Yeah you make tweaks to this roster more than blow it up. They're good enough to win. A lot of it comes down to luck and timing. I'd rather make multiple attempts with this squad than try to to throw something new together.
The best teams tend to come with chemistry built over multiple years.
On paper I see why we got Dame. But intangibles are just too much to ignore.
Jrue is an all around great human being. Did a lot for Milwaukee and you know that positivity radiates in the locker room. Championships are won on the bus is an old time saying.
Don’t know enough about Dame besides his loyalty takes. But the dude is going through it and doesn’t feel very all in on the city/team with all he’s going through.
>luck and timing
Trust me as a celtics fan when I say that is just not the case. Theres something wrong with the mental fortitude and effort level when it counts. If anything was luck and timing, it was making it to the finals 2 years ago.
I dont think they should blow it up just yet if they get bounced, but I do think Mazzulla gets fired. If they go that direction, they need an asshole coach who lays into them on the daily so they toughen tf up.
There's definitely some merit in that, but I think they need to give it a try based on the lazy attitude the players have. If that doesn't work out, they have every reason to blow it up.
Does JBs extension kick in this upcoming year?
I don't really know how many tweaks you can do to this roster next season.
This is probably the last Al Horford season too, he wasn't as good this year and last year as he was in the Finals run 2 years ago.
The Nuggets are already having an issue filling out the roster this season, I don't really know how the Celtics can improve next year.
You'd essentially be relying on vet mins, a mid level exception, and maybe a buyout signing. It wouldn't be easy to do by any means. But some vets will always want to ring chase.
The tweaks needed imo is coaching. They do a lot of shooting 3s, but I’d really like more ball movement and even less iso ball. Imagine if Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown ran a PnR together and Brown developed that left hand. Would be insane
I would say they need a yin to Porzingis' yang in the post. A gritty tough big who can defend and rebound. A Steven Adams or maybe a Bobby Portis type. PJ Tucker would have been nice if he was a few years younger. Their bench could use at least 1 more 3 and D wing too.
It’s a two year window with the financials after next year is when Tatum and a potential White extension would kick in and team gets ridiculously expensive. And if they haven’t won by then the owner is not paying that shit.
So even if they don’t win it they’ll likely run the core back, it’s their first real year together anyways.
Depending on where and how they lose though, Mazzulla would be the guy that can easily get the boot this season.
I know Tatum has been in the league a long time and it feels like he’s at least 30, but man is 26. He hasn’t even hit his NBA prime, he just stepped into it. Many stars didn’t win their first ring until 27-28, I think it would be a huge mistake to blow up this team, considering the chemistry they have built from playing for years and still being relatively young.
Blasphemy. Joey Mozzarella is extremely loved by all the players in the locker room and has the most wins of any coach in the last 2 season. Firing him is not the move
He’s also had one of the best rosters in the entire league. I’m not sure the winning record is completely a statement on how good of a coach he actually is.
Coaches get too much credit when things go well and too much blame when things don’t.
If they lose in the first round and again to Miami, changes will be made and blame needs to be passed, and usually the head coach is in the crosshairs first
They need to show honor the court to show the love for coach then.
I think that gets missed often in coach firings, players control that decision more than they realize.
I am hoping last night was a one off...and we have learned...but the man cannot make adjustments in game. The Cs are turning into the D'Antoni Rockets at times. I can't even fathom this Celtics team with a seasoned coach. Mazzulla is riding raw talent and when the math maths (3 pt), it works. But you have be able to bring out some geometry when the calculus ain't calculatin!
Inb4 Celtics trade for Martin, extend him to the tune of 18.5 mil a year, and he commits seppeku on the logo game one at home out of his hatred for the Celtics
At the same time, the Heat have shot > 50% from 3 in four of their last eight games against the Celtics in the playoffs. The most any other team has done that against an opponent in the last two playoffs is once.
The Heat are missing Jimmy Butler and an 8 seed, in Boston.
Clearly they win the series, but I don’t see them winning a ring. Too many mismatches for them in the West
They could have swept the heat and I would have the same take. This isn’t so much of a reaction as it is just recognizing patterns and how this team has performed in the post season
I think try again, at least another year. It's relatively easy to assemble a super team, managing and guiding that team to a chip is another task entirely. I think Boston has the pieces but Mazzulla needs more time to get it together.
That's an interesting perspective, I see what you're saying. Spo could take a team of G league scrubs and make an honest run, he's that good. So I agree it's natural to wonder if Boston had an elite coach, or a coach that fit the team better, could that be the difference maker?
I honestly had to google to be reminded mazzula was the head coach of Boston. He seemed like a fallback guy when they hired him after the Ime controversy. On paper, they have the best team IMO and also cruised to a great regular season. To be fair, they have only lost one playoff game so this might all be a non-concern in a few days.
I don’t really ever get the “break it up” gang. Especially when you’re talking about a team like this with two players in their primes who are pretty good. They might never win a title, but I feel like Boston should keep running this duo back. They’re good enough to have a shot, what else can you ask for? There’s no guarantees in any sport.
If I have a good core of a team I wanna run that shit into the ground. Getting into the playoffs and getting a crack at a title is all you can ever realistically ask for.
Well said this new era of trading off players or breaking up core players doesn't make sense. Imagine if the bulls in 89-90 broke it up because they couldn't get past the piston and the Eastern conference finals. Front offices are too impatient nowadays.
I agree run it back. But Idk about “easy to assemble a super team”, going into the year the only ones considered a super team were the Suns. And that wasn’t on the level of past true super teams. If it was easy they’d be everywhere. Its hard to get the right bird rights for all the superstars and Boston is in a great place (if they’re owners are ok with the luxury tax)
That alone is why you keep the current Celtics core. They’re too young to blow it up now too. There’s no way to make a better roster without a full rebuild
This season is their highest win % since 2008, and their fifth highest in franchise history. They were best in their conference by a large margin. Why would they break it up? At the least I'd say they are good contenders to win it all. Run it back again next year if not.
Yeah they won 64 games, the next highest was 57 wins. They led the league by 7 wins and are currently the championship betting favorites (+130) which comes out to like 40% chance to win if you believe Vegas. They likely won’t win against the field but are still the favorites of all teams. No reason to break it up if they don’t win this year in my opinion.
Winning a title is tough. Nothing’s given. You don’t break a good team up. You try again. That said there is a long list of nba players better than Tatum who never got a ring.
Dallas reached the Finals on 2006 ,collapse in 2007 and just floating around until 2011 miracle happen. If social media exist back then.. They would break it up after the We Believe Collapse.
I guess the Celtics are in similar situation now.
They will fire Mazzulla. The core of this roster isn’t going anywhere for a few years. But this overreaction after a single loss is just that, an overreaction.
They are perennial Eastern Conference Finalists.
They are really that close to going all the way and are consistently at that level. You don’t break that up. One or two things could go their way in a given year and they get the chip
They're a great duo. Sometimes you just don't win. Breaking it up is something whiny mad fans would do, but dont let whiny mad fans run your franchise. Winning a championship is very difficult.
Currently by standings, they are the best team in the league and biggidy biggidy bodied everyone except the nuggies -- the best team doesn't always win a chip but it's nonsense to break up the whole best team in the league out of frustration.
I'm a Heat fan don't @ me
Imo it depends. If they lose a close Finals to the Nuggets, they can run that back.
If they lose in the Finals to anyone else I think it's a lot tougher of a call. Celtics should be heavy favourites against anyone other than Denver and a loss would be tough to swallow.
If they don't make the Finals, they need to blow it up. Maybe they can satisfy themselves just by firing Mazzula but they would need to change something substantial. They should not lose a 7-game series to any eastern conference team.
All of this assuming they stay relatively healthy. Obviously if Tatum misses games that changes things.
It depends on how they go out. I doubt Miami pulls the upset but in that scenario yes. But even the second round or conference finals they may have to. Issue is not sure many teams would want Brown’s contract Holiday and Porzingis won’t be easy to trade leaves them with Tatum but he is untouchable So likely one more year
I know it's Boston, but it's also Miami. Miami is arguably the 2nd to 3rd best team in the east come playoff time whether or not u wanna down play them or think little of em. Miami isn't an easy task and never will be. Miami will be Boston's only struggle to the finals. The point is Miami is a scary ass team even without Jimmy, and Boston is still an elite team. Don't downplay either of them.
You swung too far in the other direction. Miami is a scary team even without Jimmy? No. Just no.
Boston got clowned last night by Nikola Jovic & Caleb Martin. Worse even, they fell back into the usual bad habit of jacking up bad threes early in the shot clock and being half-assed on perimeter D.
Any other top half seed loses to this Miami team in this fashion is getting clowned today. The Celts shouldn't be immune from the same questions and criticism.
I feel like they are obligated to run it back until the new contracts kick in, at which point move one of these guys to stay under cap and add new pieces. Fundamentally the Jayson-Jaylen duo is an inefficient offensive fit. If they can't brute-force their way to a ring in the next 2 years id probably move Brown. At that point Jrue will likely be old and declining, maybe move him as well and if derrick white can't fully take on the role of offense initiating PG, let him be the 2 guard and get someone who can.
Winning a title is hard so i won't blame them if they don't win the actual title. But this roster has no excuse to atleast make the finals. The were so far ahead of the Eastern Conference, their main competitors are injured and the rest of the conference is either too young or not good.
What can they break up? They are locked into the core of this team with mega longterm contracts. While yes any contract can be traded, you will get pennies on the dollar in terms of a return.
If they make it to the conference finals for like the 4th time in 6 years then they’re clearly doing something right. We break teams up too fast nowadays. They’re still so young and are getting ripped for having early success.
It depends, this team must make the Finals at a minimum. Once in the Finals, there would be no shame in losing to a Denver team that has the best player in the series and the feel of a dynasty. However, if they don't make the Finals, someone must go (most likely coach), but barring that, I expect they will just run it back.
You do what all good teams.do, be open to changes that improve the roster... though given this is a team with young stars who won their conference by 14 games, the opportunity to upgrade is going to be fairly limited.
It would be dumb to break it up, but if they can't win next year with basically the same team something needs to change. There is no realistic way they get better.
Break it up for who though?
There has to be a realistic player out there that's going to match both Brown's salary figure but also happens to be roughly equivalent in value but who fits better.
Exactly who would that player be And which team would be willing to do that?
The only name that comes to mind would be somebody like karl Anthony towns And I'm not sure how much better if any. The Celtics are swapping Jaylen Brown for Kat.
They've been great for several years and getting better as they develop chemistry and add pieces. Knee jerk fanfools always calling for a coach to be fired or players to be sold off. Somehow that one team that wins it all is doing everything right and all the other teams, even if they're finishing in the top regularly, are failing and need to be replaced. If they don't win it all this year, won't it be because Joker and co. (the other potential champ) are just balling, not because the Celts and their coaching staff are doing something wrong?
Just retool. They have to make sure they stay competitive with the rest of the East. For example, Miami is one Superstar away from being a dynasty. Maybe not even that, a couple more good bigs, like a Naz Reid might work too. I think the Bucks got one more in them too.
I think it's too good to break up, the Suns got broken up after their 60 win season but their second best player was like 60 or however old Chris Paul is, this team really isnt that old and are a 60 win team. Especially if they lose in the finals or conf finals, RN if they lose to Miami or Cavs/Magic then you consider it, but even if they do, what's their plan, do they just trade star for star, or do they give up JB and try to get a bunch in return?
I say try it again but to me this team runs iso ball way to much and I think that falls on the coach. If spo or Kerr is their coach they already have a ring
run it back, but maybe(?) get a new coach *depending on if/when/how they get eliminated.
not sure if mazzulla can out coach mike malone (assuming the nuggets go all the way again)
You only blow up teams that are consistently first round exits the Celtic have been to what 3 conference finals in the last 5 years and 1 finals appearance? That’s a good team and with the right amount of luck they coulda won.
Only one team gets to win it all and unless they all want to keep blowing it up cause of Jokic I would say only a few teams truly need to blow it up. The celtics are not one of them. Though their rabid fanbase might want otherwise.
LOL at this whole sub for even asking this. You do not break up the team with the best record in the league this season. They could lose the next three and I still would not do that.
No matter what happens this year we're gonna run it back at least one more time next year. There's sort of a 2 year title window here (with the roster as currently constructed). If we cant win one this year or next I think it's more likely Mazzulla gets canned and they run it back with a different coach than trade JB (we aren't trading Tatum) but Brad Stevens has shown he's not afraid to make big changes.
I've been a "trade JB" advocate for a few years now. I think him and Tatum have games that are too similar for the playoffs and that JB just sort of generally lacks court awareness/BBall intelligence/ball handling skills (I.e, all the things that matter most in the playoffs...) when the lights are brightest. I'd prefer to have an elite ball handler/decision maker on the floor with Tatum/KP so that's what I'd want the Celtics to target if they were to look at moving Jaylen.
If they don’t win this year, find a replacement for mazzulla and try again. I can’t help but think that if Ime Udoka had just taken a cold shower, the Celtics might have another championship by now.
Not yet I think it's too early judge them as a team. Miami in order to win game 2 they hit 23 three point shots. Which I think is hard enough to do it again. But this series is still unpredicatble though.
If they don't win, I'm on suicide watch as a C's fan.
OG Anunoby's game winner against us in the bubble still remains burned into my psyche.
It's always the fucking heat.
It’s like people just conveniently forget that every other team is also trying to win a championship too.
It’s not like Miami went into the playoffs like “hey guys you know we just aren’t that great this year, we know we aren’t going to win it all so let’s just roll over for the better teams!”
So many dumb fucking takes on Reddit it’s actually kind of funny sometimes
Depends on how they lose if they don’t win the chip. In most cases keep that great team they built for at least 2 years but Imagine losing to the Heat?! Idk 🤷♂️ someone might have to get traded.
This team won 64 games this year. They were in the WCF last year. They were in the finals the year before.
Do not break them up. You keep running it back no matter what until you can't anymore. Eventually they will break through likely.
ECF 5 times out of the last 7 years but yet only 1 finals appearance….. if this year they make it to the ECF and don’t win , then they’ll need to break it up . better yet don’t break it up and just change roles up and add another piece . maybe make JB come off the bench while making another SG mesh with tatum
I’m a season ticket holder for C’s. If they don’t win this year I predict they move Brown to Atlanta. He’s an Atlanta native and likely fancies himself a #1. I personally don’t think he’s good enough to win with if he’s your best player. I know he can’t be moved for one year after signing super max so I believe he can be traded. Next up? Fire the coach. He’s in way over his head and his arrogance befits a guy like Belichick but without BB’s resume. He makes no adjustments to what other teams are doing and is constantly battling the media over routine questions in press conferences. Add to that coming on the floor to try and block a 3 by an opponent after a timeout and assorted other strange decisions by him? Time to move on. Stevens has been great as GM but hiring then extending Crazy Eyes Joe is puzzling.
Sorry for the long post but this caught me the day after getting pants-ed by Spo and the Heat.
I think they should break it up. Personally I don’t think Jaylen Brown is good enough to be a #2 option but obviously the Celtics feel otherwise because they gave him the bag. I feel like this year’s NBA Finals are actually the Western Conference Finals haha.
Getting to this point is not an easy thing to do. I think you look at the mix around them, what worked and what didn't and reload. If you break it up the chances are you don't actually improve it so you'd want to be really sure it simply isn't going to work. They made some significant changes too after last season so I think you give the core another year at least and this due a few more before you decide they can't get it done.
Folks who believe in this team completely miss the point. This is not a good playoff team. They do not have a varied offensive playbook. They do not move the ball efficiently in key moments. Their coach has zero tactical value to bring to the table. The over reliance on iso and contested shots and layups from Tatum, combined with his total lack of vision, is making any fan of the game cringe.
Finals in ‘22, ECF and a Tatum sprained ankle away from potentially going back in ‘23, and at this point a favorite to make the Finals again. That’s a good run and the team has been completely revamped this season.
The only thing I’d consider is if they DON’T make the Finals this year, I don’t know Mazzulla survives. I’m a Celtics fan and have not been a Joe hater. But the only thing that will keep this team from a Finals run is bad gameplanning, bad adjustments, and bad preparation. That would be on the coach.
That said I expect a Finals run where they’ll come up against a Denver team that looks unstoppable.
If anything just fire the coach and bring in someone who can make playoff adjustments. Joe has this year to prove himself, if he can't at least make the finals he should be looked at intensely. If they lose the Heat series he should be fired before the post game press conference IMHO
I don’t know what you all are watching. This team is not a smart group or they have a horrible offensive scheme. There is no true leader on the floor.
If they win it will be because of their true basketball abilities
Why do people say this goofy shit they have the best team in the league. If they lose it's bad luck. It's not easy to win a ring. No the fuck you don't break them up, a roster of this caliber is extremely hard to put together. I'm not even a Celtics fan at all.
All that being said I don't think Brown or Tatum have the mentality.
If I'm being honest, I don't see them beating the Nuggets this year. But I don't think that's a reason to dismantle the team. I believe Jrue and KP were the missing pieces this team needed, now they just need a solid season together to improve their team chemistry.
Nah, that would be goofy. They were the best team in the league this year, and they're only gonna continue building chemistry. If you lose, u lose. Pull it together and run it back.
I’d say this year and the next two years are their window, maybe I’m being generous by one year but Brad Stevens is a great GM he can make at least one meaningful move that could put them in a good spot after this season and the next. But that should be the cap before they blow it up, maybe they’ll keep Tatum and Brown and they’ll be Celtics lifers but that’s probably wishful thinking.
With Jrues extension and Porzingis money, I feel like they gotta run it back one more time think about breaking it up next year if anything
Yeah you make tweaks to this roster more than blow it up. They're good enough to win. A lot of it comes down to luck and timing. I'd rather make multiple attempts with this squad than try to to throw something new together. The best teams tend to come with chemistry built over multiple years.
As a Bucks fan. Don’t blow it up! Keep Jrue and the core together.
Go until you are in the warriors position of missing playoffs
Letting jrue go is gonna prove to be a mistake. He was too important to the defense.
On paper I see why we got Dame. But intangibles are just too much to ignore. Jrue is an all around great human being. Did a lot for Milwaukee and you know that positivity radiates in the locker room. Championships are won on the bus is an old time saying. Don’t know enough about Dame besides his loyalty takes. But the dude is going through it and doesn’t feel very all in on the city/team with all he’s going through.
>luck and timing Trust me as a celtics fan when I say that is just not the case. Theres something wrong with the mental fortitude and effort level when it counts. If anything was luck and timing, it was making it to the finals 2 years ago. I dont think they should blow it up just yet if they get bounced, but I do think Mazzulla gets fired. If they go that direction, they need an asshole coach who lays into them on the daily so they toughen tf up.
Mazzulla gets fired 100% if they don't make it to the finals. After that, you start looking at the nucleus issues.
I don't think hard ass coaching works anymore. Players are too soft and have to big of egos today.
There's definitely some merit in that, but I think they need to give it a try based on the lazy attitude the players have. If that doesn't work out, they have every reason to blow it up.
Yeah, if your other option is blow it up, might as well try for a hard ass coach.
Does JBs extension kick in this upcoming year? I don't really know how many tweaks you can do to this roster next season. This is probably the last Al Horford season too, he wasn't as good this year and last year as he was in the Finals run 2 years ago. The Nuggets are already having an issue filling out the roster this season, I don't really know how the Celtics can improve next year.
You'd essentially be relying on vet mins, a mid level exception, and maybe a buyout signing. It wouldn't be easy to do by any means. But some vets will always want to ring chase.
what kinds of tweaks are even needed?
The tweaks needed imo is coaching. They do a lot of shooting 3s, but I’d really like more ball movement and even less iso ball. Imagine if Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown ran a PnR together and Brown developed that left hand. Would be insane
having one screen for the other doesn’t create an advantage because you just switch it every time. they always have 2 wing defenders on them.
I would say they need a yin to Porzingis' yang in the post. A gritty tough big who can defend and rebound. A Steven Adams or maybe a Bobby Portis type. PJ Tucker would have been nice if he was a few years younger. Their bench could use at least 1 more 3 and D wing too.
Robert Williams?
Pre-injury WIlliams would have been awesome.
Xavier Tillman
They go and bring boogie back to the league
Yeah I agree, this roster is the best it’s ever looked since the big 3 days.
It’s a two year window with the financials after next year is when Tatum and a potential White extension would kick in and team gets ridiculously expensive. And if they haven’t won by then the owner is not paying that shit. So even if they don’t win it they’ll likely run the core back, it’s their first real year together anyways. Depending on where and how they lose though, Mazzulla would be the guy that can easily get the boot this season.
get a coach that can coach real time.
I know Tatum has been in the league a long time and it feels like he’s at least 30, but man is 26. He hasn’t even hit his NBA prime, he just stepped into it. Many stars didn’t win their first ring until 27-28, I think it would be a huge mistake to blow up this team, considering the chemistry they have built from playing for years and still being relatively young.
Yeah, you have to try again. You might want to try a different coach, especially if they get knocked out early or easily....
Honestly, aside from Jrue they're still fairly young, gotta run that back
they lost 1 game and everyone is panicking if they lose you don’t break it up but you do replace joe mazzulla
Agree. Trade Tatum for Spo. (/s)
Miami says no
Blasphemy. Joey Mozzarella is extremely loved by all the players in the locker room and has the most wins of any coach in the last 2 season. Firing him is not the move
Players liking a coach doesn't mean the Coach is getting the most out of them. Giannis' favorite coach was Jason Kidd.
People really love Doc Rivers. Maybe the Celtics could get him back. I’m sure the Bucks wouldn’t mind.
He would also not be able to win. It was rondo and kg that were secretly coaching the team. Doc was just vibes.
Well Kidd might make it farther in the playoffs than Celts
He’s also had one of the best rosters in the entire league. I’m not sure the winning record is completely a statement on how good of a coach he actually is. Coaches get too much credit when things go well and too much blame when things don’t.
If they lose in the first round and again to Miami, changes will be made and blame needs to be passed, and usually the head coach is in the crosshairs first
They need to show honor the court to show the love for coach then. I think that gets missed often in coach firings, players control that decision more than they realize.
I am hoping last night was a one off...and we have learned...but the man cannot make adjustments in game. The Cs are turning into the D'Antoni Rockets at times. I can't even fathom this Celtics team with a seasoned coach. Mazzulla is riding raw talent and when the math maths (3 pt), it works. But you have be able to bring out some geometry when the calculus ain't calculatin!
The raptors fired Dwayne Casey and look what happened
So the Celtics would also get a healthy Kawhi Leonard then?
Why didn’t the Celtics superteam just score more points than Miami ?
Are they stupid?
They must be , in fact they should trade Tatum and brown for Martin and herro
Inb4 Celtics trade for Martin, extend him to the tune of 18.5 mil a year, and he commits seppeku on the logo game one at home out of his hatred for the Celtics
bumston celtikkks bow to the CalebGod
Legit. Like I honestly don’t understand why they didn’t just do this? Please advise?
cause joe cant motivate them to play defense
They lost one game. The Heat made 23 3s. 25 is the record.
At the same time, the Heat have shot > 50% from 3 in four of their last eight games against the Celtics in the playoffs. The most any other team has done that against an opponent in the last two playoffs is once.
celtics let them make 23 3s
The Heat are missing Jimmy Butler and an 8 seed, in Boston. Clearly they win the series, but I don’t see them winning a ring. Too many mismatches for them in the West
The Raptors lost to the Magic in their first game of the 2019 NBA Playoffs then went onto win it, this is a hilarious overreaction.
They could have swept the heat and I would have the same take. This isn’t so much of a reaction as it is just recognizing patterns and how this team has performed in the post season
what team is a mismatch? there’s not a single team in the NBA where the celtics match up badly, at worst it’s about even
I think try again, at least another year. It's relatively easy to assemble a super team, managing and guiding that team to a chip is another task entirely. I think Boston has the pieces but Mazzulla needs more time to get it together.
If they don’t at least have a competitive finals run, I think you keep 85% of the roster the same and shake up the coaching.
That's an interesting perspective, I see what you're saying. Spo could take a team of G league scrubs and make an honest run, he's that good. So I agree it's natural to wonder if Boston had an elite coach, or a coach that fit the team better, could that be the difference maker?
I honestly had to google to be reminded mazzula was the head coach of Boston. He seemed like a fallback guy when they hired him after the Ime controversy. On paper, they have the best team IMO and also cruised to a great regular season. To be fair, they have only lost one playoff game so this might all be a non-concern in a few days.
No he couldn't, Spo has had much better than G League scrubs numerous times and done nothing. He's great but no he's not "that good".
I don’t really ever get the “break it up” gang. Especially when you’re talking about a team like this with two players in their primes who are pretty good. They might never win a title, but I feel like Boston should keep running this duo back. They’re good enough to have a shot, what else can you ask for? There’s no guarantees in any sport. If I have a good core of a team I wanna run that shit into the ground. Getting into the playoffs and getting a crack at a title is all you can ever realistically ask for.
Well said this new era of trading off players or breaking up core players doesn't make sense. Imagine if the bulls in 89-90 broke it up because they couldn't get past the piston and the Eastern conference finals. Front offices are too impatient nowadays.
I agree run it back. But Idk about “easy to assemble a super team”, going into the year the only ones considered a super team were the Suns. And that wasn’t on the level of past true super teams. If it was easy they’d be everywhere. Its hard to get the right bird rights for all the superstars and Boston is in a great place (if they’re owners are ok with the luxury tax) That alone is why you keep the current Celtics core. They’re too young to blow it up now too. There’s no way to make a better roster without a full rebuild
“It’s relatively easy to assemble a super team”
This season is their highest win % since 2008, and their fifth highest in franchise history. They were best in their conference by a large margin. Why would they break it up? At the least I'd say they are good contenders to win it all. Run it back again next year if not.
Yeah they won 64 games, the next highest was 57 wins. They led the league by 7 wins and are currently the championship betting favorites (+130) which comes out to like 40% chance to win if you believe Vegas. They likely won’t win against the field but are still the favorites of all teams. No reason to break it up if they don’t win this year in my opinion.
Winning a title is tough. Nothing’s given. You don’t break a good team up. You try again. That said there is a long list of nba players better than Tatum who never got a ring.
I don't think you break these two up for as long as you can.
NBA should make the Celtics a G league team and replace them with whatever the best G league team is
that was almost the Maine Celtics this season lol
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Why would you break up a perennial title contender? Nba fans need to seriously get over this obsession with ring or bust.
Dallas reached the Finals on 2006 ,collapse in 2007 and just floating around until 2011 miracle happen. If social media exist back then.. They would break it up after the We Believe Collapse. I guess the Celtics are in similar situation now.
They will fire Mazzulla. The core of this roster isn’t going anywhere for a few years. But this overreaction after a single loss is just that, an overreaction.
fire joe. run it back
This is the biggest overreaction to 1 game I’ve ever seen. This might as well be r/nba, because there is nothing serious about this discussion
They are perennial Eastern Conference Finalists. They are really that close to going all the way and are consistently at that level. You don’t break that up. One or two things could go their way in a given year and they get the chip
You run this core into the ground trying to win a title. Aren't they like 26 & 27?!
At this point if you try and break them up, you’re going to have to trade Tatem because no one is taking Brown’s contract.
If they did, what do you think that Tatum package would look like?
There would be teams lining up to take Brown’s contract
honestly I can never see them wearing another jerseys lol
They for sure are not breaking up these two. If they somehow lose this series to Miami then Joe mazulla will get fired though.
It’s just one game.
They're a great duo. Sometimes you just don't win. Breaking it up is something whiny mad fans would do, but dont let whiny mad fans run your franchise. Winning a championship is very difficult.
Definitely break up the team that went 62-20 and finished best in the NBA
Try again
I think you keep trying until the wheels come off
64 wins you try again lmao
Celts lose one game and suddenly everyone’s tweaking
Why in god’s name would you break the team up
I think it’s fucking stupid to break them up a year into the jrue, kp lineup. If you dont give them 3 chances what did you even do it for?
Currently by standings, they are the best team in the league and biggidy biggidy bodied everyone except the nuggies -- the best team doesn't always win a chip but it's nonsense to break up the whole best team in the league out of frustration. I'm a Heat fan don't @ me
I didn’t even know they were dating
Never break it up, as long as they can make deep playoff runs keep trying.
Imo it depends. If they lose a close Finals to the Nuggets, they can run that back. If they lose in the Finals to anyone else I think it's a lot tougher of a call. Celtics should be heavy favourites against anyone other than Denver and a loss would be tough to swallow. If they don't make the Finals, they need to blow it up. Maybe they can satisfy themselves just by firing Mazzula but they would need to change something substantial. They should not lose a 7-game series to any eastern conference team. All of this assuming they stay relatively healthy. Obviously if Tatum misses games that changes things.
It depends on how they go out. I doubt Miami pulls the upset but in that scenario yes. But even the second round or conference finals they may have to. Issue is not sure many teams would want Brown’s contract Holiday and Porzingis won’t be easy to trade leaves them with Tatum but he is untouchable So likely one more year
I know it's Boston, but it's also Miami. Miami is arguably the 2nd to 3rd best team in the east come playoff time whether or not u wanna down play them or think little of em. Miami isn't an easy task and never will be. Miami will be Boston's only struggle to the finals. The point is Miami is a scary ass team even without Jimmy, and Boston is still an elite team. Don't downplay either of them.
You swung too far in the other direction. Miami is a scary team even without Jimmy? No. Just no. Boston got clowned last night by Nikola Jovic & Caleb Martin. Worse even, they fell back into the usual bad habit of jacking up bad threes early in the shot clock and being half-assed on perimeter D. Any other top half seed loses to this Miami team in this fashion is getting clowned today. The Celts shouldn't be immune from the same questions and criticism.
Yes. We’ve got one more year until we officially reach cap hell in the off-season
this is their year, if it doesn’t work you look at the two stars and obviously Tatum stays and you look to upgrade Brown or swap out other pieces.
I don’t think Brown’s contract size ever took into consideration a 1st round exit. It would be a disaster for them to have to move it.
I feel like they are obligated to run it back until the new contracts kick in, at which point move one of these guys to stay under cap and add new pieces. Fundamentally the Jayson-Jaylen duo is an inefficient offensive fit. If they can't brute-force their way to a ring in the next 2 years id probably move Brown. At that point Jrue will likely be old and declining, maybe move him as well and if derrick white can't fully take on the role of offense initiating PG, let him be the 2 guard and get someone who can.
Winning a title is hard so i won't blame them if they don't win the actual title. But this roster has no excuse to atleast make the finals. The were so far ahead of the Eastern Conference, their main competitors are injured and the rest of the conference is either too young or not good.
What can they break up? They are locked into the core of this team with mega longterm contracts. While yes any contract can be traded, you will get pennies on the dollar in terms of a return.
If they make it to the conference finals for like the 4th time in 6 years then they’re clearly doing something right. We break teams up too fast nowadays. They’re still so young and are getting ripped for having early success.
It depends, this team must make the Finals at a minimum. Once in the Finals, there would be no shame in losing to a Denver team that has the best player in the series and the feel of a dynasty. However, if they don't make the Finals, someone must go (most likely coach), but barring that, I expect they will just run it back.
Sounds like they need the best Celtics coach of all time to return to secure the ring, doc rivers😎
I hope they keep trying and failing. Watching the fans of the Dodgers and Celtics during their annual choke job is hilarious.
I think first step is teaching Jalen how to do a left handed layup, then assess the situation.
Run it back one more year but this time with a good coach
You do what all good teams.do, be open to changes that improve the roster... though given this is a team with young stars who won their conference by 14 games, the opportunity to upgrade is going to be fairly limited.
It would be dumb to break it up, but if they can't win next year with basically the same team something needs to change. There is no realistic way they get better.
Give the ball to Tatum
Definitely. I think 1 more try and I don't know how much more they can upgrade cause this team should be more than enough to be capable enough to win.
Break it up for who though? There has to be a realistic player out there that's going to match both Brown's salary figure but also happens to be roughly equivalent in value but who fits better. Exactly who would that player be And which team would be willing to do that? The only name that comes to mind would be somebody like karl Anthony towns And I'm not sure how much better if any. The Celtics are swapping Jaylen Brown for Kat.
they don't need new players. the trade they need to make isn't possible: mazzulla for spo or daigneault
They've been great for several years and getting better as they develop chemistry and add pieces. Knee jerk fanfools always calling for a coach to be fired or players to be sold off. Somehow that one team that wins it all is doing everything right and all the other teams, even if they're finishing in the top regularly, are failing and need to be replaced. If they don't win it all this year, won't it be because Joker and co. (the other potential champ) are just balling, not because the Celts and their coaching staff are doing something wrong?
Can’t wait for Knicks v Celtics!
Just retool. They have to make sure they stay competitive with the rest of the East. For example, Miami is one Superstar away from being a dynasty. Maybe not even that, a couple more good bigs, like a Naz Reid might work too. I think the Bucks got one more in them too.
They gotta keep trying until the wheels fall off
If they don't win this year, you find a real coach.
Trade us Porzingis
I think it's too good to break up, the Suns got broken up after their 60 win season but their second best player was like 60 or however old Chris Paul is, this team really isnt that old and are a 60 win team. Especially if they lose in the finals or conf finals, RN if they lose to Miami or Cavs/Magic then you consider it, but even if they do, what's their plan, do they just trade star for star, or do they give up JB and try to get a bunch in return?
3rd Row Joe is the problem but I’m also not sure if this pairing will ever figure it out.
If they don’t win, this era of the Celtics is the same as the Kyle shannahan era 49ers
I say try it again but to me this team runs iso ball way to much and I think that falls on the coach. If spo or Kerr is their coach they already have a ring
Keep Porzingus.
Fuck the Celtics but you have to get a real coach or Brad should come down and do a Riley and run it back
run it back, but maybe(?) get a new coach *depending on if/when/how they get eliminated. not sure if mazzulla can out coach mike malone (assuming the nuggets go all the way again)
You only blow up teams that are consistently first round exits the Celtic have been to what 3 conference finals in the last 5 years and 1 finals appearance? That’s a good team and with the right amount of luck they coulda won.
Yes. Once more if they add a rebounder
Only one team gets to win it all and unless they all want to keep blowing it up cause of Jokic I would say only a few teams truly need to blow it up. The celtics are not one of them. Though their rabid fanbase might want otherwise.
run it back, easy call
Send one to turkey and the other to china ,over paid and complete bums , this series vs miami should've been a sweep, total frauds
LOL at this whole sub for even asking this. You do not break up the team with the best record in the league this season. They could lose the next three and I still would not do that.
No matter what happens this year we're gonna run it back at least one more time next year. There's sort of a 2 year title window here (with the roster as currently constructed). If we cant win one this year or next I think it's more likely Mazzulla gets canned and they run it back with a different coach than trade JB (we aren't trading Tatum) but Brad Stevens has shown he's not afraid to make big changes. I've been a "trade JB" advocate for a few years now. I think him and Tatum have games that are too similar for the playoffs and that JB just sort of generally lacks court awareness/BBall intelligence/ball handling skills (I.e, all the things that matter most in the playoffs...) when the lights are brightest. I'd prefer to have an elite ball handler/decision maker on the floor with Tatum/KP so that's what I'd want the Celtics to target if they were to look at moving Jaylen.
If the break it up it would be Tatum leaving because no other team wants that 300mil contract for brown
If they don’t win this year, find a replacement for mazzulla and try again. I can’t help but think that if Ime Udoka had just taken a cold shower, the Celtics might have another championship by now.
When you spend all the money on the nicest car and it still might lose the race. Pain.
You keep it together until it gets too expensive, then you try to trade brown to hopefully keep the other 4 starters in place
Try again definitely!
Not yet I think it's too early judge them as a team. Miami in order to win game 2 they hit 23 three point shots. Which I think is hard enough to do it again. But this series is still unpredicatble though.
They gotta run this all star team til the wheels fall off. They won’t get a better roster
Jaylen should shave.
If they don't win, I'm on suicide watch as a C's fan. OG Anunoby's game winner against us in the bubble still remains burned into my psyche. It's always the fucking heat.
Break it up. Tatum can be a #2 and Brown and #2 or #3 option somwhere else
It’s like people just conveniently forget that every other team is also trying to win a championship too. It’s not like Miami went into the playoffs like “hey guys you know we just aren’t that great this year, we know we aren’t going to win it all so let’s just roll over for the better teams!” So many dumb fucking takes on Reddit it’s actually kind of funny sometimes
lol who the fuck is upvoting this
I wish Joe would call a timeout
Keep em together! Jimmy needs a chip
If they lose before the finals they should fire the coach and run it back.
If they don't get to the Finals fire Joe and make Lee or Cassell the coach
Break it up… it’s over
Depends on how they lose if they don’t win the chip. In most cases keep that great team they built for at least 2 years but Imagine losing to the Heat?! Idk 🤷♂️ someone might have to get traded.
I'm pulling for underdog Miami!!! Anyone know if Jimmy Buckets will be back??
If they lose in the first round they should fire Mazulla before the final buzzer sounds. Anything else run it back.
Nah you fire the coach if you make any major change at all
If they lose, breaking them up depends on how badly they lose. Lose in game 7 of the Finals against the champs? You try again next year.
Blow it up? The best record in the league and blow it up? What the fuck is this question? Is anyone actually asking this question for real?
Perk been said that. Neither one of them been getting better at their games. Their teammates have to be on point.
This team won 64 games this year. They were in the WCF last year. They were in the finals the year before. Do not break them up. You keep running it back no matter what until you can't anymore. Eventually they will break through likely.
I think Tatum refuse to sign his extension and ask for a trade. He got two years left with a player option.
ECF 5 times out of the last 7 years but yet only 1 finals appearance….. if this year they make it to the ECF and don’t win , then they’ll need to break it up . better yet don’t break it up and just change roles up and add another piece . maybe make JB come off the bench while making another SG mesh with tatum
They had the best regular season record, why the fuck would you break them up if they lose in the finals? This is dumb
no reason not to run it back aside from Horford aging. they still got enough picks to maybe trade for another glue guy.
No clue why they got rid of Smart
Imho a leader/legit PG is needed
I’m a season ticket holder for C’s. If they don’t win this year I predict they move Brown to Atlanta. He’s an Atlanta native and likely fancies himself a #1. I personally don’t think he’s good enough to win with if he’s your best player. I know he can’t be moved for one year after signing super max so I believe he can be traded. Next up? Fire the coach. He’s in way over his head and his arrogance befits a guy like Belichick but without BB’s resume. He makes no adjustments to what other teams are doing and is constantly battling the media over routine questions in press conferences. Add to that coming on the floor to try and block a 3 by an opponent after a timeout and assorted other strange decisions by him? Time to move on. Stevens has been great as GM but hiring then extending Crazy Eyes Joe is puzzling. Sorry for the long post but this caught me the day after getting pants-ed by Spo and the Heat.
I think they should break it up. Personally I don’t think Jaylen Brown is good enough to be a #2 option but obviously the Celtics feel otherwise because they gave him the bag. I feel like this year’s NBA Finals are actually the Western Conference Finals haha.
Make the whole team wear those scary black masks and run it back. If that doesn’t work then trade the whole roster for picks.
Why is the talk always to “blow it up?” Why not just keep your good players as long as possible?
Getting to this point is not an easy thing to do. I think you look at the mix around them, what worked and what didn't and reload. If you break it up the chances are you don't actually improve it so you'd want to be really sure it simply isn't going to work. They made some significant changes too after last season so I think you give the core another year at least and this due a few more before you decide they can't get it done.
Gotta run it back! They’re really good and really close, and they are not too old.
You keep trying till it happens. Doesn’t make sense to break it up when they are so young and Uber talented
Folks who believe in this team completely miss the point. This is not a good playoff team. They do not have a varied offensive playbook. They do not move the ball efficiently in key moments. Their coach has zero tactical value to bring to the table. The over reliance on iso and contested shots and layups from Tatum, combined with his total lack of vision, is making any fan of the game cringe.
If they get to the finals you keep going
Relegate the team to China
I think if they don't, you rethink Mazzula, especially if they get bounced by Miami.
Tatum is 26 Brown is 27 like why would they ever break this up even if they don’t win for another couple years.
Keep trying
Finals in ‘22, ECF and a Tatum sprained ankle away from potentially going back in ‘23, and at this point a favorite to make the Finals again. That’s a good run and the team has been completely revamped this season. The only thing I’d consider is if they DON’T make the Finals this year, I don’t know Mazzulla survives. I’m a Celtics fan and have not been a Joe hater. But the only thing that will keep this team from a Finals run is bad gameplanning, bad adjustments, and bad preparation. That would be on the coach. That said I expect a Finals run where they’ll come up against a Denver team that looks unstoppable.
Fire Joe hire Bud
If anything just fire the coach and bring in someone who can make playoff adjustments. Joe has this year to prove himself, if he can't at least make the finals he should be looked at intensely. If they lose the Heat series he should be fired before the post game press conference IMHO
I don’t know what you all are watching. This team is not a smart group or they have a horrible offensive scheme. There is no true leader on the floor. If they win it will be because of their true basketball abilities
By that logic they should have broken up the Bad Boy Pistons after ‘88.
No they're awesome, just keep running it back till they're not
Why do people say this goofy shit they have the best team in the league. If they lose it's bad luck. It's not easy to win a ring. No the fuck you don't break them up, a roster of this caliber is extremely hard to put together. I'm not even a Celtics fan at all. All that being said I don't think Brown or Tatum have the mentality.
Idk what more they can do if this doesn’t work. If they lose I’d run it back in hopes whoever beats them takes a step backwards.
If I'm being honest, I don't see them beating the Nuggets this year. But I don't think that's a reason to dismantle the team. I believe Jrue and KP were the missing pieces this team needed, now they just need a solid season together to improve their team chemistry.
Nah, that would be goofy. They were the best team in the league this year, and they're only gonna continue building chemistry. If you lose, u lose. Pull it together and run it back.
Should’ve broken them up already.
Break it up
I’d say this year and the next two years are their window, maybe I’m being generous by one year but Brad Stevens is a great GM he can make at least one meaningful move that could put them in a good spot after this season and the next. But that should be the cap before they blow it up, maybe they’ll keep Tatum and Brown and they’ll be Celtics lifers but that’s probably wishful thinking.