Good morning, CelticsBlog group!
It’s time for the second installment of CelticsBlog’s Monday Mailbag, a brand new weekly Q&A phase right here on CelticsBlog the place I (CelticsBlog beat author Noa Dalzell) will reply all of your questions.
First, let’s mirror.
The Celtics’ common season has formally come to an in depth — and it was one other historic yr. The Celtics set a brand new document for many threes in a single season in NBA historical past (1,457), and recorded the second-most street wins, ending with a 33-8 away document. Remarkably, hey restricted opponents to 1,451 free throws, the fewest in NBA historical past.
In addition they recorded 61 wins, probably the most wins a group has had in a title protection season for the reason that 2015-2016 Warriors gained 73 video games after profitable the 2015 title.
They weren’t probably the most dominant group within the NBA — the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder secured that honor — however they nonetheless dominated opponents. Per 98.5 Sports activities Hubs’ Sean Grande, the Celtics held extra 30-point leads than 15-point deficits and extra 20-point leads than 8-point deficits. Their 9.11 scoring margin this season was the fifth-best in franchise historical past.
And, none of that is new; it’s been two years for the reason that Celtics have misplaced greater than two consecutive video games.
Nonetheless, none of that may matter if the Celtics don’t win the championship, as they’ve reminded us again and again this yr.
The journey to a nineteenth banner begins on Sunday, when the Celtics will host both the Orlando Magic or Atlanta Hawks within the first spherical of the playoffs. The official first-round opponents can be decided on Tuesday, when the 2 groups sq. off within the No.7 / No. 8 Play-In Event. The winner will earn the appropriate to journey to Boston.
The final week in Celtics basketball
Per week in the past right this moment, the Celtics nonetheless had 4 common season video games left and an open fifteenth roster spot.
Since then, they beat the Knicks in an extra time thriller, due to some clutch-time heroics from Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis, and dropped a Keep Prepared sport to the Magic. Then, they beat the Hornets in back-to-back video games at dwelling to shut the season; the primary victory was spearheaded by the Celtics starters, and the season finale was secured by Payton Pritchard and the bench.
They signed JD Davison to the group’s last roster spot after his three-year tenure as a two-way participant, a second that introduced his mom to tears.
Jaylen Brown obtained some knee injections, as we anticipated. Oh, and Joe Mazzulla urged Al Horford to go watch his Florida Gators win an NCAA title, Torrey Craig confirmed out in entrance of his son,
For now, as we await a first-round opponent, drop your Monday Mailbag questions within the remark part under.
Let’s have a look at some questions and solutions from final week
Q: I wish to increase on my earlier question about JD Davison to particularly ask your opinion/analysis. Based mostly on what you’ve gotten seen of him in Maine, do you suppose he belongs on Boston’s roster? Most of what I learn about G League is second hand (usually out of your articles), so it’s exhausting to guage if his sport will translate. Thanks once more on your distinctive work.
A: I don’t know if Boston is a superb match for JD — I’d relatively see him on a group that has much less guard expertise (Payton Pritchard coming off your bench is an enormous luxurious) the place he can get some precise run. I wouldn’t be shocked if he signed to the fifteenth roster spot for this season, however I’d be fairly shocked if he was again subsequent season. I’ve heard there’s some curiosity in him throughout the league so I believe somebody will at the very least take a flyer on JD subsequent season. Jrue Vacation getting traded this summer season might create some area for an additional backup guard, however proper now, I’d be shocked if he was a Celtic subsequent season.
Q: Talking of HBO exhibits, I’ve been completely having fun with Celtics Metropolis. As a 90’s child, it’s good to be taught and look again on the legacy of the group in relation to the town of Boston itself (an attention-grabbing, new thesis for a doc amongst many docs). Have any of y’all seen the present? And in that case, was there something that caught out to you, moved you, or realized from it that you just didn’t know earlier than?
A: I’ve beloved this documentary. I’m clearly aware of fundamental Celtics historical past, however might positively be extra knowledgeable. So I’ve been having fun with re-living all of it by way of this present. I actually didn’t know the way far more credit score Bob Cousy obtained than Invoice Russell when the 2 performed collectively, rising up (I used to be born in ‘98), Russell was such an even bigger title and the truth that on the time, he was sort of in Cousy’s shadows was fairly gorgeous to look at. From a basketball standpoint, I positively loved that Cousy/Russel episode most, as I actually hadn’t seen a lot movie from that period both.
Drop feedback under!
Be at liberty to ship in questions you’d wish to see requested of the gamers/coaches themselves, questions directed towards me about overlaying the group, or simply questions you’d wish to get my perspective on.
If I missed your query final week, be happy to repost it right this moment, and I’ll be sure to get to it. I’ll see you all within the remark part!
Noa Dalzell
P.S. Considered one of you requested me to put in writing a narrative in regards to the Keep Prepared Celtics and what it’s like to really in that place. I interviewed a bunch of them about uneven enjoying time and staying engaged by way of DNPs, and wrote about it right here.
