Frustrating game. Maybe Brad thinks about trading hauser or mining the g league if Peterson isn’t a rotation player. Just hard when there’s no other wing scorer to go to. I love Pritchard but size will always be a limitation and he’s more of a two level scorer than a 3 level scorer
I think Hauser is dealing with lower back issues. Don't think you should trade him. But we not see him at his best any time soon. Sucks, because he was such an important part of the rotation last season. Agree, though, they need another wing. Finding one is going to be difficult, though!
My Hauser worry level has been building, from "eh, he's just working through some stuff" to "is this who he is?" (or its cousin, "should the Cs have sold high on him in the offseason?). That first 3 was an absolute brick, a line drive into the front of the rim. A Sam who teams can sag off of isn't playable.
This was just one game, but we've seen half a season of this so far. The playoff outlook is a lot less rosy if neither Sam nor PP can get and make good looks against good teams.
The back issues are a concern, no doubt. I'm not totally worried, but it's not lost on me that he seems to prefer attacking off the bounce right now. He's driving more closeouts than ever, and I do wonder whether that's due to his back issues, as his shot keeps falling short - which often indicates a power issue.
I'm far less worried about Pritchard. He's had big nights against good teams. This just wasn't one of those good nights lol.
It’s the lack of adjustments for me too. Mazzulla has a very small window to prove that last year wasn’t a one-of due to the shock impact of ‘Mazzulla ball’ and the maths behind it. Slowly but surely, exactly as you said, it seems like the rest of the NBA is catching up and finding ways to neutralise it. And despite the undoubted wealth of talent on the Celtics roster, they’re starting to look like a one-trick pony.
When the entire fanbase is shouting and begging for the team late in the 3rd or in the 4th to switch it up and go to the paint more, maybe Mazzulla can eat a bit of humble pie and listen?
It’s also just about stopping momentum, or swinging it back to you. Switch it up long enough to get a few easy lay-ups / Porzingis dunks, reduce the points gap, stop OKC’s momentum and shake their game plan. THEN get back to the 3 game if you must.
Doesn’t help that Brown had an absolute stinker. Often didn’t have the ball properly under control when he went forward. I suspect maybe he was rushed back a game or two too soon.
Totally agree. We're not asking for the Celtics to abandon their system - we know it works. What we are asking for, is a plan b. Something the team can lean into for 4-6 minutes when things aren't going well. Even if its just to regain some momentum. It might be a risky move, but right now, the decision to keep plugging away when it's clear shots aren't falling, is incredibly frustrating. But, I'm not sure we see Mazzulla make that type of change - which is both a good and a bad thing.
Frustrating game. Maybe Brad thinks about trading hauser or mining the g league if Peterson isn’t a rotation player. Just hard when there’s no other wing scorer to go to. I love Pritchard but size will always be a limitation and he’s more of a two level scorer than a 3 level scorer
I think Hauser is dealing with lower back issues. Don't think you should trade him. But we not see him at his best any time soon. Sucks, because he was such an important part of the rotation last season. Agree, though, they need another wing. Finding one is going to be difficult, though!
My Hauser worry level has been building, from "eh, he's just working through some stuff" to "is this who he is?" (or its cousin, "should the Cs have sold high on him in the offseason?). That first 3 was an absolute brick, a line drive into the front of the rim. A Sam who teams can sag off of isn't playable.
This was just one game, but we've seen half a season of this so far. The playoff outlook is a lot less rosy if neither Sam nor PP can get and make good looks against good teams.
The back issues are a concern, no doubt. I'm not totally worried, but it's not lost on me that he seems to prefer attacking off the bounce right now. He's driving more closeouts than ever, and I do wonder whether that's due to his back issues, as his shot keeps falling short - which often indicates a power issue.
I'm far less worried about Pritchard. He's had big nights against good teams. This just wasn't one of those good nights lol.
It’s the lack of adjustments for me too. Mazzulla has a very small window to prove that last year wasn’t a one-of due to the shock impact of ‘Mazzulla ball’ and the maths behind it. Slowly but surely, exactly as you said, it seems like the rest of the NBA is catching up and finding ways to neutralise it. And despite the undoubted wealth of talent on the Celtics roster, they’re starting to look like a one-trick pony.
When the entire fanbase is shouting and begging for the team late in the 3rd or in the 4th to switch it up and go to the paint more, maybe Mazzulla can eat a bit of humble pie and listen?
It’s also just about stopping momentum, or swinging it back to you. Switch it up long enough to get a few easy lay-ups / Porzingis dunks, reduce the points gap, stop OKC’s momentum and shake their game plan. THEN get back to the 3 game if you must.
Doesn’t help that Brown had an absolute stinker. Often didn’t have the ball properly under control when he went forward. I suspect maybe he was rushed back a game or two too soon.
Totally agree. We're not asking for the Celtics to abandon their system - we know it works. What we are asking for, is a plan b. Something the team can lean into for 4-6 minutes when things aren't going well. Even if its just to regain some momentum. It might be a risky move, but right now, the decision to keep plugging away when it's clear shots aren't falling, is incredibly frustrating. But, I'm not sure we see Mazzulla make that type of change - which is both a good and a bad thing.