Now, I am a firm believe in you never, ever, ever apologize for winning.
It’s not about style points, it’s about stacking Ws.
These are not unrealistic expectations, this is the bare minimum.
Experiencing tense moments and high leverage situations can be valuable.
This is pretty much what always happens whenever the Celts find themselves being double digit favorites.
That’s just what tends to happen.
The Celts were contesting things fine, and they still had to overcome another magnet ball game.
But remember, a win is a win is a win.
They don’t get 0.5 wins for their performance last night, they get a full win.
They faced no pressure, they dictated where they wanted to go and the Celts' defense was reactionary.
At no point did we really see anyone impose their physicality defensively until Springer came in.
That’s probably not great, but also shoutout to Springer for being ready for his moment.
Insert Jaden Springer and it was as if Joe iunleashed vintage Avery Bradley into the game.
The second any Clipper ball handler had the rock, Springer was in that dude’s asshole.
All of a sudden Springer was finding pockets to poke the ball free and cause turnovers.
Everything about the game changed.
Then on the other end, the Basketball Gods rewarded him with two GIGANTIC corner 3PM.
One late in the 4th quarter and the other late in OT to seal it.
Especially with an aging PG in Jrue.
The point is, he’s still available of course, but the price has gone up.
The deal needs to without a doubt make the Celts better.
Small sample sure, but I’d say that matches the eye test.
When they do, the Celts tend to win.
When they struggle, they tend to lose.
C&S, coming off screens, pull ups, the works.
Defensively, it wasn’t the best we’ve ever seen Sam perform.
In fact, I’d call it pretty poor.
In OT, he kept it going with a big 3PM to get things started.
I know he can pass.
What we need is for him to gain his confidence back as a shooter.
He’s shown us since he first arrived in Boston that he very clearly possesses the clutch gene.
You shoot that shit with confidence and you do not hesitate even for a moment.
- It’s weird, outside of the 1st quarter, I didn’t exactly hate the Celtics defense.
In the 4th, they locked in and held the Clippers to 19 points.
From the 3rd-OT, LAC scored just 54 points.
The Celts forced 22 TOs and held them to 32% from deep while only allowing 13 FTA.
Another team held to right around 100 points.
It’s the backbone to everything this team does and it is the key to their repeat chances.
They look like the team we all know and love.
Causing TOs, getting out on the break, good individual defense, that is the way.
It’s Payton Pritchard, we know he can shoot.
The turnovers are what’s more concerning to me.
If he’s going to be on the floor he has the following responsibilities
1.
Take care of the basketball
3.
Create for others
We didn’t really get any of those things in his 28 minutes last night.
- I don’t know what to make of Queta’s night.
Offensively he was pretty clutch and had some great moments as a roller.
Defensively, he was mostly a disaster in space and a big time negative for certain stretches.
I found that interesting considering Tillman’s whole thing is he’s supposed to be good in switches.
If he’s not playable, then you probably should give the roster spot to someone who is right?
- I am beyond over watching every opponent have a magnet ball.
The Clippers were shooting 60% heading into the 4th quarter.
Oh right, Mazzulla Ball.
Good defense, bad defense, none of it makes a difference.
I can handle guys having good games, but 60% as a TEAM through 3 quarters?
Add in 4 missed FTs and I feel confident in saying the Celts were awful around the margins.
Not by their standards at least.
For the millionth time, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HOLD ONTO THE BALL.
THE CLIPPERS HAVE TO FOUL YOU.
DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN HOLDING THE BALL IS ASKING FOR SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN.
WE JUST LIVED THROUGH THIS.
I don’t care if Joe called a TO before that 1st turnover.
That’s not the point.
The point is the decision making and the execution is exactly the opposite of what you should be doing.
While Jaylen’s ball security is inexcusable, I’m also looking at Derrick here.
Here’s what I mean by that.
In those spots, the Celts have the advantage.
Inbound the ball, wait to be fouled, hit your FTs.
Instead, they repeatedly made decisions to make things harder on themselves and opened themselves up to mistakes.
It causes traps and chaos which lead to mistakes.
I don’t care if that player was Jaylen or anyone else.
You are helping the defense.
Not only that, but Jaylen isn’t exactly the most reliable late game FT shooter.
He came through last night, but this ball needs to be going to the middle of the floor.
I feel like I’m taking crazy pills with this shit.
At no point should a 4 point lead with 30 seconds left be an issue.
We should not be sweating those moments.
Not exactly the most aggressive approach, and then when he was aggressive he too had ball security issues.
Between both Jaylen and Tatum, they finished with a combined 10 TOs.
As a team, the Celts had 19 which led to 25 LAC points.
That is so unbelievably bad I don’t even know what to say.
Then when Tatum is able to create, he can’t also turn it over.
- Two separate turnovers inbounding the basketball under their own basket.
Not one, but two.
In a real NBA game played by real NBA players.
First it was Tatum and then it was Derrick.
Make that make sense.
But you know what?
The pulled it out.
Take care of shit tonight, and a 4-0 trip is on the table.
