workforce USA if Durant has to drop). That’s a number of basketball with out lengthy relaxation. Ought to we be involved, or does this fall below “they’d be taking part in pick-up and coaching all through the summer time anyway?”
I feel on a scale of 1 (not involved in any respect) to 10 (terrified) I might put this at a 3 or 4. It’s not nothing, but additionally nothing to remain awake worrying about.
They’re skilled athletes that prepare and play basketball throughout the summer time. They did get a while away and would have been again within the gymnasium by now. There will even be time to get well between the Olympics and coaching camp.
What offers me a little bit of pause is the truth that they’re nonetheless taking part in at a reasonably excessive degree. Accidents can occur at any time, however with the depth up, I’m wondering if the chance is larger than it could be in pickup video games and dealing drills.
Tatum specifically makes an enormous deal about desirous to play each recreation, and that’s admirable and invaluable for one among your group leaders. I simply hope that they’ll persuade him to take a number of further days off all through the season.
bigislandbob
How necessary will dwelling court docket be in protection of the title? Do we have now sufficient depth at heart? Will Joe give the bench in recreation alternatives to point out what they’ll do? Who may be potential commerce deadline acquisitions?
House court docket was surprisingly not necessary this season. For one factor, they only dominated groups all through the season. Then 2 of the three losses that they’d within the playoffs have been at dwelling in recreation 2 (thus dropping the house court docket benefit). With that stated, I feel dwelling court docket continues to be basically necessary. Maybe extra for seeding than the bodily location (I’d a lot relatively be the 1 seed than the two or 3).
I feel most playoff groups have an 8-10 man rotation, which is of course going to depart a number of our bodies on the bench. These guys are there for damage insurance coverage and the occasional studying alternative. We’ll want our bigs to play lots within the first few months and be out there for the remainder of the 12 months (as lined above). It will likely be fascinating to see if Springer, Walsh, or Scheierman can show sufficient to contribute sometimes (although I’m not anticipating them to play main roles).
I’d be shocked if the Celtics made any trades earlier than the season begins, although I wouldn’t rule it out. They simply don’t have a number of movable salaries. The one exception is Jaden Springer’s $4M deal. My guess is that they save that for the deadline or in case they should discover a depth substitute as a result of damage.
GraniteState_CsFan
Thanks, Jeff! A pair questions for consideration:
1.) What’s your largest concern threatening the Celtics’ possibilities of repeating as champions in 24/25? Basic complacency? Chemistry issues? Bench depth, and so forth.?
2.) On July 15, when you needed to guess, and assuming good well being (an enormous assumption, at all times), which of the next groups poses the most important menace to the Celtics subsequent season? The Knicks, Bucks, Sixers, Magic, or ____________ (identify your group)?
On paper the Celtics are simply as sturdy as they have been final season, once they dominated the league all 12 months. Even when they took a ten% step again, they’d nonetheless be one of many prime 4 groups within the NBA. So I’m not nervous in any respect.
The one concern I’ve is the truth that this group has gotten overconfident and lazy at instances previously. Often only for a single recreation or so, however it occurred. Does that sense of entitlement develop now that they’ll have rings? Or does getting the monkey off their backs assist them to play looser and extra assured? I feel these issues finally steadiness out and the group shall be simply nice.
I feel the Knicks are the clear quantity 2 seed within the East. They’ve continuity (even with a “new” face on the roster) and matchups that might give the Celtics matches. The Sixers made the larger splash however I’m a skeptic. I do know you stated “assuming good well being” however even a median well being 12 months for that squad means each Embiid and George lacking important time. It simply seems like Clippers East to me. On their greatest day they’ll beat anybody, however what number of greatest days can they’ve?
I respect the Bucks prime 2 however I may see them being the group that slips again a bit whereas a youthful group makes a leap (it occurs yearly). The Pacers look like the logical alternative however I feel the Magic are primed for a leap into the highest 4. I nonetheless don’t know what to make of the Cavs. Looks like they might be a 2 seed or a 7 seed relying on how issues shake out.
Continued on Half 2 coming quickly
