I requested for mailbag questions and as regular you guys delivered. Listed below are your questions and my solutions. (As regular, outcomes might differ)
ezwind
With so few roster modifications, it doesn’t look like there are lots of, if any, main questions on this staff. However there are a number of minor ones:
1) With KP out for some time, has there been any indication that Luke is engaged on bringing again his lengthy misplaced 3pt shot in order that we are able to nonetheless play 5 out at occasions?
2) Similar query for Tillman. Can we count on him to shoot extra from the perimeter?
3) Are Springer and Walker an both/or scenario or is there any likelihood that each make the roster?
4) Barring an damage scenario, what are the possibilities that Scheierman performs common and even semi-regular minutes outdoors of blowouts?
I don’t suppose that Kornet goes to show again right into a quantity 3 level shooter. It looks as if he’s content material to give attention to what acquired him again within the league and right into a rotation function on the staff. I do see Tillman working to enhance his jumper. He’s at the very least keen to take them and if he can enhance his effectivity from the corners he might have some success there.
I might see each Springer and Walker making the staff, relying on how they deal with the 2-way guys. After all I nonetheless suppose that Springer is the probably piece that might be traded for a really minor piece (or in the event that they needed to shave a tiny little bit of wage).
I feel Scheierman has an out of doors shot at spot minutes this yr. He’s an older rookie and he can shoot. We simply should see if he can maintain up defensively. The Celtics are going to want wing depth and we’ll see how prepared Walsh is to play minutes.
Charlie-two-protons
Marcus Sensible is the apparent reply, however which former Celtic would you wish to see again on the squad?
I miss the vibes from the Timelord. I actually need to see him string collectively some wholesome seasons however that’s all the time going to be a fear and it’s potential that we bought excessive on him final yr. Nonetheless, he was a variety of enjoyable to look at on the courtroom and seemingly a chill man off it.
It’s in all probability too late now, however I might have nonetheless welcomed a return of Isaiah Thomas, even when it was a deep bench vet function.
Lastly, it is perhaps enjoyable sometime to see Terry Rozier make a return to Boston. He left on sort of a bitter be aware, however that was a really odd season and I might hope there’s no lingering unhealthy emotions.
pdelevett
If Scheierman has an amazing camp, does Boston reduce Walker unfastened to save lots of the posh tax? Or is having a confirmed scorer on our deep bench definitely worth the monetary hit? (Associated query: Even when he takes the $75K bonus to report back to Maine, how huge is the danger one other staff indicators Walker out of the G-League if he performs effectively there?)
If Walker sticks round, will probably be on a minimal deal. If Stevens decides to chop him and preserve solely 14 gamers they’d nonetheless have a cap maintain so I’m unsure if they’d save any cash (sorry, I’m not as a lot of a cap wiz as our outdated good friend Keith). It might principally be about protecting roster flexibility (and even then, as a 2nd apron staff, Boston wouldn’t be capable of out-bid anybody). Appears to me they need to journey with 15 gamers if solely to have stay our bodies to make use of throughout blowouts and for deep bench choices.
Dont miss that free throw
What do you consider Al Horford enjoying past 24-25? Does Brad supply him an extension mid-season if he needs to proceed to play or will they take a wait and see how he performs this season method?
That is powerful. Al was nonetheless very beneficial this previous yr and my coronary heart believes he might be once more this coming yr (if his minutes are managed effectively). With that mentioned, time runs out on everybody and that clock is ticking. I wouldn’t rule out retirement on the finish of the yr, relying on how he feels each bodily and mentally at that time. From a wage cap perspective, the staff is perhaps relying on his $9.5M coming off the books anyway.
ACEarl
What’s your learn on the emotional power that the Celtics will assault the season with?
Tatum tends to be fairly aloof, Jaylen focuses his anger, and the remainder of the highest 6 are likely to play regular veteran.
However within the title celebrations, it was clear that these guys felt the monkey off their again (“What they gonna say now?!?!”).
So what’s your learn on the group coming into the subsequent season? Do you suppose they arrive on the yr enjoying free and straightforward just like the ‘10’s Warriors as soon as they acquired one? Are they enraged in any respect the million slights which have occurred because the title— Tatum and Brown’s Olympic therapy, the center finger of the 2k scores, and many others.— inflicting them to come back out firing like John Wick? Are they annoyed and tight, or drained, or too relaxed? Or regular sufficient to roll it again and get proper again to work with the identical regular demeanor? What do you suppose?
My glass half full idea is that they will take pleasure in having that monkey off their backs and play looser and thus extra assured and free. Plus, Joe Mazzulla isn’t going to allow them to calm down an excessive amount of. The instance I all the time go to is the 2008-09 Celtics who had been even higher than the earlier yr (proper up till KG acquired damage).
I admit I’m nonetheless a bit of “as soon as bitten, twice shy” with this group. I nonetheless bear in mind how a lot they’d take two steps ahead and one step again in previous years. Seemingly letting go of the rope once they appeared to be up or enjoying a staff down a key participant. They exercised a variety of these daemons final yr however human nature is what it’s and it’s onerous to be targeted each second of each recreation.
I’m nonetheless seeing that tumbler half full, however I don’t rule out an occasional crack or leak.
CelticsWest
Let’s see what I’ve acquired…
What’s one factor you’d wish to see faraway from the Cs offensive and defensive recreation plan? Below what circumstances would Joe run a double-big tandem of Luke and Nemi?Which two-way or exhibit 10 participant will make the largest impression? What Celtic will present up at media day with the most effective hair?
This may occasionally sound a bit odd, however I don’t need something faraway from the C’s offense. Sure, I do know which means we’ve got to stay with an occasional “stand round for an iso step again” that can have me pulling out the little hair I’ve left. However you already know what? Generally within the playoffs that’s actually all you will get in a selected scenario. So that you may as effectively get some recreation apply with it through the season.
I’ve an analogous reply on protection however for a barely completely different purpose. With how superior offenses are nowadays, I don’t suppose you’ll be able to depend on anyone, two, or three completely different schemes. You must layer them in, combine them up, and do all the pieces you’ll be able to to maintain opponents off stability. I say play extra zone (particularly with Jrue enjoying rover). Throw in an occasional full courtroom blitz. Shock them by leaving a shooter ridiculously broad open simply to mess with their heads. Have the entire staff do the Kornet Kontest on the similar time to distract the shooter. Double bigs. All wings. JT at point-center. Kitchen sink; all in. Strive all the pieces.
Peter White
The Celtics can not carry all these huge contracts after the 2024-25 season, so moreover Al Horford which huge contract might be traded first?
Ideally we’ll simply preserve profitable titles and the brand new house owners will preserve throwing cash on the roster and we solely have to fret in regards to the again half of the roster. After all we don’t stay in an excellent world.
Notice that I don’t suppose anybody is moved this season. So all the next is my finest guess about future offseasons (even perhaps past subsequent summer time).
The unhappy fact is that this may in all probability come right down to accidents and age. Porzingis goes to earn near $31M in 2025-26. If he has a setback or one other main damage within the subsequent yr or two, he might be a wage dump sooner or later. Likewise, it’s price noting that Jrue Vacation is 34 years outdated. He’s nonetheless very productive and in a seemingly excellent scenario. If and when he begins to indicate his age, his contract goes to really feel heavier on the books earlier than it’s over.
Theoretically the staff might get extra in return for Derrick White, however I don’t actually like to consider a world with out him on the Celtics, so I’m going to faux I didn’t simply deliver that up.
The one different wildcard to say is Jaylen Brown. He appears pleased sufficient in Boston (Championships are likely to have that impact). But when he had a sudden urge to play in his hometown of Atlanta (or no matter) and requests a commerce (maybe to a staff the place he may be THE star) then I might see him shifting on.
This isn’t a enjoyable matter, however realistically all nice groups get damaged up sooner or later. However hey, by that time we’ll have 3 or 4 extra banners, so it gained’t be so unhealthy, proper?
Thanks once more everybody for the questions!
