I agree with all of this, and thanks for taking the time to lay it out so well. We’re lucky PP is having a 6MotY season, and there’s shoots of hope in the hustle Walsh brings in his minutes (he was a defensive bright spot against the Pacers). But overall, we’ve definitely got a post-Championship hangover that needs sorted asap or any chance of a back-to-back will be gone. I’ve not given up hope yet, but it’s increasingly concerning.
I think your point about the defensive rating is very accurate, and the most concerning. We might be 8th (for now), but you can see cracks and deficiencies this year which weren’t there last year. JB and JT both need some concentrated coaching in this area - as you say, it’s not all about shooting 3s.
Agree with pretty much every word. When working out, I usually throw an old Celtics game on the TV. And lately it's been a string of games with Brissett playing. It's given me a new appreciation for what he brought. He didn't get the results of a top 8 rotation guy, but when on the floor, he was fearless in how he went about his business. Driving, kicking, rebounding, taking open shots. Walsh is making progress but he isn't there yet. If Cs can't do anything meaningful at the trade deadline, I think it would be worthwhile to bring back OB for the stretch run, when the prorated salary implications are lessened.
The defensive lapses are frustrating. But also human nature. Anyone who has played competitive team basketball--high school, college, rec league--knows that there are games where you step on the floor and feel confident enough that you're not giving 100% all the time. 6 months ago, this team earned the title of best basketball team in the world. Deep down, they see the regular season as layup lines headed toward the post season. Whether they admit it or not. And it doesn't matter that some of them making $30 million per year. Mazzulla himself has talked about the need to manufacture adversity to keep the players engaged.
That's not to say they're going to flip the switch and roll to another title. But I think it's something fans should keep in mind before going off the deep end. It's incredibly rare for NBA teams to fire on all cylinders for 8 straight months from October to June. Things are out of whack right now. Better for that to happen in December than April.
I agree with all of this, and thanks for taking the time to lay it out so well. We’re lucky PP is having a 6MotY season, and there’s shoots of hope in the hustle Walsh brings in his minutes (he was a defensive bright spot against the Pacers). But overall, we’ve definitely got a post-Championship hangover that needs sorted asap or any chance of a back-to-back will be gone. I’ve not given up hope yet, but it’s increasingly concerning.
I think your point about the defensive rating is very accurate, and the most concerning. We might be 8th (for now), but you can see cracks and deficiencies this year which weren’t there last year. JB and JT both need some concentrated coaching in this area - as you say, it’s not all about shooting 3s.
Agree with pretty much every word. When working out, I usually throw an old Celtics game on the TV. And lately it's been a string of games with Brissett playing. It's given me a new appreciation for what he brought. He didn't get the results of a top 8 rotation guy, but when on the floor, he was fearless in how he went about his business. Driving, kicking, rebounding, taking open shots. Walsh is making progress but he isn't there yet. If Cs can't do anything meaningful at the trade deadline, I think it would be worthwhile to bring back OB for the stretch run, when the prorated salary implications are lessened.
The defensive lapses are frustrating. But also human nature. Anyone who has played competitive team basketball--high school, college, rec league--knows that there are games where you step on the floor and feel confident enough that you're not giving 100% all the time. 6 months ago, this team earned the title of best basketball team in the world. Deep down, they see the regular season as layup lines headed toward the post season. Whether they admit it or not. And it doesn't matter that some of them making $30 million per year. Mazzulla himself has talked about the need to manufacture adversity to keep the players engaged.
That's not to say they're going to flip the switch and roll to another title. But I think it's something fans should keep in mind before going off the deep end. It's incredibly rare for NBA teams to fire on all cylinders for 8 straight months from October to June. Things are out of whack right now. Better for that to happen in December than April.