Azad Rosay joins CelticsBlog all the way in which from France. Regardless of protecting the staff six hours away in a unique language, Azad is an avid fan and an analytics and Xs and Os knowledgeable. Take a look at his first piece on the Jays’ driving within the Finals.
What bought you into basketball and the Celtics?
My relationship with basketball and the Celtics has been natural since I used to be 13 years outdated and has continued to develop since then. I performed each Wednesday again in center college within the French Alps. It was a straightforward method to get away from my small village and revel in a enjoyable sport with my closest mates. I performed usually till the tip of highschool, after which my focus shifted, and I didn’t play once more till I moved to Amsterdam at 23 years outdated. Now that I’m again dwelling within the Alps, I nonetheless attempt to play usually. One factor I’ve understood about basketball: it has created and strengthened friendships all through my life, and I’m grateful for that.
As for who bought me into the Celtics, I feel it was my father, in a manner. He loves video video games and normally comes dwelling now and again with random video games he finds for reasonable. At some point, he got here again with NBA Stay 2008. I nonetheless don’t know why he selected that recreation, nevertheless it modified all the pieces. In 2008, one of the best staff was… the Celtics. So, to learn to play the sport, I picked the Celtics… and a decade later, right here I’m, introducing myself as a author for CelticsBlog. I’m grateful for that, too.
So to reply the query, “What bought me into basketball and the Celtics?” I’d say it was love, luck, household, and mates.
What are your strengths and/or favourite subjects as a author?
That’s a tricky query. I’d say that one in every of my strengths is my means to grasp and use statistics and knowledge to raised grasp what the human eye can’t see. However, I watch lots of basketball, so my eyes may seize what may not be mirrored in monitoring knowledge. As soon as I discover this stability between what I see and the numbers, I need to share it with individuals who could be .
I genuinely get excited once I share an evaluation as a result of I would like it to be challenged by the actual world. As soon as an article I write is on the market, being challenged and commented on, I get to learn to enhance for the subsequent one. Since I began creating content material on the NBA in France, I’ve been lucky sufficient to speak with NBA gamers, coaches, and writers. This has additionally helped me develop into a greater author and analyst.
As for my favourite subjects, I like specializing in statistical and tactical evaluation. I take pleasure in attempting to grasp what a staff is making an attempt to attain and the way they’re attempting to create a bonus. I’m additionally studying about participant scouting — attempting to seize the core values, talents, and limitations of a participant by watching movies and analyzing knowledge.
To sum up, I take pleasure in writing about what’s occurring on the court docket and do my finest to make it attention-grabbing for the individuals who learn my work.
What’s your daring prediction for the approaching season?
“Luke Kornet will shoot 3-pointers once more” seems like each an correct and daring prediction for 2024. The reasoning behind this prediction is straightforward: it’s wanted, and it’s doable.
Why is it wanted? As a result of the Celtics will probably be taking part in with out Kristaps Porziņģis at first of the season. We don’t know precisely when he will probably be again, so Joe Mazzulla and his employees might want to regulate accordingly. When Porziņģis is on the court docket, the Celtics have higher shot high quality as a result of spacing he offers. The Celtics’ means to get to the rim was considerably higher with the Latvian on the ground (Rim Frequency elevated by 4.7% when KP was on the court docket).
Final 12 months, Kornet was requested to deliver lots of vitality to the offensive glass (+7.5% OREB% when he was on the ground). Throughout a post-game interview with Celtics Recordsdata, he talked about that specializing in offensive rebounds was one of many causes he stopped capturing 3-pointers. Maybe there’s a stability to be discovered right here, the place Luke Kornet can area the ground whereas nonetheless being aggressive on the offensive glass.
As for his capturing capabilities, I’m assured he may nonetheless hit threes with league-average effectivity. An amazing indicator of capturing means is FT% — and Luke hits 81% of his free throws. On high of that, his first two seasons confirmed that in the best setting, he may shoot and make threes.
So, stroll with me down this street, and let’s hope we witness Luke Kornet hit a few 3-pointers per recreation, adopted by one in every of his iconic celebrations.
