I think he's the most readily upgraded part of our rotation, given our assets and likely degree of need for depth.Anyone still deeply concerned about Luke Kornet?
Of course he’s bored, he’s playing defense. Kinda. Sorta. Maybe.I kinda love how bored Springer looks there.
This seems a little harsh. I have my criticisms of Mazzulla but overall it seems like he has the team playing hard, listening to him, and seeing success. Also, he isn't out cheating on his partner with a coworker, so big upgrade there.Having Joe Mazzulla coach this team is the equivalent of hiring Vince Wilfork to jockey a prized racehorse.
The real hero is Brad, though. I'm willing to guess most NBA coaches will look pretty good if they're handed a world-destroying lineup of 4 All-stars and Derrick White.The criticisms of Mazzulla this season seem pretty reflexive. Nobody can reasonably argue the Cs are perfect but unless you care about the Celtics regular season W/L record - and its not a legit issue at present - its hard to see where they are underperforming.
And as @InstaFace notes, he isn't letting extracurriculars get in the way of his day job either. People can dislike Mazzulla and even be convinced that he isn't the one to lead them to a banner. But aside from small things its just really hard to see what the problem is. There's definitely a few though...and someone will likely tell us what is lurking.
The Celtics have the best record and by far the best net rating, while playing more games on the road than at home and having played the hardest schedule in the league. It's hard to imagine a better start.The criticisms of Mazzulla this season seem pretty reflexive. Nobody can reasonably argue the Cs are perfect but unless you care about the Celtics regular season W/L record - and its not a legit issue at present - its hard to see where they are underperforming.
And as @InstaFace notes, he isn't letting extracurriculars get in the way of his day job either. People can dislike Mazzulla and even be convinced that he isn't the one to lead them to a banner. But aside from small things its just really hard to see what the problem is. There's definitely a few though...and someone will likely tell us what is lurking.
Joe was coaching with one arm tied behind his back last season.The real hero is Brad, though. I'm willing to guess most NBA coaches will look pretty good if they're handed a world-destroying lineup of 4 All-stars and Derrick White.
It's a bit tough for me to discern the difference in credit between the chef and the grocery-shopper. Or between what our guys are doing out there now and what they'd be doing with a different coach (or a replacement level one). How many coaches win that Minnesota game? I dunno. How many lose last night? Probably more than a few, we seemed to have a great defensive gameplan.
I was being flippant in the moment of a gamethread. Honestly, I don't mind Mazzulla. Do I think he's a great coach? Not yet. However, a season of experience and a full complement of qualified assistants give me hope that he can lead this squad all the way to the promised land.This seems a little harsh. I have my criticisms of Mazzulla but overall it seems like he has the team playing hard, listening to him, and seeing success. Also, he isn't out cheating on his partner with a coworker, so big upgrade there.
Banton ended up -4; Queta ended up +5. I agree with you that starting Banton against the team that had been the "hottest offense" (or so I'm told) in the NBA was smart and thought he played pretty well. It was good to have another long, switchy defender in the lineup and I also thought that going back to Banton and Horford down the stretch after ATL scored on five straight possessions (including 2 Trae walk-in 3Ps off the drop coverage) was essential to winning the game (in the approximately 3 minutes that Banton was in, ATL only hit one basket and 3 FTs).Somewhat interesting move by CJM with Banton starting. I like it. Rotational balance along with adding a longer defender on Trae while keeping Hauser with the 2nd unit, where he thrives, makes sense.
Joe had Hauser pick up Trae in the halfcourt a few times yesterday, which is a continuation of what he did against Dame a handful of times. Nice curveball.
Playing Queta, even though Luke has put up points recently, was very clever. Queta is more aggressive around the rim which is helpful. The Celtics will need that physicality against bigger NBA teams.
Really enjoying Joe's approach so far. His coaching/organizing skills are a plus and wouldn't mind him using TOs when the Celtics drift into bad habits (ISO-ball)
If Queta played all his minutes getting screen and rolled on by Trae and Co with the first unit he'd have been a -30. Really wish we'd stop mentioning these misleading stats like this.Banton ended up -4; Queta ended up +5. I agree with you that starting Banton against the team that had been the "hottest offense" (or so I'm told) in the NBA was smart and thought he played pretty well. It was good to have another long, switchy defender in the lineup and I also thought that going back to Banton and Horford down the stretch after ATL scored on five straight possessions (including 2 Trae walk-in 3Ps off the drop coverage) was essential to winning the game (in the approximately 3 minutes that Banton was in, ATL only hit one basket and 3 FTs).
As for Hauser, my WAG is that by matching him up on a star, JMazz is saying that teams can isolate him but get completely out of their offense or they can run offense and Hauser is going to get switched on to someone else. If that is the case, it's pretty clever.
amen brother.If Queta played all his minutes getting screen and rolled on by Trae and Co with the first unit he'd have been a -30. Really wish we'd stop mentioning these misleading stats like this.
He was on the floor with Trae for most of his minutes. The one guy I think he never overlapped with was Capela. Also never played against both Murray and Trae at the same time - always one of them but never both.If Queta played all his minutes getting screen and rolled on by Trae and Co with the first unit he'd have been a -30. Really wish we'd stop mentioning these misleading stats like this.
Not sure what your point is. I mean most people here understand that probably the biggest part of coaching in the NBA is to put players in roles/situations where they can succeed?If Queta played all his minutes getting screen and rolled on by Trae and Co with the first unit he'd have been a -30. Really wish we'd stop mentioning these misleading stats like this.
Agreed---I've been impressed by Hauser's credible D and do wonder if they are baiting teams into trying to focus on him. You can't imagine that goes on indefinitely thoughAs for Hauser, my WAG is that by matching him up on a star, JMazz is saying that teams can isolate him but get completely out of their offense or they can run offense and Hauser is going to get switched on to someone else. If that is the case, it's pretty clever.
Yea, I knew what you meant on an in-game level and agree with it.Not sure what your point is. I mean most people here understand that probably the biggest part of coaching in the NBA is to put players in roles/situations where they can succeed?
As discussed in the Queta thread, I thought Queta played fine and it was very good idea to get him out of the game when ATL scored on five straight possessions in the 4Q (Trae scoring on 4 of those and assisting on the fifth). And at the end of the day, Queta's time on the floor was a net positive and I think Queta was probably a net positive in the ATL game. No one thinks Queta should be starting and frankly I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't play at all against CHI.
My larger point was that I thought Banton was also a net positive (even if his NRtg for the game was negative) so I'm happy JMazz started him. YMMV.
Right. In the 1H it was clear the Hawks were not prepared for him to be on the floor and he wasn't attacked. During halftime the recognition and adjustment was clearly made as they began using his man to high screen. Hence why he was replaced by Banton.He was on the floor with Trae for most of his minutes. The one guy I think he never overlapped with was Capela. Also never played against both Murray and Trae at the same time - always one of them but never both.
In hindsight, and regardless of whatever flaws and/or deficiencies one thinks he displayed last year, he was probably under-appreciated last season.It’s almost like being named interim head coach a few days before training camp last season put him at a disadvantage.
No doubt and I was saying this last year as well. Many others could have easily lost this team especially when your staff are the guys from the previous coach who everyone knew would be gone in 7 months. The one thing that he DID have going for him was a strong organizational culture with Brad, their former coach, and Wyc the hands on long-time owner providing strength and stability up top.In hindsight, and regardless of whatever flaws and/or deficiencies one thinks he displayed last year, he was probably under-appreciated last season.
For years we have talked about how JT really needs a "go to" move that he can use in crunch time - you know, the move that everyone knows is coming but typically no one can do anything about it.One of the areas that has really been shored up under Mazzulla has been closing time. This team is doing a much better job closing out games with the lead in the last five minutes. It’s almost like they flip a switch and really value every possession at both ends. Tatum appears to have made a conscious effort to control the last five minutes of the game, and not just trying to do everything by himself. He will dribble the ball up and run the set that has been most effective that game, and if the defense can take the ball out of his hands, he almost always makes the right play.
Boston is 14-4 against teams with winning records, and 6-1 against sub .500 teams, with two of the losses not either OT or single possession losses.
Considering the number of times he was called a moron, I'd say thats likely.In hindsight, and regardless of whatever flaws and/or deficiencies one thinks he displayed last year, he was probably under-appreciated last season.
There are so many great candidates this year due to the teams who are making leaps I don't expect him to make anyone's short list.Look at Coach Joe, getting his flowers:
View: https://twitter.com/taylorcsnow/status/1737879196423123184?s=20
Some people are going to have their heads explode when there starts to be talk of him as a coach of the year candidate...
Over Daigneault, Mosley, Finch and Udoka?This feels like Nick Nurse's year to win it, so far.
Lots of competition!Over Daigneault, Mosley, Finch and Udoka?
While this all makes sense to me, I feel like that narrative will get clouded a bit because Embiid won the mvp last year.Lots of competition!
I haven't checked the odds, but Nurse feels like he has the double whammy of lowered expectations post-Harden, along with a (probably) very good record. Also the narrative that "someone finally got the most out of Joel".
Yeah and finished 2nd in both 2021 and 2022. We'll see where teams like Orlando, OKC, Minnesota and Houston finish by the end of the year, but I'd bet on one of those coaches getting it over Nurse, who took over a team that was 3rd in the conference last year and has the reigning MVP.While this all makes sense to me, I feel like that narrative will get clouded a bit because Embiid won the mvp last year.
I didn’t expect Joe to be so open in an interview.Joe M interview with Himmelsbach from the Globe. tldr is that Joe doesn't care about the regular season wins in the same way anymore, and mostly focuses on trying to build habits, handle adversity, and develop players:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/12/24/sports/celtics-joe-mazzulla-interview/
Last season must have been interesting. In Karalis's podcast a few days ago, he intimated that Jaylen was afraid last year that if he made a mistake he wasn't going to get the ball back. And he said that he feels like there's "greater trust" in the locker room this year than last year. (Starts at around 24:00 mark in the podcast below).With his own assistants, support from the two Jays, buy in from the remaining players from last season, and new players who didn’t know him as a back bench assistant, Mazzulla is respected in a way he wasn’t last season, where IMO Smart didn’t buy in to his leadership.
(replying to game thread).I don’t disagree with most of this. Just distressing to watch a quicksand situation in realtime and nobody’s throwing a lifeline. I also don’t really know if there’s any long-term value or learnings to be had from letting the bench suffer through a massive run in a random December game.
After the timeout JB came back in and the game stabilized from there.
I think Jrue was semi-officially done by then. (he came out with about 8 mins left ?after a pair of turnovers?). So maybe Hauser there?CJM deserves credit for playing Kornet 15 minutes last night. I'm not a fan of the 2 BIGs but at least he isn't overplaying KP/Al while developing Luke (along with Queta)
Joe does deserve some criticism for not going "situational" at the end of games.
I can see wanting PP in for offense but Payton can't be left guarding Jalen Williams late in Q4.
Especially with all the stops in play the last few minutes.
10 min for Hauser was my only complaint. Fun game last night regardless.I think Jrue was semi-officially done by then. (he came out with about 8 mins left ?after a pair of turnovers?). So maybe Hauser there?
Hauser and Jrue were both getting torched defensively. Some nights, espeically on the road, you just don't have it.10 min for Hauser was my only complaint. Fun game last night regardless.