What a disappointing end for the Celtics. I’m no basketball expert, but it does seem that their biggest problem is they’re a finesse team built for the regular season, and when the playoffs roll around they get out-muscled.
They need to build a team that’s much more physical, able to rebound in traffic and force the other team to pay a higher price when they drive to the basket. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are plenty physical enough, but the rest of them aren’t.
By most accounts, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday won’t be back. It would be good if they could be replaced with bigger, stronger players, even if they’re not as talented. That said, they’re not going anywhere without Tatum next year, so Brad Stevens will probably sit back for a year and reassess. The owners are going to want to save money on a team that can’t compete for a championship.
Although I didn’t hear too much talk that the Celtics play better without Tatum, I did hear a little of it. If you were among them, what do you think now? He makes everyone better, and even when his shot isn’t falling he’s a rebounding and assists machine.
Should Joe Mazzulla stay? I’m guessing yes. I trust Brad to make the right call, but it seems significant that we haven’t heard one word of criticism about him from the players. Of course, we’d all like to see him develop a Plan B for when the threes aren’t falling, but that brings me back to their lack of physicality.
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