Team improvements to watch for – Staff Roundtable

The Celtics sit atop the standings on the All Star Break. So what do they should do between now and the playoffs? I requested the employees for what they need to the crew as a complete to work on.

Ben Dupont

Boston has to get extra constant on the offensive finish. A few of their latest no-shows could be chalked as much as taking pictures luck, however there doesn’t appear to be a sport plan when photographs aren’t falling. If this crew goes to the decide and roll extra usually and is a bit more artistic in getting Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis the ball within the publish, nobody will have the ability to cease them. Making an attempt on protection and boxing out could be good too, however I assume that the gamers will try this higher within the playoffs.

Trevor Hass

The Celtics have appeared nice defensively at instances and common at others. Now’s the time to evolve from an excellent defensive crew to a really nice one. They’ve the personnel to take action, and their progress in that space could possibly be the distinction ultimately.

Tim Sheils

Offensive consistency is my greatest concern for the Celtics, particularly in late-game conditions. Whereas Boston has touted among the finest offenses within the league this season, they’ve nonetheless had moments of stalling, whether or not it’s the threes not dropping or the ball not shifting sufficient. There’s little doubt that they’ve received the firepower, nevertheless it’d be higher to see the crew react higher in these varieties of conditions. If meaning cranking up the defensive depth to create offense, or attacking the paint, no matter it must be.

Sam LaFrance

Going to tail Trevor on this one. It feels just like the Celtics may actually enhance on the defensive aspect of the ball, to me. Positive, you may level at it being the slog of the common season and all, however there have been a handful of video games recently which have simply left me scratching my head (even once they win). Rather a lot has been manufactured from the Cs hanging outrageous quantities of factors on their opponents by halftime. The difficulty is that, usually instances, regardless of scoring ~70 factors earlier than the break, they’re nonetheless solely up single digits.

As I’m scripting this (Wednesday earlier than the second Nets sport), they’re coming off of two strong defensive outings. The win in Miami actually impressed me as a result of they received that sport BECAUSE of their protection. They couldn’t purchase a basket within the closing minutes, but remained centered and out labored the fellas within the “Warmth Tradition” unis. Tuesday’s win at Barclays was the perfect first half. They scored 72 factors AND constructed themselves a lead by doing it.

So, possibly I actually simply need to see good protection similtaneously good offense?

Mike Dynon

Everybody is aware of the Celtics want to shut video games higher. By means of their first 54 video games, they had been 22-4 in video games determined by 10 or extra factors, however simply 4-4 in video games determined by 3 or fewer factors. Additionally, the crew plus/minus within the first 24 minutes per sport was +6.8 factors; within the second 24 minutes it dropped to +2.6. Letting leads slip just isn’t one thing to toy with within the postseason. However with all that mentioned, an important issue is well being. With a snug lead within the standings over each East and West, I hope to see Tatum, White, Brown and Vacation get a small discount in minutes and even an evening off often.

Adam Taylor

Protection: Staying locked in. Generally, we see this crew rotating with goal and enjoying with real physicality. Different instances, it looks like they’re mailing it in on that aspect of the ball at instances.

Mazzulla is making an attempt so as to add a number of totally different coverages. There’s lots to study and lots to recollect. Nonetheless, having totally different methods and “seems to be” might be essential throughout the post-season. Specializing in getting the protection proper, and elevating it to a different stage is the most important improve this crew could make within the closing months of the common season.

Jack Simone

Simply focus. When this Celtics crew is locked in on each ends, they’re the perfect crew within the NBA. Interval. The one factor that will get of their manner are spurts of slippage the place they permit straightforward baskets, quit transition alternatives, or fail to execute their offensive gameplan to the perfect of their potential. All season lengthy, the Celtics have preached a day-to-day mindset, so it appears probably the main focus will enhance within the postseason. However we have to see it.