The Boston Celtics and most of the NBA have completed roughly one quarter of their slate of regular season games for the 2023-24 season, and with that milestone, we can say the blurriest of outlines of who the Celtics and their peers are as teams is starting to come into focus.
And with that (very limited) clarity, we can begin to say some things about what the team has done so far that is worth talking about, what they still need to accomplish if they truly wish to contend for a title in the 2024 postseason, and what sort of changes need to be made to that effect.
To such an end, the Celtics Wire put together a panel of all the writers who cover the Celtics on our NBA Wires network or elsewhere to talk through all fo the above, with Adam Taylor, Cameron Tabatabaie, Justin Quinn, and Jack Simone sharing their thoughts. Let’s dive in.
Celtics Lab 229: Assessing the East at the 2023-24 NBA season's quarter-mark with Ky Carlin https://t.co/GhCtpFeorG pic.twitter.com/lUkQPBlOCG
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 29, 2023
With a title being the only thing that matters to the success of the season, do you feel better, worse, or the same about those prospects at the quarter-point of the Celtics' season -- and why?
Adam Taylor: How much happier could we be? 14-4 is a great start to the season! Injuries haven’t derailed Boston’s progress and the Celtics are playing solid basketball on both sides of the court.
Yeah, there have been some slip-ups, but nothing’s perfect. The question is, how can they build on this and take it to the next level, and what does that even look like?
Cameron Tabatabie: Hard to not feel good if you’re the Celtics. The hiccups are notable, and health concerns will always linger. But not only is the offense much more dynamic than I think we were expecting, but the defense is rock solid.
If this is indeed sustainable for Boston, anything other than a deep, deep postseason run would be disappointing.
Boston's Joe Mazzulla on giving his bench more run https://t.co/gs0elQOuKN pic.twitter.com/kRiW9ZHXYt
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 27, 2023
Jack Simone: It’s weird. On the court, I think the Celtics have progressed more in terms of chemistry than I thought they would by this point.
That said, they’ve still shown some of the same mental effort lapses as in years past. So on the court, I feel better, but mentally, I still have some reservations.
Justin Quinn: For my part, I feel better, albeit with the same concerns about frontcourt health and availability.
There are still some concerns there and perhaps with wing depth, but the parts came together faster than expected on my end, which bodes well given the lack of continuity this summer’s trades created was the other big concern heading into the season.
Danny Ainge never envisioned Giannis Antetokounmpo as a superstar https://t.co/jzP3jE31kJ pic.twitter.com/q6UECCXWIF
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 28, 2023
What has been the biggest surprise about this team for you so far -- good, bad, or otherwise?
CT: Jayson Tatum’s back to the basket scoring attack has been the biggest surprise and a very welcome one. It’s an interesting new addition to the team’s offensive arsenal, and against smaller or slower opponents, it is positively devastating.
So long as it continues to be a weapon in the post and not an excuse to take fadeaway jump shots, it could be a key factor in Boston’s success.
AT: I agree with Cam, here. Tatum’s post-game has given the Celtics a whole new dimension on the offensive end. It’s not just scoring, either. Tatum can create out of the post, and his presence on the block is forcing defenses to compromise on their overall structure.
I also want to give a hat tip to Sam Hauser, who has been fantastic in recent weeks.
Is Jayson Tatum immune to criticism? https://t.co/D2soYewAgP pic.twitter.com/qqFf3MdJXa
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 28, 2023
JS: Jaylen Brown’s comfortability as a playmaker. His two-man game with Kristaps Porzingis has been covered heavily, but it’s translating to the rest of his game.
He’s driving and kicking more than ever, and more importantly, he’s doing so with success. It’s been fun to watch.
JQ: The bench being more than competent. It’s still too soon to call it ‘good,’ but it has been a significant factor in several wins, and a culprit in only one or two losses.
Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins explains on why he is such a big fan of Jaylen Brown https://t.co/Ln9D3RdYfe pic.twitter.com/8AUNvt6eha
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 28, 2023
What is your biggest concern moving forward? Any suggestions on potential remedies?
JS: The giving up leads. It’s been happening for years, and despite the new team structure, the Celtics are still finding ways to blow double-digit leads with consistency.
I am a firm believer in the idea that NBA teams are more talented than ever, so double-digit leads aren’t as safe as they once were, however, you can see the lapses in the effort show up from time to time. That’s where the problem lies.
JQ: As I hinted above — depth. Both for the regular season, and for the playoffs. I am still not convinced the team has the frontcourt it needs for the regular season unless they want to take some risks and give Neemias Queta enough run to be successful outside favorable matchups.
And they simply don’t have the depth they need to weather even a shorter injury to Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis in the postseason, one of the two being virtually assured. Similar concerns on the wing, though they can survive that with this bench, I think.
Boston's Al Horford's hustle is earning him rave reviews https://t.co/qOzXR7FJxN pic.twitter.com/PkqKorrvIW
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 28, 2023
CT: Unfortunately health is the biggest concern. Missing Horford or Porzingis for any extended period of time, especially in the spring, could be a big problem for the Celtics.
I think targeting a starter-quality big to soak up minutes and serve as an insurance policy should be a high priority for the front office.
AT: I think we’re all in agreement here: depth. The trade-off to having such an elite top-6, is that the further down the roster you go, the less confident you feel. I think Boston’s top-8 is solid, and can lead them to a championship.
But if the Celtics need to rely on any of Dalano Banton, Oshae Brissett, or Luke Kornet for an extended period, things could go downhill quickly.
Larry Bird turned down a $10 million payday before retiring https://t.co/sToGW6JbOQ pic.twitter.com/icexRISmAi
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 29, 2023
Do you see Boston needing to make any moves between now and the deadline? What sort, and do you have anyone in mind?
JS: At the moment, no. Anyone they would be able to snag with the Grant Williams TPE isn’t a better option than who they have, and anyone who makes more wouldn’t be gettable without ditching Payton Pritchard.
The team is rolling, and they have some nice filler options on the bench. I think the roster is fine as it is.
JQ: At the start of the season, my “Celtics Lab” cohost Alex Goldberg was all about an Andre Drummond trade for the same frontcourt concerns I have.
I was skeptical at first, but he might well be the best option Boston has a real shot at — and could work after Dec. 15 with Alex Caruso as well. Push in those chips!
Who were the best left-handed players to suit up for the Boston Celtics? https://t.co/HX8S7cUfGB pic.twitter.com/C2rrzthOod
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 29, 2023
AT: I mean, how much does Chicago want for Andre Drummond? Boston needs a physical presence to help them counter teams like the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic.
Drummond would be ideal. He’s a role player at this point of his career, is physically dominant, and fits the defensive style of having a drop-coverage big man.
CT: Boston has two chief needs in my opinion. They could go for a stronger, bigger guard to play behind White and Holiday. With respect to Pritchard, he’s still a defensive liability.
Otherwise, the Celtics may go after a frontcourt player. The Grant Williams TPE could be enough to land a serviceable player in either direction here.
Scotto: Celtics have 'kept tabs on' John Konchar’s situation as a trade target https://t.co/q6YhM1XHUt pic.twitter.com/womFWwzOdQ
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 30, 2023
How are you feeling about the coaching and front office? Why?
AT: I think Joe Mazzulla has improved as a head coach. His new coaching staff are clearing making their presence felt – just look at Sam Cassell’s influence on Tatum’s post game.
And, in my eyes, Brad Stevens is among the best front office executives in the league. Couldn’t be happier right now.
CT: The roster is really balanced and interesting. The front office did a very nice job getting creative while swinging for the fences.
I’m still not sure how much we know about Joe Mazzulla. It’s easy enough to poke fun here or there, but until Boston faces some real adversity like they did throughout the postseason last year, I’m not sure we can really evaluate Mazzulla’s growth.
Should the Boston Celtics look into trading for Andre Drummond? https://t.co/wCguxroCUr pic.twitter.com/bTaex9XlHW
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 30, 2023
JS: Joe Mazzulla has been awesome. It’s hard to fully gauge his on-court growth quite yet, but as a personality, he’s been night and day from last year.
You can tell he’s far more confident and willing to be open. As far as the front office, Brad Stevens has been the perfect mix of smart and cutthroat. No notes for Stevens.
JQ: Joe still does some head-scratching stuff, but by and large has been great, putting together the sort of offense we all clamored for without abandoning his fetish for life beyond the arc, and has brought an excellent defense to bear with it.
It’s amazing what a full offseason can do for planning a campaign.
Is the NBA's player empowerment era coming to an end? https://t.co/BtycvkUgDC pic.twitter.com/z30EEnslK1
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 30, 2023
Anything else you want to say about the szn so far?
JS: I am so unbelievably sick of hearing complaints about a lack of timeouts. One, it’s November. Two, there’s little evidence showing a timeout will change the effort and success of a team outside the first couple of plays after it. Three, I subscribe to the idea that letting the players figure things out now will help them in the long run.
And four, most importantly, when the players are playing poorly, why is the first thought by most fans to blame the coach? Maybe blame the players for playing poorly in the first place. Just a thought.
JQ: Folks, we have GOT to calm down with losses. Boston has been on track for north of a 60-win season so far, the world isn’t ending when they drop a game.
I get the scars we carry from seasons past, but let’s get to the midway point of the season (or a losing streak longer than 3 games) at least before we start pulling out hair.
Jaylen Brown is yet to be swayed by the in-season tournament https://t.co/NyCPuFiLTH pic.twitter.com/7I7KNoEKvy
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 30, 2023
CT: This could be a very cool trade deadline. The new CBA rules only get stricter next season, and if teams like the Chicago Bulls or Los Angeles Clippers initiate a tear-down, the market could be flooded with big names.
AT: Give me Andre Drummond or Alex Caruso. Either one is fine. The Bulls need to blow it up. And one more piece could put the Celtics over the top.
It’s a great time to be a Celtics fan right now, and the future (at least in the short and mid-term) is looking really bright. All we need now, is the Jayson Tatum supermax in the summer.
Should the Boston Celtics look to target Toronto's Precious Achiuwa via trade? https://t.co/NabupYcf3n pic.twitter.com/1ne37tC2Lf
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 30, 2023
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