Game Day: Celtics (10-2) @ Suns (7-4), Mon 11/18/19

[Indy]

I know Ty Jerome hasn’t played yet but I miss him already.

Tyler johnson should have started who would have given Book better looks and at least another threat out on the floor. And they should have pulled Saric in the 4th for Bridges who would have at least given better D.

Carter was a +15. Tyler Johnson was a -30.

People are going to see what they want to see sometimes.

Carter played with the starters. That +\- is nonsense. He played like hot garbage.

That’s not exclusive to him though. The whole team played awful last night

The starters played with the starters... that is how it works. Only Baynes and Carter had a + in that time.

Sure, the whole team sucked last night, but Carter did what was asked. He didn't turn the ball over, hit the shots he took, and played defense as well as anyone did last night.

[n4th4n]

Devin can't take 13 shots, especially if Rubio's out. He should be taking 20+ as it is, but if Rubio's out we need PointBook and IsoBook.

The Celtics were trapping him and swarming him at every opportunity to take the ball out of his hands. Games like this really show off how limited this roster is when it comes to any sort of offensive creation outside of Booker or Rubio. No one else is really a consistent threat to make anything happen outside of those two. We are going to struggle against teams like the Celtics who can really execute a defensive gameplan like this.

[AmareIsGod]

Tyler johnson should have started who would have given Book better looks and at least another threat out on the floor. And they should have pulled Saric in the 4th for Bridges who would have at least given better D.

Carter was a +15. Tyler Johnson was a -30.

People are going to see what they want to see sometimes.

Carter played with the starters. That +\- is nonsense. He played like hot garbage.

That’s not exclusive to him though. The whole team played awful last night

The starters played with the starters... that is how it works. Only Baynes and Carter had a + in that time.

Sure, the whole team sucked last night, but Carter did what was asked. He didn't turn the ball over, hit the shots he took, and played defense as well as anyone did last night.

Good luck. Sauce hates Carter. You aren't going to walk him off his stance.

[LazarusLong]

Rinse. Spit. Flush.

Let's hope Rubio's back issue was just a random occurrence.

[Cap]

[specialsauce]

Carter was a +15. Tyler Johnson was a -30.

People are going to see what they want to see sometimes.

Carter played with the starters. That +\- is nonsense. He played like hot garbage.

That’s not exclusive to him though. The whole team played awful last night

The starters played with the starters... that is how it works. Only Baynes and Carter had a + in that time.

Sure, the whole team sucked last night, but Carter did what was asked. He didn't turn the ball over, hit the shots he took, and played defense as well as anyone did last night.

Good luck. Sauce hates Carter. You aren't going to walk him off his stance.

You’re really not. Lol.

What was asked of him was to play PG. He did not.

[LazarusLong]

[specialsauce]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/bo ... 80PHO.html

I don’t know how to embed this chart, but click the plus/minus link.

Carters +\- is skewed because he’s the only one of the starters to essentially log zero minutes with the conglomerate of turds that was the bench unit until the very end of the game where he went +7 in garbage time. Every other starter had a + rating to start the first and third quarters, then when the Johnsons and Frank the Tank mixed in it all went to shit.

If you think it went to shit because Carter wasn’t in the game, I’ll just agree to disagree. The bench unit was just abysmal and the starters didn’t do enough to survive that.

[Superbone]

[Superbone]

[O_Gardino]

Devin can't take 13 shots, especially if Rubio's out. He should be taking 20+ as it is, but if Rubio's out we need PointBook and IsoBook.

The Celtics were trapping him and swarming him at every opportunity to take the ball out of his hands. Games like this really show off how limited this roster is when it comes to any sort of offensive creation outside of Booker or Rubio. No one else is really a consistent threat to make anything happen outside of those two. We are going to struggle against teams like the Celtics who can really execute a defensive gameplan like this.

The Celtics did a great job on Oubre, too. They were obviously mentally prepared for this game.

[Shabazz]

This team is badly missing some athleticism across all positions and it’s glaring with Ayton out. I wonder if there’s a minor move we could make to address it. I’d also be ok with giving Diallo a try. These Frank/Cam/Mikal lineups have to be the skinniest, least athletic frontcourts in the league.

Carter doesn’t have much value on offense when he’s not hitting his shots. He doesn’t see the floor well and he can’t get to the rim and finish in the half-court. He’s short, slow and can’t jump so he gets by with grit and by being a disruptor on D, but his ceiling will always be limited.

[Mori Chu]

I don't get all the focus on +/-. It's a misleading stat in most cases. In Carter's case last night, I don't think he was the problem, but ultimately if a team is starting him at PG it doesn't bode well. He's a reserve at best. I'm glad he tried to play more within himself and stick to the flow of the offense rather than ballhogging and jacking up a bunch of shots. And he's a decent on-ball defender. But he isn't really capable of running an NBA offense successfully, so he shouldn't be expected to succeed if he starts.

[Indy]

I am hoping that Jerome can do that for us. I wouldn't be shocked to see Rubio miss 15-20 games this season, and if this is what happens when he does, we can't make it to .500, much less make the playoffs.

[Indy]

This team is badly missing some athleticism across all positions and it’s glaring with Ayton out. I wonder if there’s a minor move we could make to address it. I’d also be ok with giving Diallo a try. These Frank/Cam/Mikal lineups have to be the skinniest, least athletic frontcourts in the league.

Would it help if Oubre was part of the bench unit? I have gone back and forth and am now in the camp of he needs to start for us. But I agree that we need some athleticism. As you said, it will be much less noticeable once Ayton is back.

[Cap]

This team is badly missing some athleticism across all positions and it’s glaring with Ayton out. I wonder if there’s a minor move we could make to address it. I’d also be ok with giving Diallo a try. These Frank/Cam/Mikal lineups have to be the skinniest, least athletic frontcourts in the league.

Would it help if Oubre was part of the bench unit? I have gone back and forth and am now in the camp of he needs to start for us. But I agree that we need some athleticism. As you said, it will be much less noticeable once Ayton is back.

I was open to the idea coming into the season, but I was expecting more out of Bridges than we’ve been getting.

[Indy]

Yeah, me too. It feels like Cam has been more impactful than Bridges this season. I would have bet a lot of money against that 4 weeks ago.

[Cap]

Yeah, me too. It feels like Cam has been more impactful than Bridges this season. I would have bet a lot of money against that 4 weeks ago.

Yeah, but Cam has a long way to go too. Right now it looks like Oubre is the only starter-caliber SF on the roster, and therefore needs to start.

[specialsauce]

Yeah, me too. It feels like Cam has been more impactful than Bridges this season. I would have bet a lot of money against that 4 weeks ago.

Yeah, but Cam has a long way to go too. Right now it looks like Oubre is the only starter-caliber SF on the roster, and therefore needs to start.

Oubre is too dumb of a player to be a starter. He takes too many bad shots and makes some awful decisions on offense. He is best as a sixth man to me. Once Ayton is back I’m starting Bridges or Cam.

[Mori Chu]

It does feel like Oubre is not playing well enough to merit another contract after his current one ends. At least, not one at the current money or higher. He feels replaceable by other SFs like Bridges.