Good analysis. For better or worse, most of the losses scream malaise: Bulls; shorthanded Magic; Kings, Grizz and Raptors teams against whom Boston had long winning streaks; Pacers 2nd game in a row coming after big win. Even the OKC game, Boston flexed their muscles in the first half before coming apart (on 3rd game in 4 days.)
Yes teams are defending Boston differently...and attacking Boston's defense differently. That was to be expected. This was never going to be a mirror image of 23-24. We sports fans are impatient by nature. But we really have to step back and question the logic of panic trades by a championship team. They have an open roster spot, so adding someone by February seems very likely. But unless it's a player who is clearly in their top 8, the impact will be minimal. Bringing in a new 11th or 12th man isn't going to "shake up the locker room" or light some spark under veteran players with championship rings.
The effort stuff is frustrating, but also the least of my worries. Same for missing open shots. Several players are currently slumping offensively but Jrue is the only one massively off his career averages. (And he's still had several clutch games.) JB is the one that I really can't figure out, and perhaps the key to the season. 3pt shooting has been bad, and it's leading to poor decisions in other areas. What happened to that 15' fall away jumper that was so reliable last year?
teams have figured out the Celtic weaknesses and when not hitting 3's they are easy to beat. Al and Holiday old and slow. have to make some moves get younger bigs Tari Eason, Kai Jones, Walker Kessler, Toumani Camara, Duop Reath. Should have went after Nick Richards. may have to give up Hauser, Holiday, Al may not get much for Spinger, Tillman, and can't aggregate
Good analysis. For better or worse, most of the losses scream malaise: Bulls; shorthanded Magic; Kings, Grizz and Raptors teams against whom Boston had long winning streaks; Pacers 2nd game in a row coming after big win. Even the OKC game, Boston flexed their muscles in the first half before coming apart (on 3rd game in 4 days.)
Yes teams are defending Boston differently...and attacking Boston's defense differently. That was to be expected. This was never going to be a mirror image of 23-24. We sports fans are impatient by nature. But we really have to step back and question the logic of panic trades by a championship team. They have an open roster spot, so adding someone by February seems very likely. But unless it's a player who is clearly in their top 8, the impact will be minimal. Bringing in a new 11th or 12th man isn't going to "shake up the locker room" or light some spark under veteran players with championship rings.
The effort stuff is frustrating, but also the least of my worries. Same for missing open shots. Several players are currently slumping offensively but Jrue is the only one massively off his career averages. (And he's still had several clutch games.) JB is the one that I really can't figure out, and perhaps the key to the season. 3pt shooting has been bad, and it's leading to poor decisions in other areas. What happened to that 15' fall away jumper that was so reliable last year?
teams have figured out the Celtic weaknesses and when not hitting 3's they are easy to beat. Al and Holiday old and slow. have to make some moves get younger bigs Tari Eason, Kai Jones, Walker Kessler, Toumani Camara, Duop Reath. Should have went after Nick Richards. may have to give up Hauser, Holiday, Al may not get much for Spinger, Tillman, and can't aggregate