As soon as once more, the mailbag name went out and as soon as once more you guys delivered with the questions. Thanks!!!

SCVCeltics

In all probability a too early for this. Luke vs Queta vs Gabriel nonetheless up within the air. Stevens vs Brisket not settled. Mikhail vs Hauser? Blake?

I can’t inform if the Brisket identify is a typo or an epic nickname concept however I’ll provide the advantage of the doubt and assume the latter.

I’ve mentioned it earlier than however I’ll put it on the market once more. I haven’t seen something within the restricted pattern measurement of preseason to point that anybody has moved up the depth chart forward of men like Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and even Luke Kornet.

Luke is certainly not an ideal reply however I’m undecided that Queta or Gabriel are any higher at this level. I like Svi, notably on offense, however I believe Hauser has confirmed extra dependable on the opposite finish of the court docket up to now.

In brief, there’s not a variety of separation between all the blokes they introduced into camp for a preseason look. Perhaps the crew sees one thing in apply that I’m not seeing and somebody will emerge with a bigger function than anticipated. Or perhaps we’ll see Brad Stevens make a transfer simply earlier than the season (both to select up somebody waived from some other place or perhaps even to make a commerce). In the end although, I’m undecided how a lot any of this can actually matter. These are all substitute degree guys which can be right here for depth and eat up minutes within the common season.

nickagneta

With the crew now having two a lot better scoring choices on the crew as in comparison with final 12 months and Derrick White assuming a bigger function, how a lot factors per recreation scoring sacrifice do you’re feeling Jaylen and Jayson might want to must optimize the offense?

And do you assume a good drop in factors per recreation will drop Jayson out of any probability he had at getting an MVP award?

That’s an fascinating query. I believe the entire crew goes to want to undertake an Ubuntu kind of angle in the direction of sacrifice for the sake of the crew. I believe they’re poised to take action for varied causes. Brown bought paid, Jrue is aware of that sacrifice can result in titles, Porzingis is in the most effective place to win he’s ever been in, and Tatum is aware of his legacy is tied to titles.

In the end Tatum would possibly see his utilization dip a bit and he would possibly focus slightly extra vitality on protection this 12 months and if that prices him MVP votes, I believe he’ll be comfortable with that if the remainder of the crew is purchased in and the outcomes result in breaking by means of to his first title.

wahgwaan

Was the plan at all times to herald one other guard to interchange Good or did Jrue simply fall into their laps?

I believe the reply could be “each.” I wrote again in August that Good was more than likely a casualty of the pondering that “one thing wanted to alter” and it wasn’t going to be the Jays or Joe Mazzulla. There’s loads of hypothesis over how rapidly the crew was capable of pivot from Brogdon to Good in that Porzingis commerce.

Now I don’t assume anybody realistically may have anticipated Jrue Vacation being out there within the final week earlier than coaching camp opened. In order that definitely fell into their laps. In fact it’s price noting that the Celtics definitely put themselves in place to pounce if and when a state of affairs like that popped up.

CelticFanOnly

Is there an opportunity we are able to nonetheless keep below the second apron this 12 months? With all of the comings and goings I’ve misplaced monitor, sooner or later we may however has that ship sailed with the acquisitions?

I’m fairly positive that ship has sailed. They’re above the 2nd apron now. The penalties, nonetheless, don’t begin till subsequent season. In order that they sort of have the remainder of this 12 months to squeeze in any further additions if they’re keen to pay the worth.

(aspect word: I do miss having Keith Smith round to jot down prolonged articles explaining all this. He’s nonetheless round, and you may try all his stuff on Spotrac.)

Frank Malzone

who will likely be within the low publish regularly this 12 months?

Porzingis, most likely. However what about Tatum? Brown? Vacation?

How about all the above? Granted, I don’t assume will probably be an enormous a part of the offensive gameplan, however Mazzulla has talked repeatedly about having a curveball. Groups are going to modify out on our perimeter gamers which may go away some mismatches on the block.

I nonetheless like the thought of Tatum and Porzingis understanding of the mid-post as effectively. They will search for their shot or if the protection collapses they will kick out to shooters or cutters.

mayhem24

It’s no secret that finish of video games, particularly finish of shut video games, was a problem for Boston final 12 months. A lot was made about slowing the sport down and limiting the possessions and that almost all of it was on objective. So my query is what methods can the Celtics enhance their late recreation execution?

I can solely give my very own (theoretically educated) guesses. It could be so simple as trusting within the offense sufficient to run the identical sorts of units as they do the remainder of the sport. If one thing is working to get you a ten level lead, I don’t know why you go away from it within the final 5 minutes.

Nonetheless, if you happen to actually do have to sluggish issues down and grind out the clock, the hope right here is that we have now extra choices past Tatum and Brown taking their man off the dribble. Perhaps which means a pick-n-pop with Tatum and Porzingis. Or perhaps Vacation can begin off with the ball as Brown and Tatum come off screens to get open seems to be. And naturally if all else fails, Vacation and Porzingis are merely higher at creating their very own seems to be than Good, Brogdon, or Grant Williams had been final 12 months.

In brief, there needs to be much less predictability. The crew has extra choices now, so it’s as much as Mazzulla and his workers to place them in good positions and develop good closing habits.

AlohaCeltic

Is it me or are the Celtics focusing much more on bench gamers this preseason than they did in earlier years? Do you assume which means they aren’t involved about acclimating Kristaps and Jrue with the starters?

I don’t assume they’re overly nervous about acclimating Vacation and Porzingis. They’ll have 82 video games to gear up for the playoffs and so they merely have a lot expertise that I’m fairly positive the wins will come even when they aren’t clicking on all cylinders straight away.

With that mentioned, I’ll level out that the preseason schedule was bizarre this 12 months. Their first 3 video games occurred in 4 days, which simply isn’t ultimate for gearing up veterans after an extended summer season. In order that they strategically sat the celebs to provide the subs an extended look.

MidcoastPerson

By way of Minutes Per Sport, the C’s have a transparent Prime 6, possible adopted by Pritchard and Kornet at 7 and eight. Which gamers do you assume will earn spots 9 & 10, and why?

I’d put Hauser forward of Kornet though there’s much less depth on the heart place.

Past that, I believe you can see a variety of Brissett (once we want rebounds) and Svi (once we want extra capturing).

ByllSmoke

Will this crew purchase in to a protection first identification with out Ime on the helm to carry their toes to the hearth?

I believe they’ll, but it surely has to start out on the prime. Mazzulla has to evangelise it, Tatum and Brown have to purchase in, everybody has to play their roles. I’m additionally inspired that they introduced in Charles Lee from the Bucks. I’ve a sense that he and Vacation can introduce a number of wrinkles which have labored for them previously.

I additionally assume the crew wants to combine and match their coverages as a lot as potential. Which may imply utilizing zone on occasion. Perhaps switching up prime however utilizing drop within the paint. I loved seeing the crew check out some full court docket press in a current preseason recreation as effectively. No matter they will do to maintain the opposite crew off stability.

WillisMcGooberstine

Which celtic participant would be the MVP after they win the in-season match?

In previous years that is the place I’d reflexively say Marcus Good. Tatum is just too apparent a solution. I may see Jaylen stepping up and balling out for a number of video games to get MVP honors. Be aware: I don’t even know if there’s an MVP for the in-season tourney or how that might work.

Dubes35

Who’s your third massive? and can this simply be a see the way it goes and deal with it at Commerce Deadline or in buyout or based mostly on who falls off different rosters.

Do we want a 4th guard?

Are Svi and Hauser redundant and is that OK?

Are Stevens and Brissett redundant and is that OK?

I’m good with Kornet for now, however focusing on a giant on the deadline could be good.

I don’t assume we essentially want a 4th guard. Banton is okay for now as effectively.

I’m good with Svi and Hauser since you possibly can’t have an excessive amount of capturing.

I’m good with having extra wing depth as effectively.

In brief, our prime 8-9 will play within the playoffs. The remainder of these guys are simply right here to get us by means of the common season.

ACEarl

Mazzulla usually regarded overmatched within the playoffs final 12 months, however now he has a full teaching workers. What indicators of hope have you ever seen within the preseason to point that Joe has gotten the assistance he wants? It might suck if we bought crushed within the playoff chess match as soon as once more.

Truthfully the largest factor I’ve seen from Mazzulla up to now this 12 months is humility. He appears to actually perceive the place he struggled final 12 months and is aware of what he must work on. That doesn’t imply he isn’t assured in his total philosophy. He’s simply had a summer season to replicate and evaluate notes with Brad Stevens and others on the completely different choices he made.

A first-rate instance is him admitting that he didn’t emphasize protection sufficient final 12 months. To outsiders such as you and me it appeared evident that the protection was slipping (or at the least inconsistent). However he didn’t assume it wanted to be pressured as a result of it ought to have been apparent to everybody to provide full effort on protection on a regular basis. Now he is aware of that it must be preached all through the season.

I do assume voices like Charles Lee and Sam Cassell will assist with that messaging as effectively. They’ve been across the league and have a really feel for what works and when to push sure buttons with gamers (and no two gamers are precisely alike in how they reply to teaching).

HolidayParty23

It’s been enjoyable to look at the competitors between gamers with overlapping positions and potential roles (ie. Hauser and Mykhailiuk, Brissett and Stevens, Queta and Kornet) play out within the preseason. I’d really feel fairly assured giving any of these gamers situational, spot minutes as end-of-bench choices (For that 8-10 bench group, we’re most likely 20-25 mixed minutes behind a “Prime 7” of Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Vacation, White, Horford, and Pritchard). My greatest concern at this level is what occurs to our massive man depth if both or each of the next occur:

1.) Al Horford begins to indicate his age. He ought to have the ability to shoot nook threes till he’s 40, however what makes Al particular is his versatility as a defender and if he loses a step or two on that finish, it is going to have an actual affect on the crew.

2.) Porzingis has regarded terrific in restricted preseason minutes however questions on his sturdiness linger. With the way in which our roster is at present structured, if Porzingis misses prolonged time, you’re placing much more minutes and belief into the arms of Horford, Kornet, Queta, and so on.

Both now or nearer to the commerce deadline, I’d like to see Brad use the Grant Williams TPE to offer slightly extra depth within the occasion both or each of these eventualities play out throughout the season. It’s not a massively inspiring checklist of names the Celtics may go after, however the next gamers match the profile of gamers which can be theoretically attainable and match throughout the TPE. Any takers?

– Andre Drummond

– Jalen Smith

– Goga Bitadze

– Dwight Powell (can’t be traded till Dec. 15)

I agree together with your total premise – if something occurs to one in every of our rotation bigs that’s going to be a state of affairs of concern. The crew has greater than sufficient expertise to outlive a number of video games or perhaps a few weeks by plugging in Kornet or Queta. Longer than that might be a much bigger challenge however then once more that could possibly be mentioned for any crew and their prime rotation gamers.

I’d take into account, nonetheless, that third string facilities or bigs are fairly straightforward to search out available on the market. Starters and rotation bigs are exhausting to search out and paid massive bucks. Backups, not a lot. I believe if a necessity arises, the crew can discover somebody available on the market to sop up some minutes. In fact which means setting your expectations low. Simply discover a man that has one massive league ability (hopefully rebounding and/or protection) and settle for the opposite limitations in his recreation.

chrisinva

How a lot (basketball x’s and o’s… not management) will Good be missed and do you assume the addition of Vacation can exchange him?

For those who take the management and camaraderie off the desk, I’m undecided if there’s something he did that Jrue Vacation can’t do higher. They aren’t the identical gamers however every are recognized for his or her protection and situational offensive contributions. Jrue is a greater shooter and doubtless a greater on-ball defender. Good might need had the sting in assist protection and passing however these aren’t precisely weaknesses in Vacation’s recreation. Good had a knack for stepping up in massive moments with heady “recreation successful performs.” However it’s price remembering that Jrue helped seal a championship with a steal and lengthy distance alley-oop.

I’ll dearly miss Marcus Good the individual and I’ll miss rooting for him on the court docket. I’m simply not nervous in any respect in regards to the on court docket product.

Datahog

What number of video games into the season earlier than the primary sports activities author refers to this 12 months’s Celtics as a “juggernaut?”

Zero, as a result of right here I’m able to name them a juggernaut. I hope I depend as a “sports activities author.”

ezwind

Payton Pritchard is 25 years outdated now and will virtually be thought of a grizzled veteran. In gentle of that, is it time for him to ditch the crew lower and, in that case, what ought to his new hair model be?

Payton can rock no matter hair model he desires so long as he’s bombing away from lengthy vary and enjoying scrappy, in-your-face ball. With all of that mentioned, I’m wondering how he would look if he adopted the Jason Williams cue-ball look. So long as he doesn’t strive bouncing passes off his elbow.

Thanks for the questions everybody! Right here’s to a different preseason within the books. Let’s benefit from the season!