Tag: 2024 nba playoffs

Is the Boston Celtics’ bench good enough for a title run?

Are they good enough to help Boston hang Banner 18, or does the team’s front office still have some work to do?

What can we make of the Boston Celtics’ bench mob as we approach the final week ahead of the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline? Are they good enough to help Boston hang Banner 18, or does the team’s front office still have some work to do?

The so-called “Stay Ready Crew” does just that, but it also does not pack a ton of offensive firepower. But given their defensive capabilities, relatively few turnovers, and energy level, do they need to? Who is safe if there is a trade, and who might be headed to a new ball club? And what are the strengths and weaknesses of the players who are getting some floor time?

To try to find some answers to all the above, the hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast sat down with Boston’s bench beat writer Noa Dalzell, as the Celtics Blog reporter likes to refer to herself.

Check out the clip above to hear what they had to say.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Why the Boston Celtics need to start getting used to a potential playoff rotation

Their top six may be the best in the Association so far this season, but are they confident in seven through nine?

With the 2023-24 NBA season officially at the halfway point for the Boston Celtics, some league analysts are suggesting that the team ought to be tightening its rotation a bit in anticipation of the 2024 postseason. Their top six may be the best in the Association so far this season, but as Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley points out, “they could still have questions about … whether anyone else (on the team) can hang in a playoff rotation.”

“Sam Hauser’s shot is helpful to have, but is there any worry about opponents exposing him on the defensive end?” asks the B/R analyst. “Is Payton Pritchard playable given his lack of size (6-foot-1, 195 lbs) and athletic limitations? Will teams exploit Luke Kornet’s limited mobility away from the basket?”

“Answering these questions will allow the front office to figure out what—if anything—this roster needs,” he continues.

And it is a safe bet that Boston needs a bigger forward by their own admission and could perhaps also use some more depth in the frontcourt as well.

But Buckley is not wrong that the team may want to start shortening their rotation to give run to players like Pritchard and Hauser to see if they don’t need more help for their potential postseason reserve roles.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Could the in-season tournament help the Boston Celtics in the playoffs?

What lessons does the IST provide?

The NBA’s new in-season tournament win was initially uncomfortable for the Boston Celtics’ players given how point differential needs made them play vs. how they believe the game should usually be played, but they have now embraced the experience and hope to replicate their success in other situations, perhaps even the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

With point differential a key factor in the tournament, and it reminded head coach Joe Mazzulla of his father’s experience playing in a similar tournament in Chile where they purposely scored in their own basket to force overtime and win by 6 points. The Celtics players have shown increasing interest in the in-season tournament, and they are more motivated than ever to win it.

In a practice edition of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast, reporter Bobby Manning provides insights into the Celtics’ recent developments with the in-season tournament and more.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Will the Philadelphia 76ers be able to beat the Boston Celtics in a playoff series?

In the playoffs, it’s not about depth but rather about reducing rotations.

Will the Philadelphia 76ers be able to beat the Boston Celtics in a playoff series this coming postseason? Not according to at least one prominent Sixers beat writer. Keith Pompey, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s beat writer for the 76ers, recently discussed why he believes the Sixers won’t beat the Celtics in the 2024 playoffs on the CLNS Media “A-List” podcast.

Pompey argues that the Celtics have the Sixers’ number and that in the playoffs, it’s not about depth but rather about reducing rotations. He also mentions that last year was the Sixers’ best chance to beat the Celtics. Pompey and the pod’s host Sherrod Blakely also discuss the most recent game between the Celtics and the Sixers, with a focus on players like Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey.

To hear their conversation on a potential playoff collision and more, take a look at the clip embedded below.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Could the Boston Celtics still have a playoff-spoiling lack of ball movement?

At least one prominent league analyst is worried they might.

Could the Boston Celtics have a looming ball movement problem lying in wait to sabotage their postseason aspirations? The Athletic’s Zach Harper thinks they might; in a recent NBA power ranking, the Athletic analyst wrote that despite Boston’s impressive play to start the season, “I do have some concerns about the overall structure of their offense, especially late in games.”

“We don’t judge these Celtics by regular-season success,” he added. “They’re measured by whether they compete for (and win) a championship.”

“In the playoffs, I fear we won’t see a ton of ball movement from them unless someone like Jayson Tatum takes over those duties.”

“That can be tough to balance out with such a gifted scorer,” suggested Harper. “Stagnation is often what hurts Boston’s offense in those big moments.”

Will this team still be haunted by one of its most glaring weaknesses when it counts most? While we have seen signs of growth on that front in this iteration, there’s no way to know for sure until that moment arrives.

In the meantime, as the league’s 18th-best team in terms of assists per game, Harper may have a point — but it is certainly an area the Cs can work on while we wait for the NBA’s 2024 postseason to roll around.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Are the Boston Celtics ready to go the distance in the postseason?

Team chemistry and ball movement are two areas the Celtics will need to work on in the season ahead if they want to be championship contenders in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

The Boston Celtics have high expectations for the NBA’s 2023-24 season, and it’s title or bust for them given the blockbuster moves they made in the 2023 offseason. Team chemistry and ball movement are two areas the Celtics will need to work on in the season ahead if they want to be championship contenders in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

There is also concern about the team being top-heavy after those aforementioned blockbuster moves shipped out much of the ball club’s depth and a specific need for improved front-court depth given that aspect of Boston’s rotations are especially vulnerable to players going down injured. The intensity of training camp practices and veteran presences at them, especially with players like Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce around the Celtics, may have been a good boost to kick off the season, but now the hard work remains for the current roster.

The hosts of the “Hoopsology” podcast linked up with guest Sara Jane Gamelli of Ball Is Life fame to talk it over on a recent episode.

Check out the clip above to hear their talk in full.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]