The Boston Celtics' Marcus Smart grimaces as he falls injured to the floor during the first half of ... [+] their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe Boston Celtics headed into Saturday afternoon’s game against the Toronto Raptors without Jayson Tatum and then managed to lose both Marcus Smart and Robert Williams. Still, they managed to pull off an 11-point comeback and notch their ninth straight victory. It’s been like this all season long: the Celtics keep experiencing injury setbacks and yet their depth continues to ensure that it doesn’t matter.
Granted, it wasn’t smooth sailing yesterday—it took a last-second Al Horford steal to seal the deal—but Boston’s bench helped them secure a victory in a game they had no business winning. Tatum was having a maintenance day for his ailing left wrist, Williams was lifted after a collision with Jaylen Brown and Smart suffered a right ankle injury that forced him out of the game. Factoring in all that, the Celtics deserved to savor their 106-104 win over the Raptors.
Of the three injuries, Williams’s is the most concerning. Over the offseason, Williams had a second surgery on his left knee—the same knee he injured during the game—which caused him to miss the beginning of the season. He hasn’t been a regular fixture in the starting lineup since his return on December 17. Last year’s playoffs proved that the Celtics’ ideal lineup is one featuring Williams at center, but the team has been understandably reluctant to hand him the permanent starting position until they know he's fully recovered.
MORE FROM FORBESThe Boston Celtics Should Be Worried Following News Of Robert Williams' Latest SurgeryBy Hunter Felt
That hasn’t been the only issue. Jaylen Brown missed a few games recently with adductor tightness, while the Celtics have made the wise decision not to play the 36-year-old Horford on back-to-back nights during the regular season. Only Derrick White has played in every Celtics game this year and even he got banged up against the Raptors. Despite all this, the Celtics currently have a five-game lead in the Eastern Conference over the Philadelphia 76ers after Saturday’s victory.
A big reason has been the bench. Against the Raptors, Grant Williams had 25 points and Malcolm Brogdon scored 23. Payton Pritchard, who has seen his minutes decline, was an unlikely fourth-quarter savior with his 12-point performance off the bench, going 4-for-7 from beyond the three-point line.
Pritchard might have increased his trade value on Saturday, but he also may have shown why Boston might hesitate to make any moves by the deadline. While it would make sense for the Celtics to see what they could get for a player buried on one of the league’s deepest benches, nights like this reveal what value he has for a team with legitimate title hopes.
In basketball, not everybody is always fully available: key players get hurt, get into foul trouble or merely fall into extended slumps. The Celtics’ lack of depth hurt them in the NBA Finals last year and they made moves in the offseason precisely to address that. Judging from the evidence at hand, it’s hard to argue that the organization hasn’t done a good job of finding the right complementary pieces to surround Tatum and Brown. Would it really be worth risking altering that chemistry by making midseason moves?
Maybe the team should listen to Brogdon’s comments after his 30-point performance against the Charlotte Hornets. “We’ve got a lot of great players on this team,” he said back on January 14. “It’s a next-man-up mentality when someone goes down. I think that’s what we’ve been experiencing when JB’s been out, when I’ve been out, when whoever’s out, someone else steps up.” Is that a mentality the Celtics can afford to mess with?
Hunter Felt, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/hunterfelt/2023/01/22/the-boston-celtics-have-learned-to-rely-on-their-next-man-up-mentality/
By: Hunter Felt, Contributor
Title: The Boston Celtics Have Learned To Rely On Their “Next Man Up” Mentality
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/hunterfelt/2023/01/22/the-boston-celtics-have-learned-to-rely-on-their-next-man-up-mentality/
Published Date: 01-22-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a technical foul vs. a flagrant foul in the NBA?
A technical foul in the NBA refers to unsportsmanlike conduct, such as fighting with officials and excessive celebration. A technical foul allows you to make one free throw, while the opposing team can also take possession of your ball.
Flagrant fouls occur when a teammate makes excessively violent or aggressive contact. This results in the loss of possession of the ball and two free throws for the opposing team. Flagrant one foul is more severe than Flagrant two. Flagrant one does not cause an ejection and is considered less severe than Flagrant 2.
A personal foul refers to any contact that is illegal between two players. This usually refers to illegal hand-checking, pushing, pushing, or tripping an opponent. Personal fouls could also result in free throws and possession of a ball for the opposing player. Personal fouls don't necessarily indicate unsportsmanlike behaviour, but they are different from technical fouls or flagrant fouls.
All fouls in the NBA may result in free throw attempts for the opposing team or possession of the ball. The difference between a technical foul and a flagrant or personal foul lies in the intent behind them and the severity of contact committed.
Who is the greatest free throw shooter of all?
Many basketball fans disagree on the answer, but many agree that Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors' best free-throw shoter, is the most outstanding. This incredible player holds the record for most 3-point conversions per season, with an astounding 402.
Karl Malone holds the record with 9,787 free throws. With 13,188 attempts, Karl Malone also holds the record for most free throws attempted. This has resulted to a 74.20% success percentage.
What are Bird Rights in NBA?
"Bird rights" is a term used in the NBA to describe a policy that allows certain players to be signed by their current team for more than any other team can offer. This rule is named in honor of Larry Bird, an ex-player with the Boston Celtics. A team cannot exceed their salary cap to resign a player if that player has been with them for at least three consecutive years. Bird rights allow players who are not currently with the team to retain their status and earn a higher salary than what they would get from any other teams.
What is a trade exception within the NBA?
A trade exception in NBA allows teams to trade away any player. This exception allows teams and players to be acquired whose salaries are greater than the ones they trade away. This exception can be used by a team for multiple seasons and does not count towards their salary cap. Trade exceptions can be used by teams to modify their rosters, without having to cut salaries or alter their roster composition. This allows for teams to compete and avoid situations in which some teams may have an unfair advantage because of their financial situation.
It also keeps the league financially stable, and ensures teams have the ability to make moves without worrying if they can afford them. Trade exceptions can be used to help teams win championships and are an essential part in roster construction.
Which NBA player has had the most blocked shots in a single year?
Mark Eaton established the 1984-85 all-time blocks and blocks per games records (456 and 5.56 respectively) during a single season. Eaton's total for that season is the highest single-season NBA record.
Hakeem Olajuwon currently holds the NBA record for most career blocks, with 3,830. Olajuwon's 18-year NBA career saw him average 21.8 points, 11.1 rebound, 2.5 assists, and 3.1 blocks per match.
Statistics
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
- An estimated 800 million viewers watched the [105]2017–18 season. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
External Links
si.com
- NBA Free Agency Preview: The Biggest Questions and Rumors
- Free from Quarantine: The NBA bubble Is A Unique Experience
bleacherreport.com
- Which NBA Teams Will Join the Victor Wembanyama Tankathon?
- Latest NBA Intel: Sources Expect Zach LaVine to Re-Sign with Chicago Bulls
sbnation.com
nba.com
How To
How do you prepare to experience a NBA game?
The best way to prepare yourself for an NBA event is to make sure you have the right seats. Tickets can be purchased online by the team, as well as through third-party sellers. Plan ahead and be familiar with the arena policies so you aren't caught off guard. Get to the arena in plenty of time for warm-ups or pregame activities and to beat the rush. Get team merchandise like a shirt or helmet if you need it. You should bring your camera and binoculars so you can take photos and see the action from the court. If you want to be a part of the action, there are other entertainment options available at halftimes. Enjoy the game!
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