Uncle Drew Playin With The Nephews By The 7/11: Official 2017-18 Boston Celtics Season Thread

How Far Do The Celtics Go This Season?

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William F. Russell

William F. Russell

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Then there is Al Horford, who is a much different kind of leader. He is not as crazy or outspoken as Smart, but he is doing so many different things for his teammates on and off the court. First of all, he is the main facilitator on this team. Kyrie Irving is the number one offensive option, but Horford instigates the highest functioning offense the Celtics have, and he is exactly who players need to look to when it comes to what needs to be done on the court, on both ends.

On top of that, Horford is even becoming more of a leader off the court. He does not have that emotional impact that Smart does, but he has the respect of everyone in this league, and the support he gives his teammates are vital.

Al Horford is Becoming More of a Leader
 
William F. Russell

William F. Russell

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With so many minutes available on the wing, it was easy for Stevens to find a role for Tatum as a rookie. He has even found immediate playing time for Ojeleye, a 6-foot-7 wing from SMU whom they drafted with the no. 37 overall pick. The situation would have been different if the Celtics had taken a big man or a point guard instead. There would be no place for them in the rotation. Boston has veterans at the 1 and 5 and spends most of the game in three-wing lineups.

With three-wing lineups becoming increasingly popular, the way NBA teams look at the draft needs to change. Under more traditional models of team building, NBA teams needed three point guards, five wings, and five big men on their roster. Big men played at the 4 and 5, wings played at the 2 and 3, and point guards played all of the minutes at the 1. In today’s more fluid era, wings get most of the playing time at the 2, 3, and 4 positions, and there are even situations when they play at the 1 and 5. Logjams at the wing position don’t exist anymore; there will always be a place for them to go. Conversely, unless a point guard or a big man is special, they will spend most of their time on the floor at the 1 or the 5, respectively, which means the competition at those positions will only get more intense.

What Jayson Tatum’s Success Tells Us About the Future of NBA Drafting
 
William F. Russell

William F. Russell

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The Celtics use the length of their wings to make up for the size and rebounding problems, and they have bigs that can switch in any situation. Marcus Smart is the quarterback out there making sure everyone is in the same place, and they have used all these pieces to maintain the best defense in the NBA.

The Celtics always want to have their success as a team, and when they are playing this well, that means that there is no individual performance that can stop them. The Celtics understand that sometimes there will be a player or a matchup that runs wild, and causes a lot of damage. The Celtics are proving that those individual performances are never going to be enough to beat them.

Boston Celtics Proving No Individual Can Stop Them

:NasWinsAgain:
 
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