What's holding back the Celtics from being top team?

[Airupthere]

Now that Kyrie is out, there should be no more excuses. While the C's have been playing better so far compared to the mishap that was last year's (they do have the 2nd/3rd best record in the East), what will it take to make them the team to beat this season, if at all possible? And what is holding them back?

1. Brad Stevens is not the coach to fully integrate and lead this team to the finals? I question Brad's ability to coach at a high level to push this team forward.

2. Tatum and/or Brown being given too much minutes but have not shown consistency and development beyond what has been expected of them?

3. Hayward always getting injured and has not played consistently as he had in Utah?

4. Lack of quality bigs in the lineup?

[AirBonner]

No center, point guard and bench is suspect. No excuses tho

[superduper]

Jaylen Brown recently came out and said that Kyrie was not the problem but instead certain players didn't know how to take a step back and accept their roles and coaching should also be blamed.

Pretty spicy quote from Jaylen but it is what he said recently.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

no bigs

Theis, Williams, Ojeleye, Kanter:roll:

good luck. If they kept one of Horford or Baynes theyd have a decent shot making it out of the East

[AirBonner]

no bigs

Theis, Williams, Ojeleye, Kanter:roll:

good luck. If they kept one of Horford or Baynes theyd have a decent shot making it out of the East
Horford is done. But baynes would have been good

[elementally morale]

The hoop.

[Airupthere]

No center, point guard and bench is suspect. No excuses tho

The pickups from the off season are decent and I think we have good depth. We could get better bigs but overall I think Stevens is not able to integrate this lineup too well. We've seen the roster change for a few years now and it seems the high point was when ITT lead this team. Other than that, regardless of the lineup, we have not shown consistency.

['Toine=MVP]

I actually think the Hayward factor might be #1. With the bigs issue maybe looming against certain teams in the playoffs but not a big factor in the regular season.

[Wally450]

No center, point guard and bench is suspect. No excuses tho

Pretty much this. I still believe they can compete with any team when completely healthy.

[ronniec]

What does "no more excuses" mean??

They are missing a big man, and they are undersized.

Excuse? This is a FACT that preventing them to be a true contender.
Even with Horford they were still undersized.

Hayward is always injured, injury prone, FACT.

Bench is not proven, too raw... FACT.

Don't abuse the word "excuse".

Losing talents of Kyrie (even he was a cancer) and Horford, and Bynes's hustle, and they are still sitting as #3 in the East, they are pretty darn good.

[ImKobe]

no bigs

Theis, Williams, Ojeleye, Kanter:roll:

good luck. If they kept one of Horford or Baynes theyd have a decent shot making it out of the East

Giannis destroyed them last season and they had Horford :confusedshrug: they might have to move one or two guys for a legitimate rim protector.

[ball247]

Nothing they will go to the finals. They have scorers at every position and good defense

[dbugz]

other teams in the east are just better, plain and simple.

[knicksman]

too many chefs not enough cooks. I dont know why ainge didnt just let the players grow.

[knicksman]

No center, point guard and bench is suspect. No excuses tho

coz you were never a celtics fan.

[RealSkipBayless]

Jayson Tatum thinks he is that guy and he isn't (likely never will be). Continues to be a low efficient shot jacker.

[Real Men Wear Green]

How could Tatum and Brown play too many minutes? That makes no sense.

Anyway if the Cs don't win the East it will be because of Giannis Antetokuonmpo or Embiid (I'm more concerned with Giannis). Not because of Brad Stevens. Right now the Cs don't have a great one-on-one low post defender to consistently stop a scoring big. In a series the best they might be able to do is roll the dice on Tacko Fall. And thinking about it I'm not sure he's playoff eligible with his weird contract... should be though.

[tpols]

Jayson Tatum thinks he is that guy and he isn't (likely never will be). Continues to be a low efficient shot jacker.


He was so good as a rookie in the playoffs... i wonder what happened.

He had some major playoff poasters, but as of the past few years his finishing has been so weak.

Just no dexterity or creativity finishing around the rim or in the paint which has painted his game into a corner.

[Airupthere]

How could Tatum and Brown play too many minutes? That makes no sense.

Anyway if the Cs don't win the East it will be because of Giannis Antetokuonmpo or Embiid (I'm more concerned with Giannis). Not because of Brad Stevens. Right now the Cs don't have a great one-on-one low post defender to consistently stop a scoring big. In a series the best they might be able to do is roll the dice on Tacko Fall. And thinking about it I'm not sure he's playoff eligible with his weird contract... should be though.

Hayward, when healthy seems to be playing better than tatum. Kemba could use more minutes as well. Given how inconsistent tatum is, he seems to be getting quite some playing time. To a less degree with jaylen but i still think jaylen needs to be more consistent with his game. Cs have put so much faith and hype on these two but 3-4 years in, I still dont see them living up to potential.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Hayward, when healthy seems to be playing better than tatum. Kemba could use more minutes as well. Given how inconsistent tatum is, he seems to be getting quite some playing time. To a less degree with jaylen but i still think jaylen needs to be more consistent with his game. Cs have put so much faith and hype on these two but 3-4 years in, I still dont see them living up to potential.
There are 5 players allowed on the court per team. With five spots available the Celtics can simultaneously play Tatum, Brown, Walker, Hayward, and another player as well.

[Airupthere]

What does "no more excuses" mean??

They are missing a big man, and they are undersized.

Excuse? This is a FACT that preventing them to be a true contender.
Even with Horford they were still undersized.

Hayward is always injured, injury prone, FACT.

Bench is not proven, too raw... FACT.

Don't abuse the word "excuse".

Losing talents of Kyrie (even he was a cancer) and Horford, and Bynes's hustle, and they are still sitting as #3 in the East, they are pretty darn good.

Kyrie was clearly holding up the team last season. With him and Al now gone, when I say no excuses, it means we got rid of the clear problem. Celtics can now move forward and make the necessary steps to be a top team.

I dont know that adding a quality big would necessarily make the team that much stronger. Again, I am having doubts that a quality big is all that Stevens needs to bring this team to full speed.

[Airupthere]

There are 5 players allowed on the court per team. With five spots available the Celtics can simultaneously play Tatum, Brown, Walker, Hayward, and another player as well.

There

[Turbo Slayer]

Only team that the Celtics would be worried about is the Bucks. Other than that, Celtics have a free trip to the Finals.

[Real Men Wear Green]

[QUOTE=Airupthere]There

[Airupthere]

Smart outhustles everyone. Why single out the two young wings? They both hustle hard defensively and take turns battling bigs for rebounds when they have to play the 4. Regardless your critique of the emphasis on Tatum and Brown makes no sense. The only bad thing to be said about either's stats is Tatum's fg% and it's not a crippling issue. Can't point at even that when it comes to Brown. They're easily the best two-way players on the team and are both candidates for All-Star. Not sure what you are expecting to see from them but there isn't a better set of starting wings in the East and when you factor in Hayward and Leonard's need for rest the Cs have the best overall setting talent in the league.

Tatum and brown are 3rd picks. There

[ronniec]

[QUOTE=Airupthere]Tatum and brown are 3rd picks. There

[Gudo]

I would say coach. Sack brad stevens who cant figure out the zone defense with the talent he has in his lineup.

[dbugz]

bench. one of the worst in the league

[MrFonzworth]

:hammertime::dancin:djparty:dancin:hammertime:

[Basketball r Us]

As of a few minutes ago...Miami Heat.

[KD7]

A closer, they had one but they let him go

https://i.postimg.cc/fWq843Lv/giphy-3.gif

[Derka]

Crap bench. Seeing Wanamaker, Ojeleye and Kanter out there at the same time is just embarrassing.
No bigs. Theis is doing his best but he's not enough.
Too much hero ball. Everyone wants to turn the game around on their own.
A 22-year old stud who shows flashes of mamba but is consistently closer to a garden snake.
A marquee free agent who got paid and then turned into a piece of glass.
A marquee free agent who is turtling in the playoffs big time but it's fine because he's like the best teammate ever, you guys.
The only veteran leadership comes from one of the most frustratingly brilliant players to ever wear the uniform.
A head coach who can't adapt his offensive system to conquer high school defenses.

Did I miss anything?

[hold this L]

They need a clear #1. Tatum is probably getting there but feels like he needs a few more years to get to that point. They definitely need a proper closer right now though.

Jaylen Brown recently came out and said that Kyrie was not the problem but instead certain players didn't know how to take a step back and accept their roles and coaching should also be blamed.

Pretty spicy quote from Jaylen but it is what he said recently.
That's a pretty damning quote.

[ImKobe]

Giannis destroyed them last season and they had Horford :confusedshrug: they might have to move one or two guys for a legitimate rim protector.

Looks like this will be their downfall as I predicted. No interior defense. Bam looks like Dwight Howard out there.

[Wally450]

Hayward's injury tbh. I know it's part of the game, but the sequences where we lack is where Hayward would thrive imo.