11/7/2023 0 Comments Mystery tackle box juggernautThe Celtics may also run chained together hand-offs, all designed around allowing the ball to be funneled to Porzingis as a shot blocker. ![]() His screen navigation, both on- and off-ball remains elite. When they stay more straight up, the Celtics are positioned to play hedge coverages, with Holiday fighting over and around screens. It’s possible Mazzulla will bring back the roamer role that Williams excelled in, using Porzingis as a floater along the backline of the defense. Boston will switch everything with the initial foursome, with Porzingis sitting back in drop coverage, or in help position near the rim. It’s likely that the openers for Boston will be Tatum, Brown, White, Holiday and Porzingis. Now, Joe Mazzulla projects to go smaller and even more five-out, but with more versatility on the floor. Whether it was Al Horford and Rob Williams, or Horford and Grant Williams, or Williams and Williams, or Horford and Daniel Theis, or various other combinations, the Celtics generally played with two big men on the floor. The last few seasons have seen Boston become reliant on two-big lineups. Add to it that they both have enough size to switch with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and Boston is re-entering their “switch everything” days.Īnd that’s a massive part of the reimagining of the Celtics. There simply isn’t a backcourt in the NBA that approaches what these two can do together. In what was considered to a be down year for Holiday, he was still first-team All-Defense. But that doesn’t mean replacing Smart was going to be an easy task. White was a better defender, and not by a small margin. After he gave it everything he had to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, Smart just wasn’t the same guy last season. Smart’s defense slipped noticeably last season, but that was likely the result of years of wear-and-tear finally catching up with him. Jrue Holiday is essentially the replacement for Marcus Smart, who was traded in the deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Boston. ![]() This is the most balanced team the Celtics have had in years, and that’s saying something considering the considerable success this team has had. And they added offensive punch to their frontcourt in their previous big trade. Now, Boston has the best defensive backcourt in the NBA. Derrick White is excellent, but the idea of defending the Bucks with White as the only good on-ball option was worrisome. When the Milwaukee Bucks added Damian Lillard, Boston had to counter by adding another perimeter defender. Boston added nearly $3 million in salary to a roster that was already $13.4 million over the tax line. Jrue Holiday (PG, 1 year, $36.8M + $39.4M player option) Portland Trail Blazers trade: Jrue Holiday Boston Celtics Incoming salary ($36.9M in 2023-24) Portland Trail Blazers acquire: Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, 2024 first-round pick from the Golden State Warriors (top-4 protected in 2024, top-1 protected in 2025, unprotected in 2026) and 2029 unprotected first-round pick from Boston In a trade that may have tilted the East and the title odds back toward Boston, the Celtics acquired Holiday from Portland on the eve of NBA Media Day.īoston Celtics trade: Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, 2024 first-round pick from the Golden State Warriors (top-4 protected in 2024, top-1 protected in 2025, unprotected in 2026) and 2029 unprotected first-round pick from Boston ![]() The veteran guard didn’t really fit Portland’s rebuilding plan, which involves several young backcourt players.Įnter the Boston Celtics. On the other side, the Blazers weren’t destined to keep Jrue Holiday for long. The Bucks were immediately proclaimed not only Eastern Conference favorites, but NBA title favorites as well. When the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, conventional wisdom was that the balance of the power in the NBA had shifted.
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