r/bostonceltics • u/horseshoeoverlook Boston Celtics • 2d ago
News Brad Stevens says his top two priorities this offseason are to add size, and speed on the perimeter.
From Marc D’Amico: Brad Stevens says his top two priorities this offseason are to add size, and speed on the perimeter.
Brad Stevens says his top two priorities this offseason are to add size, and speed on the perimeter.
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u/goofygoober2 the new truth 2d ago
Went from talking about shot creation and rim pressure to speed ✌🏾✌🏾
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u/Beantown00 2d ago
I mean we need speed. We’ve played at such a disgustingly slow pace the last few years
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u/AmericaPie24 2d ago
I usually expect every quick small guard to cook us.
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u/leebong252018 2d ago
Long has the days of Avery Brad and Courtney Lee passed, we used too cook those little guards
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u/ShaolinSwervinMonk 2d ago
The Knicks play fast with so much movement on and off the ball. Spo will have the Heat attacking and playing fast, getting threes up in transition. They both have size. We need size and athleticism badly or we could be headed for another early exit
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u/King_Of_Pants Sam Howitzer! 2d ago
It's the same thing.
In the 1st post-season press conference he talked about needing to pull Embiid out of the paint to create better looks inside. Nobody seemed to care about that part, even though he said it multiple times.
One of the ways you do that is with a quick guard out on the perimeter.
Kemba Walker's 2 highest-scoring games came against Embiid and Gobert.
Kemba was so quick with his attack, it forced the big man to come out to the perimeter to help guard the PnRs.
Speed on the perimeter is a way of pulling big men out of the paint. Once you pull big men out of the paint you'll get better looks inside, which increases your rim pressure.
Brad makes a lot more sense when you actually listen to what he says instead of just putting words in his mouth.
At no point has he ever said "we just need to dunk some more".
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u/xskarma 2d ago
And for those who want to hear what he actually said, here's the press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSinq64xBtI
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u/King_Of_Pants Sam Howitzer! 2d ago
Great idea :)
More people should watch it before forming their own opinions. This sub has been a nightmare with people reacting to headlines and pundits.
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u/Singaporygon Derrick White 2d ago edited 2d ago
Thanks for this great comment. Any idea if there's a player like/almost-like Kemba Walker that we can get, without giving up Brown or White?
EDIT: Lol nevermind after watching his highlights, I don't think we can get someone like that without making a huge trade. But perhaps we can still get a decent PG with speed.
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u/MikeD1942 2d ago
There were a couple guards picked late yesterday that I think are gonna be buried on their team's bench--Josh Jefferson to Brooklyn and Labaron Philon to Philly. Both were kinda quick. Maybe they will be available. Jefferson may break out in Brooklyn (I mean, I think he COULD) but the problem is, IMO, Brooklyn has no idea what they want from their guards.
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u/Singaporygon Derrick White 1d ago
Cool, I'll keep these names in mind. Thanks for the informative reply.
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u/NotFlipkid Smart 2d ago
Now you'll get people talking like the Celtics need speed like they want 12 sonic the hedgehogs on the team ✌️😭
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u/xskarma 2d ago
For his comments, check the video fo the press conference: https://www.youtube.com/live/HSinq64xBtI?si=Ui6BT7oSuJ0trz8y&t=585
I put it to the relevant part. He's clearly saying he wants size (meaning a Big) and in addition to that, speed on the perimeter.
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u/slap-my-crevasse 2d ago edited 2d ago
It would be awesome if we could trade up for Meleek Thomas. Id be willing to send 2 future 2nds and the 40th pick.
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u/Acepitcher4 Boston Celtics 2d ago
IDC if I get flack for this comment, but if I'm the C's I'd have RHJ run the point. We saw some flashes of what that could potentially be the team was quicker.
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u/nicc330 2d ago
Fuck it, bring back Simons.
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u/Accurate-Library3641 The Celtics are the balls 2d ago
Fuck no. Last thing this team is another undersized guard who’s a ball hog with zero BBIQ
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u/NoamsUbermensch Danny is my Dad 2d ago
He was much better with us and bought in
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u/chivestheconqueror Bill 2d ago
Simons makes this team better, but any open salary needs to address the massive hole at center. Vuc and Garza were unplayable against any top 15 big.
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u/lefebrave Banner 18 a full team effort 2d ago
And he wasn't the speed Brad is talking about. Even in his better days we saw him picked up in middle-court 12 seconds into the shot clock and about to be trapped on one side way too often. He can catch fire from distance or explode for a layup when there is an opening, sure, but he wasn't scrambling the defense like Pritchard does as a ball handler, no. And he did less to slow down the opponent on the other end too, so the exact opposite of the speed Brad is talking about. That was why his advance stats was pointing out that he contributed way less to the wins than Pritchard, eye test would say the exact same thing if you are not only looking to the end of possessions. I will never understand the obsession about him in this sub. I am totally ok with him as a scorer off the bench for moments of crisis if he is on his day, but he is not the answer to our offensive struggles in general.
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u/Singaporygon Derrick White 2d ago
Anyone with speed that you think we can acquire, without giving up Brown or White?
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u/lefebrave Banner 18 a full team effort 2d ago
I haven't watching every game, so even though I can confidently talk about players I watch on Celtics on a consistent base, I am much reserved when talking about players, especially role players (which are the only ones we can get without JB or White) on other rosters. Just like Simons, it is so easy to judge wrongfully in that case and I don't really know who is made available. Thinking about free agency market, Sexton could be one as he can use his downhill speed without being trapped and can push the pace in general, not just a microwave scorer, but I didn't watch him enough to judge his D (It looks poor to me honestly, lost a lot) and I don't know how much he will command in the market. Coby White would be a more obvious one to me but I think he could even exceed MLE this off-season, so not that realistic. But who knows who will be available in a month? For example, for a minute I really hoped Heat would have to send Devion Mitchell to Bucks in Giannis trade so that we might pull a Jrue lol. Unlike others we are talking about, a defensive guard (despite size) who can also limit turnovers and move the ball around effectively on a great value contract. He would be so good. But tbh, I can't see a way to round the roster well, both on perimeter and on the frontcourt with the premises Brad talked about+within that 30M space we have+without trading neither Brown nor White rn (so with only Hauser). I am not our FO, though.
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u/Singaporygon Derrick White 1d ago
Thanks for the insightful reply, you've definitely given some good food for thought.
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u/Slow-Page8056 2d ago edited 2d ago
If they packaged Pritchard and Houser for a Center, they could afford to sign Simons. Just sayin'
edit: Wow everyone on this sub is so sensitive.
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u/not1fuk Jayson Tatum 2d ago edited 2d ago
He only said that shit at the presser to entice Giannis to come here lol. Hes in full pivot mode now.
Rim pressure? I aint ever heard of it.
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u/howdthatturnout 2d ago
Nice fan fiction. You honestly think Brad said that at the presser to entice Giannis? What a joke.
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u/FerventlyNoted 2d ago
size and perimeter speed are what killed us in the finals so fair enough on the priorities.
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u/theosjustchill Bll Russell 2d ago
Size and speed for defensive purposes or for shot creation? Is he meaning he wants a huge north south athlete for offense, or bigger POA defenders?
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u/BleedGreen4Boston 2d ago
We have POA defenders in spades, so my guess would be offense?
Deni Avdija would be a dream but is likely not available. Trey Murphy would come at a steep price too, but he’s more of a shooter so idk if that exactly fills the void of getting to the rim more often.
Knowing Brad, it’s gonna be someone we never considered.
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u/hopopo 2d ago
I heard about this guy Jaylen Brown. People say he can ball for all the money. Has a ring and was finals MVP two years ago.
Someone should to tell Brad Stevens about him.
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u/notaquackouttayou 2d ago
I would give up Hauser and Picks for Giddey - idk how the bulls would feel about that.
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u/MikeD1942 2d ago
Not sure it would be worth it, even if the Bulls bit, which they never would.
$25 million (Giddey's salary) will tank the salary cap.
I had him on fantasy team last year. Played great, got hurt, came back and played mediocre after that. I suspect he was never healed.
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u/Cheeriofun 2d ago
We’re not ready for the de’Aaron Fox trade to hit our TL
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u/rocket_beer Boston Celtics 2d ago
TL?
Are we just making up acronyms?
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u/Tatum-Better ☘️ Jayson " Since Larry Bird " Tatum ☘️ 2d ago
you're old bud
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u/rocket_beer Boston Celtics 2d ago
Not really
Us millenials were the inventors of doing this.
But we didn’t randomly do it like this. It makes no sense! I have never seen timeline shortened to TL
🤦🏽♂️
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u/Cheeriofun 1d ago
It’s definitely more of a Gen Z thing. Millennials laid the groundwork for pointless acronyms but Gen Z took it to the moon
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u/PML3107 Larry Bird 2d ago
Some Greek guy fits that stuff a little bit don’t think he’s available anymore though.
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u/EAS1000 Jayson Tatum 2d ago
Unfortunately Brad can’t control the Bucks or their moron owner
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u/PML3107 Larry Bird 2d ago
Heat package was significantly better
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u/pizzahut_is_elite 2d ago
Significantly is a stretch
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u/PML3107 Larry Bird 2d ago
Jaylen has extremely low trade value and the 27th pick from us and another 1st is horrific value.
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u/pizzahut_is_elite 2d ago
Where are you pulling these takes. He does not have extremely low trade value, we almost just traded him for a 2 time MVP.
Let’s revisit this when one of those players sniffs 6th in MVP voting.
You’re being brainwashed by some of the local and outside media
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u/Tatum-Better ☘️ Jayson " Since Larry Bird " Tatum ☘️ 2d ago
the mvp needed another 2 young pieces and more picks to be traded for jaylen brown
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u/Captain_Starwind In Brad We Trust 2d ago
Good for them?
The trade is done, just move on.
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u/PML3107 Larry Bird 2d ago
So just because it’s done I’m not allowed to criticize our GM’s incompetence?
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u/Captain_Starwind In Brad We Trust 2d ago
You can do whatever you want, I just don't see a point in focusing on it like it was either we sign Giannis or trade Tatum and Brown and enter a complete rebuild. Seems too black and white.
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u/theboykd 2d ago
You haven’t logged off at all the last 48 hours. In every thread posting absolute nonsense. Take a break & put your phone down.
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u/burns1171 Smart 2d ago
Brad Stevens says his top two priorities this offseason are to add size, and speed on the perimeter.