![]() This is what a rebuild feels like, trading your best players away and trying to get the best package of picks/young players/tradable veterans back you can. Whether or not this version of the Celtics can take that final step remains to be seen, but a change was needed. The Celtics needed to be different because what they had may have gotten them to the Eastern Conference Finals (or further) four of the last six years, but they always fell just short. Can Jayson Tatum? Is it a collective thing?īoston is going to be different. It’s a chance to get back to playing the two-big lineups that Ice Udoka leaned into for defense - and doing so without sacrificing floor spacing on offense - but this team isn’t switchable the same way.Īlso, who steps up to be the emotional leader in the absence of Smart? Jaylen Brown (who is about to get PAID) could do it. The last few years in Boston were defined by a switchable defense, and while they played more drop coverage last season than ever before, they will break that record this season. More than the durability question, Smart out and Porzingis in changes the character of how this team plays. The Celtics need him on the court, too, and the Clippers were not willing to bet that would happen. Can KP stay on the floor?Īlong those same lines, without Smart the Celtics are leaning more into Brogdon, who played 67 games last season in winning Sixth Man of the Year, but he hadn’t played that many games since his rookie season. But those 65 games were the most he has played in a season since his second year in the league in 2016-17. So they answer those questions with Porzingis? The Porzingis from last season who played 65 games and averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a night playing at an All-Star level on both ends of the court, absolutely helps this team. They are understandably worried about the knees and durability of Robert Williams III. Boston is understandably concerned about the durability of 37-year-old Al Horford about to enter his 17th NBA season. This particular trade comes with risks and with potential. Boston did on paper what it wanted to do this offseason, thinning out the too-deep guard ranks while getting bigger and deeper on the front line. It’s also because these Celtics will be quite different from the ones we saw last season. ![]() They are trying to move up in Thursday’s draft and there will be other trades and signings to round out the role players on this roster. That’s because, first, the Celtics are not done yet. If you ask the Magic 8 Ball if the Celtics are winners or losers in this trade, it would respond “Ask again later.” Saying Celtics fans are losers in this may be a bit strong of a phrasing (it is a winners and losers column, that’s a rather binary choice) but there should be a little sadness with this deal. Losing Smart stings - even if you loved the trade for the Celtics, and there are reasons to love the potential this trade brings. Smart, for all his flaws, was loved by Celtics fans because he left his heart on the floor when he played. Whatever comes next in Boston, for better or worse, will be different. That may not be a bad thing, this Celtics team just kept coming up a little bit short - against the Heat this season in the Eastern Conference Finals, against the Warriors in the Finals the season before - but this was a good team and Smart was the emotional leader. This feels like a change of eras in Boston. So they did.Īlso, Smart helps in the 25 games to start the season while Ja Morant is serving his suspension. He was about to get too expensive and Memphis was going to have to trade him. While it stings to lose a quality backup point guard in Tyus Jones, he will make $14 million this season and then be an unrestricted free agent that will be hunted by teams looking for a starting one. Someone who will call out anyone, including the biggest star on the team, if they are a distraction or not pulling their weight. Someone intense and who will talk smack but does not lose focus. That’s as good a start to an elite defense as a team can have.īeyond that, this Grizzlies team needs maturity and focus, and they just landed a fiery veteran leader who will not put up with crap from an immature team. WINNER: Memphis Grizzliesįirst off, the last two Defensive Players of the Year now play for the Grizzlies, Smart and this year’s Jaren Jackson Jr. Who won and who lost? Let’s break it down.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |