On this episode of Still Poddable, Jay King and Sam "Jam" Packard break down takeaways from the Celtics falling to Grizzlies and beating the Bucks this weekend. The guys also hit on the upcoming schedule and do our weekly segments. All that, and much more!
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00:00Steve Marvel, Steve Marvel, Boston Tech, Steve Marvel, Steve Marvel
00:06Oh yeah!
00:09Steve Marvel, Steve Marvel, Boston Tech, Steve Marvel, Steve Marvel
00:15And a Nike!
00:18We brought Jim Packer, Jake King
00:20Steve Marvel, Steve Marvel
00:22To seize around the court to get another ring
00:24Steve Marvel, Steve Marvel
00:26Everybody in the chat now sing
00:29Steve Marvel, Steve Marvel, Steve Marvel, Steve Marvel
00:33Boston Tech, Steve Marvel, Steve Marvel
00:37Oh yeah!
00:45Welcome back to
00:47Still Potable, the greatest, the best, the elite
00:51Celtics podcast out here on Al Gore's internet
00:54I am Sam Jim Packer, joined today by Jake King from The Athletic
00:59This is the free show of the week
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01:05This is the free show, but we've got you with Celtics content every day of the week
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01:27Jay, the Celtics are coming off a stretch of 5 games in 7 days
01:33They went 3-2
01:34I'm in Boston, so they must have been really, really tired
01:37Without playing the Grizzlies
01:41The Cleveland game, right?
01:43Yeah, that was there, yep
01:45It was a tough road trip for the kid to draw there
01:48If you were tired, they must have been quite tired
01:51Maybe that showed in their loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night
01:57I think, Jay, they went 3-2 during that stretch
02:003 interesting games against, I would describe as contenders in the NBA
02:06And then 2 easy wins against the Pistons and Heat
02:09How should you think Celtics fans should feel about this team
02:14And how they matched up against the better teams in the NBA right now
02:19I actually thought that they handled themselves well in the loss to the Grizzlies
02:24That was an absolute schedule loss
02:27It was, I mean, 5th game in 7 nights
02:31Just, Al Horford's out
02:34Sam Hauser gets injured
02:36And so you turn to Cornette and Nemi together
02:40You don't have any backup wing you trust
02:42Maybe an issue, but still
02:45They came back from 14 down
02:48I thought it was just a really, they didn't shoot well at all
02:52And still came back
02:55I just thought, given the schedule
03:00It showed a lot about them that they didn't give in
03:05That they came back
03:08That even with Drew Holiday wide open and missing everything
03:12They were able to make that a game
03:15The Drew Holiday thing, that was weird, wasn't it?
03:18Yeah, he was one of the best 3-point shooters in the league last year
03:23And I feel like the strength of the Celtics team is you can't leave anyone open like that
03:28We've seen the Warriors do this last year with Jalen Brown
03:31And he kind of punished them and made them pay
03:35Just to give a guy who's that good of a shooter that much space
03:39And basically begging him to shoot
03:42And then for him to shoot, what was he?
03:454 for 17-3
03:48For Drew Holiday to get up 17-3 is kind of wild
03:54That could take like 2 weeks
03:56Yeah, that's just not normally part of his game
04:00The thing that obviously the Grizzlies do this for a reason
04:05And if you look at the numbers this year compared to last year for Drew
04:09Especially on corner threes, which is kind of his bread and butter
04:13He's not shooting nearly the same percentage
04:15And I feel like because Payne Pritchard has taken so much more of a step
04:21In terms of add-on volume scoring
04:23Maybe we're not noticing as much Drew's offensive backslide
04:28Because he's not really putting up enough numbers
04:31Am I overreacting here or is this just a normal slump
04:36That you expect to see from players when you shoot that many threes?
04:39Probably just the ebbs and flows of a season would be my guess
04:43He has been dealing with a knee issue
04:46Which kept him out of a couple games recently during this trip
04:51He said that it was good for him to get a couple games off
04:57That's something that he thinks is just because
05:00He's played a lot of basketball over the last few years
05:02Seems like some wear and tear there
05:04So that could be part of it
05:06But I think also you just don't shoot 60-something percent from the corners
05:12He was probably due for some regression there
05:15He's not going to be at 33% or 32.8%
05:19Which he's at right now forever though either
05:21He's going to start making shots
05:24It speaks to how good the Celtics are
05:28That the strategy against them for Memphis
05:32Was to just leave Drew Holiday wide open
05:35Because you can say what you want about his percentages this year
05:40He's not the guy you want to leave open
05:43I think if you leave him open consistently over a large sample size
05:46He will make a high, high percentage of those shots
05:49But he missed them
05:51It was sort of like the Jalen game against Golden State last year
05:55Where a team just tried something new
05:58I wouldn't be surprised to see other teams try that too
06:02But I also think if the Celtics get a wide open Drew Holiday 3
06:06Every possession
06:08Then that will probably work out in their favor most of the time
06:12Yeah, I mean he's
06:15Basically their whole offense is designed
06:18For anyone not named Mimi or Cornette
06:21If they get that open shot
06:23They have done what they wanted to do on offense
06:25And they want that guy taking it
06:27So I feel like I don't begrudge Drew for getting up all those shots
06:30Because clearly they were open
06:32I agree with you about the Memphis losses
06:35Ja and Jaron Jackson had really good games
06:38It was kind of a scheduled loss
06:40No one really shot that well from the Celtics
06:43I think the thing that's always interesting
06:45And this feels like the formula for beating the Celtics
06:48Is they once again got
06:50Kind of just destroyed on points in the paint
06:53And I felt like that
06:55Their rim protection and defense
06:57I think has gotten a little bit better
06:59Since Chris Tapps has returned
07:01And been kind of more of an anchor in the center
07:03But it still feels like their
07:05Weakest point of their defense
07:07Is they're still just getting beat up in the paint a bunch
07:10Because what have you seen since kind of
07:12The return of Chris Tapps
07:13And how much has he affected
07:15How they're playing defense
07:17And how well they're protecting the rim
07:19I thought a lot of the points in the paint against Memphis
07:21Were just transition buckets
07:23And some of those were on Celtics turnovers
07:26Some of it was just that the Grizzlies play fast
07:29Jon Morant is really one of a kind
07:32In transition
07:35So I thought that was
07:38More so than a lack of sheer rim protection
07:42It was just like transition stuff
07:44Against them and that probably had to do with
07:46Five game and seven nights
07:48And just the opponent
07:50The Grizzlies, if you're fatigued
07:52That's a tough team to play
07:54Because they're going to be
07:56Attacking you the entire game
07:58They want to play fast
08:00They want to fly and run and gun
08:02And Jon Morant is coming at you
08:04And that dunk he had was absolutely bonkers
08:08After saying he wasn't going to dunk anymore
08:10I knew that was bullshit as soon as he said it
08:12Because if you have the ability
08:14To do the clutch throwback
08:16You're going to do that
08:18You can't stop yourself from dunking
08:20That's just a ridiculous idea
08:22Yeah, no, he's not going to stop
08:24Just not happening
08:28But yeah, the biggest question to me
08:32Is how the Celtics will continue to evolve
08:36Defensively with Kristaps back
08:38And I mean that just stylistically
08:40Because
08:42Last year we talked about it
08:44They played sort of like the Bucs used to
08:46Where they took away
08:48All your layups and dunks
08:50That was the point of their defense
08:52They gave up pretty open threes
08:54Intentionally
08:56To the lesser shooters
08:58On a team
09:00And above the break
09:02They took away a lot of corner threes
09:04And they were very intentional about that
09:06This season so far
09:08They have been
09:10Taking away three-point attempts
09:12And their rim protection
09:14Has suffered
09:16Yes, but also
09:18They get rid of
09:20Some of the shooting variants
09:22That can come from a random night
09:24When some scrub team hits
09:2620 threes against you because they get up a bunch of threes
09:28So they've taken away some of that
09:30I want to see where they settle
09:32I don't think they'll
09:34Go all the way back
09:36To the style they played
09:38Last season
09:40I do think they want to take away threes
09:42More this season
09:44But also with Kristaps back
09:46You're just going to be doing different things
09:48And so there's not
09:50Full clarity yet
09:52On what they'll be defensively
09:54But I think it'll probably be
09:56The three-point numbers
09:58Suffer a little bit
10:00And the rim protection goes way up
10:02Yeah, well it's interesting
10:04Because you think with Kristaps back
10:06They might feel a little bit more comfortable
10:08Running guys off the run and funneling
10:10Teams
10:12Towards Kristaps
10:14But I think it's just going to be interesting to see
10:16Kristaps, what his impact
10:18He's only been back for what, five games now?
10:20But it's more matchups I think
10:22He always guards a perimeter guy
10:24Or often guards a perimeter guy
10:26So just because of the matchup
10:28You're automatically giving up shots
10:30Like he was guarding Marcus Smart
10:32For
10:34Stretches of that game
10:36Last night against the Grizzlies
10:38And Smart was getting up
10:40Pretty open threes
10:42But those are the shots you're okay with
10:44And how does that affect
10:46Rebounding, like if Kristaps is pulled out
10:48To the perimeter a little bit
10:50It feels like there's been times when they've given up
10:52A bunch of offensive boards this year
10:54I think it's going to be interesting to just see how that
10:56Dynamic changes
10:58Moving forward
11:00You mentioned
11:02The Bucks
11:04I thought that was
11:06One of the more entertaining games of the season on Friday night
11:08Both Dame and Giannis had 30 points
11:10But the Celtics
11:12And especially Jason Tatum
11:14Down the stretch just made clutch play
11:16After clutch play, whether it was
11:18Offensive end dishing the ball out
11:20Guarding Dame down the stretch
11:22I feel like the Bucks
11:24Have definitely recovered, they're not the
11:26Terrible team they were to start
11:28The year
11:30But I still feel like the Celtics are a little bit
11:32Better than them, but where do you see that
11:34Matchup and are the Bucks more of a threat in the
11:36East than I guess we thought
11:38I'm willing
11:40To
11:42Give them time
11:44To figure it out
11:46Time with
11:48Chris Middleton back
11:50Time
11:52With
11:54It's been big for their rotation
11:56To get A.J. Green in there
11:58To get
12:00Andre Jackson in there
12:02Kind of go younger, get more athletic
12:04The Celtics
12:06Definitely have a healthy
12:08Respect for them
12:10You can tell just by the way they play in those
12:12Games
12:14By what they say about those
12:16Games, they get up for the Bucks
12:18Still, they consider
12:20The Bucks games big ones
12:22And Giannis
12:24Is just such a force that I think
12:26You have to
12:28You have to
12:30Give him respect
12:32And you don't want to
12:34Eliminate them, that said, there's a big
12:36Gulf between the two teams
12:38And I thought
12:40The Bucks didn't win that game
12:42When the Celtics shot
12:44Very poorly
12:46I don't think they had a single second chance
12:48Point, it was
12:50Like
12:52Part of this tough schedule
12:54With a hectic bunch of games
12:56And
12:58I just feel like
13:00There's just a gulf there
13:02A massive gulf and the Celtics are able
13:04To attack
13:06Damian Lillard, they're able to attack
13:08Brook Lopez, they've gotten much
13:10Better, Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown
13:12Specifically have gotten a lot better
13:14At being physical, driving, not
13:16Settling against matchups like that
13:18So
13:20I don't want to
13:22Dismiss the Bucks
13:24But
13:26They're clearly not as bad as they were at the start of the year
13:28But I agree with you, they're not
13:30In the upper echelon
13:32That was a fun game though, wasn't it?
13:34That was probably the most fun game this whole year
13:36The refs let them play
13:38It was chippy
13:40Jalen Brown is
13:42Chirping Giannis
13:44I like the new Jalen Brown, Giannis beef
13:46All that coming from the childish
13:48Not giving him a handshake
13:50But I enjoy the chippiness
13:52Of that, I enjoy
13:54It's too bad they don't play again
13:56They've played all three times this year and they will not
13:58See each other unless they
14:00Play each other in the playoffs
14:02That is definitely too bad
14:04But it was definitely the most fun
14:06Like a nice clutch game
14:08And for all the kind of
14:10Drew Holiday missing so many shots
14:12Against the Grizzlies, he's the one who came up big
14:14He was a little floater at the end of the game
14:16That really clinched it
14:18And so that's got to be sweet for Drew
14:20Doing that against his old team
14:22Jason Tatum in the fourth quarter of that game
14:24Was so good
14:26He started it off with
14:28The two threes
14:30With Brook Lopez
14:32Not even that far back in pick and roll coverage
14:34And then just
14:36The Bucks double teamed him
14:38A couple times, he threw that sweet lefty
14:40Pass to
14:42I think it was Holiday cutting it to the middle
14:44He had
14:46Like two or three other lefty passes
14:48That were just perfect
14:50Like that was absolutely
14:52High level basketball from Jason Tatum
14:54In that quarter
14:56To rescue the Celtics after
14:58I think they were down four early in the quarter
15:00So
15:02When he plays like that
15:04They just reach
15:06Another level
15:08And he was just dissecting the Bucks
15:10In pick and roll four
15:12It feels like he's really
15:14I feel like we keep saying this
15:16But he just continues to get
15:18Better
15:20With the ball in his hands and commanding
15:22There's like really
15:24I don't see any team beating the Celtics
15:26Four games out of seven
15:28At this point
15:30There's nothing I've seen in this season so far
15:32That makes me think the Celtics
15:34What adjustment can they make?
15:36There is no adjustment
15:38Adjust to your adjustment
15:42Tell me what team
15:44Have the Celtics done anything to dissuade you from the fact
15:46Or the belief that they're going to win the championship this year?
15:48No
15:50That's all I'm trying to say
15:52They have not, they've been fantastic
15:54If anything
15:56They have like
15:58And Drew's shooting is like
16:00Right now a little bit of a concern
16:04I think obviously like Chris Stapps' health
16:06Is a concern that won't go away
16:08He started hobbling in that game
16:10Against the Grizzlies
16:12Was that the same ankle the surgery was on?
16:14Or was that a different ankle?
16:16That was
16:18That's a good question
16:20I'm trying to think
16:22It was the surgery was on the left
16:24Five games in seven nights
16:26My brain is dead
16:28So
16:30That's a concern that won't go away
16:32But I would argue like
16:34They've played their best basketball
16:36Most of their developments are positive too
16:38Like Peyton Pritchard took a leap
16:40Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown
16:42Are throwing more assists per game
16:44Those guys
16:46Continue to be more physical
16:48And continue
16:50To play team basketball
16:52And
16:54Like the defense
16:56Hasn't totally come around yet
16:58It hasn't been what it was
17:00But I think
17:02With Chris Stapps back
17:04And it seems like
17:06They can reach another level
17:08When
17:10They need it
17:12And that Bucs game was a
17:14Pretty good display of that
17:16I thought
17:18They just in that fourth quarter
17:20Played such good defense
17:22There was one possession
17:24Against Damian Lillard
17:26Where Tatum's out there
17:28Just shadowing
17:30Every movement
17:32And then contest perfectly
17:34To force a Lillard
17:36Miss three
17:38Just incredible defense
17:40And so
17:42So I do think the defense
17:44Can still ratchet it up
17:46It hasn't always been that
17:48High so far
17:50But those
17:52Stretches
17:54They let you know like yeah we still got it guys
17:56And if you want to see
17:58The Celtics
18:00Maybe play some defense
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18:50What time is it?
18:52Now Jay
18:54They, Missy
18:56Sadly, sadly they're missing the NBA
18:58Cup
19:00And it's created a lot of
19:02Time off here, now they
19:04Do they just get a
19:06Why did they get to play the two worst teams
19:08In the Eastern Conference, well maybe the Pistons aren't that bad
19:10But they got their two make up games
19:12Scheduled the Pistons
19:14And the Wizards, well part of it is
19:16That the teams, you're only gonna
19:18Play the teams that didn't advance
19:20So, not by definition
19:22But by logic
19:24Most of those teams are
19:26Many of those teams are lesser teams
19:28I think the real thing is
19:30They, so every team
19:32In the East, they play
19:34Some teams outside of their division three times
19:36And some teams outside of their division four times
19:38And
19:40I think the logic is they just don't want to have anyone
19:42Play anyone five times
19:44For some scheduling balance
19:46And so it had to come from the pool of teams
19:48That only played three times
19:50And it just happened to work out that they play
19:52The Pistons, who actually played a pretty tough game
19:54Against them, I know Jason Tatum
19:56Didn't play in that game
19:58But it was a closer play
20:00Marcus Sasser
20:02Played with a lot of energy
20:04I'm expecting Sasser to come back with more sass
20:06On Wednesday night
20:08But
20:10It feels like the Celtics are in
20:12Cruise control at this point
20:14Like, what
20:16I think the best thing that happened
20:18To them was to not make the NBA Cup
20:20Next round
20:22You get two weeks
20:24With two games
20:26Like
20:28A nice lull in their schedule
20:30They have three off days
20:32In a row
20:34Starting today
20:36And they needed to just kind of reset
20:38Recharge their batteries
20:40And then they get to
20:42Probably wipe up
20:44The Pistons and the Wizards
20:46Add two easy wins
20:48Like, this was a nice
20:50Nice stretch for them
20:52Especially, like, January
20:54They've got two long road trips in January
20:56Coming up
20:58I think it was really good for them
21:00Not to make the next round
21:02Of the NBA Cup
21:04Are you excited about the Cup
21:06Now that we actually have single elimination
21:08And it's matchups? Excited is not the word
21:10I feel like you're not an excitable person
21:12But are you intrigued
21:14I feel like
21:16If I asked you a question
21:18And asked you if you were excited about something
21:20Your default answer would be saying no
21:22Chances are
21:24You would only ask me about
21:26Like, dumb stuff
21:28But I get excited
21:30For good basketball
21:32Do you think the NBA Cup will be good basketball?
21:34Uh
21:36Yeah
21:38I feel like that's like four pretty good matchups
21:40Like, actually, despite the Celtics not being in it
21:42Now that it's not pool play
21:44Now, like, I understand people
21:46Don't like the, uh, the point differential thing
21:48But now it's just a simple eight-team tournament
21:50And, uh
21:52Everyone loves March Madness
21:54For a reason, single elimination
21:56But I think it's four pretty good matchups
21:58Although
22:00Magic have nobody left
22:02Yeah, that's a really tough blow for the Magic
22:04Diablo, Clouder, Giles
22:06Versus Knicks is not really
22:08The Hawks are frisky
22:10They are frisky
22:12Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson
22:14I like those guys a lot
22:16DeAndre Hunter's playing well too
22:18The, uh
22:20Maverick Thunder should be a great one though
22:22And Warriors Rockets
22:24Should be awesome
22:26Alright, give me your picks
22:28Who's gonna win the Cup?
22:30The, uh
22:32The Thunder are gonna win the Cup
22:34I think it's gonna be Rockets
22:36It's gonna be Rockets over Hawks
22:38I think E-Main's gonna coach them up
22:40The Rockets are playing crazy defense
22:42Right now
22:44They're gonna try to
22:46What would Dylan Brooks do for $500,000?
22:48What would Dylan Brooks do for free?
22:50I don't, like, Dylan Brooks
22:52Doesn't seem to be motivated by money
22:54He's motivated by pure spite
22:56But I think it should be fun
22:58But I agree with you, getting back to the Celtics
23:00Like, they
23:02If they had done, like, had all of these games
23:04And then had to go
23:06Play a Cup game, then go to Vegas and play
23:08Two potential more games
23:10I think it just would have been disastrous for this whole team
23:12Maybe not disastrous
23:14That's wild hyperbole
23:16But, the biggest question for me
23:18For the Celtics, and it's not even a question
23:20I think the thing that's most important for the Celtics
23:22Is just health
23:24They need to have, like
23:26They have a deep enough roster where they can get away
23:28With resting one guy here
23:30Or even a couple guys
23:32From game to game
23:34But as long as they avoid, like, long stretches
23:36Of missed games by any of their big guys
23:38It feels like they're well on their way
23:40To 65-66 wins
23:42And so it's really just
23:44Get, like, and I think
23:46The one way to surefire
23:48End up with more injuries is just to overload the games
23:50And so I do think getting these two weeks
23:54Is basically the biggest thing
23:56Standing in their way of
23:58I still think they're gonna win
24:00Or get first seed in the Eastern Conference
24:02Despite the Cavs having
24:04What, a game and a half or two game lead
24:06At this point
24:08I still think the Celtics
24:10The Cavs are gonna come back to Earth a little bit
24:12They started off with a pretty easy schedule
24:14And just nothing seems to be slowing down the Celtics at this point
24:16Yeah, I mean
24:20And we'll see though
24:22I mean, you gotta get through January
24:24You gotta get through February too
24:26But January is a tough
24:28Tough, tough month for their schedule
24:30Their road trips in January are like
24:32Like, really, really difficult
24:36I'm pulling them up right now
24:38But they played some
24:40Legit teams in January
24:42Let's pull this up right now
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25:38Alright Jay, let's hear about
25:40What the schedule is in January
25:42Starts off at Minnesota
25:44At Houston
25:46At Thunder
25:48At Nuggets
25:50That's the first road trip
25:52Then they come home for a couple games
25:56Still have a couple of
25:58Not super tough ones
26:00Frisky Hawks are in there
26:02Frisky Magic are in there
26:04If they have their guys by then
26:06January 17th
26:08They probably will
26:10And then they go on another road trip
26:12Golden State, Clippers, Lakers
26:14Mavericks
26:16And then come home to play Houston again
26:18That's a tough month
26:22That's a
26:24That's a really challenging month
26:26So
26:28I know you're very confident in the Celtics
26:30Reaching the top of the standings
26:32Again and maybe they will
26:34They're fantastic at basketball
26:36But
26:38But I do think this is going to be
26:40A really demanding stretch for them
26:42Coming up in January
26:44The thing that I think I like
26:46About the makeup of this team is that
26:48Even in their two losses
26:50This week
26:52A very close game against the Cavaliers
26:54In which they were in it
26:56And it kind of had a tough
26:58Execution down the stretch
27:00Didn't really make a lot of shots in that fourth quarter
27:02And let the Cavs get back in that game
27:04And then Donovan Mitchell just went crazy
27:06But I like their effort, I like their process
27:08And they made it a close game
27:10As you mentioned in this Grizzlies game
27:12Even in the schedule loss they battle back
27:14To try and put themselves in the game
27:16It feels like they're at a level of basketball
27:18Like they've lost what?
27:20Four times this year?
27:22Five. Five times?
27:24All of those have been within
27:26Four or five points
27:28They're putting themselves in at least all
27:30Of these games, we've not seen the Celtics
27:32Absolutely get blown out
27:34And I think that I'm curious for you
27:36Jay, as you were around the team
27:38For the past five days
27:40Traveling with them, I'm curious
27:42What your feel is on what the
27:44It always comes back to
27:46The phrase championship habits with me
27:48Because that's a Brad Stephens phrase
27:50But how do you feel like this team
27:52Is make up
27:54Approaching
27:56A road trip like that
27:58Or just making sure they're going to get
28:00Playing these tough games
28:02Because last year they were very much
28:04Business like and they had this
28:06Mission, they're absolutely destroying teams
28:08This year doesn't feel like they've been as
28:10Dominant just in terms of not winning games
28:12By 20 to 30
28:14So regularly, but
28:16I'm curious, you being around the team
28:18Has their approach changed or does it
28:20Still feel like they're this business
28:22Like assassins just ready to win at any point
28:24They're business like assassins
28:26And even
28:28After the loss
28:30Of the Grizzlies, I think
28:32All the guys kind of acknowledged
28:34That it was a tough stretch
28:36Physically, that that game was
28:38Going to be challenging
28:40And I thought
28:42Jalen kind of
28:44Said it best, he's like
28:46We fought
28:48We didn't let go of the rope
28:50We know what this
28:52Journey is, we're not going to skip steps
28:54And he was pretty adamant
28:56And they feel like
28:58That
29:00Nights like that, even though they lost
29:02Nights like that are
29:04Where you can build something
29:06Where you can, you know
29:08A lot of teams in that situation, you fall down
29:10To the Grizzlies
29:12And they've got all the energy
29:14Because they're playing the defending champs
29:16And
29:18That would have been an easy night
29:20To just
29:22Pack it in, go home
29:24Pack it up, go home
29:26And lose by 20 or 30
29:28And say, you know, we'll try again next time
29:30Instead
29:32They make a spirited comeback
29:34You don't want to talk really about
29:36Moral victories for the
29:38Champions, because that's stupid
29:40Process victories
29:42I do think that they believe
29:46That on nights like that
29:48When you have to fight through stuff
29:50And it doesn't come easy
29:52That they find value in that
29:54And so
29:56Yeah, I think their mentality
29:58Has been
30:00Very good from the start
30:02All the quotes about them
30:04And I think quotes can often
30:06Be like telling
30:08A lot of the time
30:10Locker room quotes can give you just kind of
30:12A window into
30:14The mindset of a team that maybe
30:16The results aren't showing yet
30:18And based on everything
30:20They've said
30:22They all feel very confident and
30:26Excited about the way that they've
30:28Approached it so far
30:30And I feel like that's the confidence
30:32That I have in them
30:34In the two road trips
30:36In January
30:38It just feels like
30:40Even in their five losses
30:42I feel like they've been
30:44Challenged is the wrong word
30:46But they haven't been really smacked in the mouth
30:48And there hasn't been a game where I feel like
30:50I'm not confident the Celtics are at least going to put themselves
30:52In a position to win
30:54And so if you're just constantly putting yourself
30:56In situations
30:58Where you have a chance at the end of the game
31:00Which it feels like they have in every single one of their games
31:02Again
31:04Coming back to it
31:06Injuries are the only thing that it feels like
31:08Can really slow them down
31:10It almost feels like they reach another level
31:12Of competition
31:14Competitive spirit
31:16When things are going wrong for them
31:18Like
31:20The loss to the Grizzlies was the first time
31:22They've lost this season
31:24While shooting less than 33.3%
31:26On threes
31:28Which is crazy
31:30It was their first six
31:32Such games
31:34And the Bucks game was one of them
31:36And it's like
31:38Things aren't going well
31:40A lot of teams can splinter
31:42Crater, you stop trusting what you're doing
31:44You stop working hard defensively
31:46And the Celtics just believe in it
31:48And they keep
31:50Trusting what they're doing
31:52It seems like their defense
31:54Even reaches another level
31:56They have a way to ratchet up
31:58Their defense
32:00Which I think if you want to criticize them
32:02Is that they don't do that consistently
32:04But they clearly have another gear
32:06They can get into
32:08When they're down
32:10Or I just remember back to the Cleveland game
32:12The first Cleveland game
32:14When they were undefeated
32:16That first quarter
32:18The undefeated team is coming in
32:20And I think that's to be expected in a long season
32:22But they do
32:24I also think on the offensive end
32:26It's like
32:28We know the offense we're going to get to
32:30We know the type of stuff we want to do
32:32It's like Tatum-White
32:34Two-man action
32:36Or it's just getting the ball and Tatum stands down the stretch
32:38And relying on him to make a play
32:40But I do feel like
32:42They have this kind of waiting time formula
32:44Where Celtics teams of the past
32:46They got so much criticism for
32:48Not necessarily knowing how to handle
32:50Situations in the clutch
32:52But it feels like this team
32:54And you're going to go through runs
32:56Because basketball is a game of runs
32:58You're going to go through some times where you miss some shots
33:00But it feels like this Celtics team
33:02No matter what, there's just a confidence
33:04That they're going to figure it out
33:06And they'll figure out a way to get back into the game
33:08And Doc Rivers has kind of
33:10Mentioned that
33:12A couple of times
33:14When they played the Celtics
33:16That he calls them a maid team
33:18And basically he thinks
33:20That when you win a championship
33:22You just
33:24Carry yourself differently
33:26There's no doubt anymore
33:28And I think there's probably some validity
33:30To that
33:32They know
33:34That what they do works
33:36And they don't need
33:38To deviate from that
33:40They don't need to doubt it
33:42When things are going wrong
33:44They just play the same way
33:46And keep creating high quality threes
33:48And keep trusting
33:50Tatum and Brown
33:52Will make the right plays
33:54And more often than not, they do
33:56And so, yeah, I really thought
34:00That Grizzlies game
34:02Was a big, big test
34:04And a huge, huge challenge
34:06And I
34:08Really thought they kind of attacked it pretty well
34:10I know I'm hyping up
34:12A loss way more than I should be
34:14But that was a really, really tough game
34:16Like that was
34:18Given the schedule
34:20One of the toughest games
34:22Of the entire season
34:24And for Peyton Pritchard
34:26To come out and kind of lead a
34:28Comeback and
34:30Them to take a lead
34:32I know they didn't end up holding it
34:34But that was
34:36That was a very good effort
34:38Yeah, they just didn't play
34:40I think good enough defense
34:42Especially in that first half
34:44But that's kind of to be expected
34:46Before we get to the moment of the week
34:48I do think we need to debate
34:50Who's the
34:52Third best center on this team right now
34:54Who are you rolling with
34:56When the moment gets down to it
34:58And you need that third center off the bench
35:00Is it the
35:02People's champion, Nemias Keita
35:04Or my champion, Luke Cornett
35:06Or are you going with Xavier Tillman
35:10I'd go with Cornett
35:12Cornett has proven
35:14He can be very reliable
35:16He can get six blocks in a game
35:18He blocks shots
35:20He finishes
35:22But that said
35:24I thought
35:26Nemi has some moments
35:28And you can use him
35:30Differently than you use Cornett
35:32Like they
35:34Switched him on to Damian Lillard
35:36Sometimes they switched him on to
35:38John Morant sometimes
35:40He's had some good moments against guards
35:42On the perimeter
35:44And in space
35:46And that's a unique skill set
35:48Not unique but a rare
35:50Skill set for
35:52Someone who's
35:54A seven footer and can block shots the way he does
35:56So
35:58I think you still have to continue
36:00Harnessing that
36:02See how you can continue to develop him
36:04Because there will be some scenarios
36:06Where you want to play
36:08That type of coverage
36:10And Nemi
36:12And Horford
36:14Whether he's out because of
36:16Back-to-back or
36:18In foul trouble
36:20Or you need to give him a breather
36:22I think Nemi
36:24It's good to have somebody
36:26Who can play a little differently
36:28They have all their bigs play very
36:30Differently and I think that's
36:32A good thing for Joe to have
36:34Just kind of different clubs in the bag
36:36I think it's not really
36:38A core situation, it's just
36:40Both of those guys are kind of
36:42Innings eaters at this point
36:44Especially with Chris Tapps and Horford
36:46Not really probably playing back-to-backs
36:48I think it's good that both those guys are effective
36:50And I'm
36:52I'm going to say it, I'm for continuing to play Nemi
36:54As he mentioned
36:56He has his moments, he provides you
36:58Just kind of a different
37:00Style of big but I don't think necessarily
37:02He's proven himself to be the monster
37:04Really better than Cornette and so you kind of
37:06I do think Cornette
37:08After defensive struggles earlier
37:10This year has come to just play
37:12A lot more physical and has done a better
37:14Job. It was funny when
37:16He was like yeah I just decided
37:18I got to play more physical, I've been too
37:20Conservative out there. Yeah Mazzulla
37:22Just kind of challenged me, didn't he say Joe said
37:24Something about it and he was just like yeah I'm going to be more
37:26Aggressive this time. Just
37:28Chose to be more aggressive, he flipped
37:30The switch back on. And it
37:32Worked, he got six blocks in the game
37:34You've never
37:36Gotten six blocks in a game?
37:38Me?
37:40Yeah I can't imagine
37:42I can't imagine either, there's no way
37:44No way, alright
37:46We have no nominations for this
37:48But it is time for
37:54That sound you heard if you were listening
37:56Means it's moment of the week, Jay
37:58I think
38:00My first nomination is just the return
38:02Of Marcus Smart to actually play
38:04A game against the Celtics
38:06It was a cool moment, him getting his standing
38:08Ovation, going over to guard
38:10Jason Tatum
38:12That would be my nomination
38:14For moment of the week but I'm curious if you have other
38:16Ones, well I guess I have other ones as well but I'm
38:18Curious what you have
38:20Yeah I think
38:22I think Smart's return
38:24Has to be, I thought it was cool
38:26He brought his two month old kid
38:28Because he wanted the kid to meet all his
38:30Friends on the Celtics
38:32He wanted the
38:34Two year old kid to just kind of experience that
38:36Night and take photos and stuff so they can
38:38Look back on it later and have that memory
38:40I saw your tweet about it and you said
38:42You had the caveat on there like not that the two year
38:44Old kid's gonna know it and then a bunch of
38:46Replies to it was like two year old kid's not gonna hear
38:48Two month old kid's never gonna know what's going on
38:50I was like yeah no, he mentioned that in the
38:52Tweet, like yeah literally said that in the
38:54Tweet
38:56Yeah I, some people just can't
38:58Can't read, there's a lot of
39:02When, at what point do you think
39:04Do you think Marcus Smart's ever gonna return to
39:06The TD Garden and not get
39:08A ovation
39:10Like that, like when is it no longer gonna be
39:12A big deal
39:14Or will it ever
39:16I think it'll always be somewhat
39:18Of a big deal
39:20But I think more so
39:22It'll be a big deal for him
39:24And his family, like
39:26He loves Boston, he's got family
39:28Members basically, he considers a lot
39:30Of those guys family members
39:32And you know he met
39:34Up with Brad Stevens before the game
39:36He met up with
39:38All those guys
39:40And just
39:42So it was special for him
39:44And so
39:46I think it'll always be special
39:48For him, I don't know how long
39:50It will be like emotional
39:52Like standing
39:54Ovation for him
39:56It also depends on how long he's playing
39:58Like he's coming off the bench for the Grizzlies
40:00Right now, I can't say he's playing
40:02His best basketball
40:04He had a tough game
40:06He had a tough game a week ago against
40:08The Mavericks, kind of like blew a game there
40:12It's love and trust forever from this side
40:14Of the game but I don't know
40:16How many times we're gonna see Marcus
40:18Smart necessarily returning
40:20To play
40:22This
40:24May be a cold and callous thing to say
40:26But did the Celtics know
40:28Something maybe that he was losing
40:30A step and kind of
40:32Trade him at the right time
40:34I wouldn't say
40:36They thought he was losing a step
40:38But
40:40They knew
40:42How old is he now
40:4431
40:4630 years old
40:48They knew that at
40:5029 years old and the style
40:52That he plays
40:54That it was gonna be
40:56Tough for him to
40:58Maintain that really high
41:00Level of play for a long time
41:02And so I don't
41:04Think they thought he was losing a step or anything
41:06But it went
41:08It figured into the calculations
41:10That he was a
41:1229 year old
41:14Like if he's
41:16Shooting defensive minded
41:18And if you
41:20Lose a little bit of that energy a little bit of that
41:22Athleticism
41:24Then you'll still have the high IQ and the
41:26Competitiveness and the will to win and all that stuff
41:28But
41:30He would have had probably diminishing
41:32Returns
41:34At some point over his next contract
41:36Or so I definitely
41:38Think that went into the calculations
41:40But also
41:42A lot of it was like free up Derek
41:44White free up Peyton Pritchard
41:46And we've seen that
41:48Both those guys taking on bigger roles
41:50Has been
41:52Very important for the Celtics
41:54In addition to getting Chris Asporzingas
41:56Who unlocks so much
41:58For them when he's healthy
42:00Yeah
42:02I think I agree with
42:04Two first round picks
42:06It was a steal of a trade
42:08Martin said he would have done the deal
42:10He's like yeah that was a great deal guys
42:12Other
42:14Nominations for moment of the week. I do think
42:16The end of the game the Bucks Al Horford
42:18Coming down hitting that three in transition was
42:20Pretty dope. What was Janice doing?
42:22This happens
42:24A lot with Janice. What were you
42:26Doing? He's taking
42:28He's almost fully eliminated
42:30The three-point shot from his game this year
42:32Like just doesn't take him anymore. You hear
42:34The quote he said after the game where he's like, I'm gonna
42:36Take it again. Like if I'm you
42:38Telling it you're dumb
42:40That was just like
42:42Competitive
42:44You know, make it next time type thing
42:46I'm gonna make a both
42:48Williams I'm gonna make them both tight statement
42:50You should not have taken that shot
42:52That was
42:54Absolutely not down one
42:56And you just play with a tired
42:58Shot though and and I think
43:00It speaks to
43:02One of the Bucks issues
43:04Which is that
43:06They need their top
43:08Two guys
43:10Three guys now with Middleton
43:12To do so much like the Celtics
43:14Are fortunate and
43:16It's not usual
43:18But they have so many guys
43:20They can go to to
43:22Run the offense for a little while to
43:24Make plays happen, you know
43:26If Tatum
43:28Needs a little breathe like you can have
43:30Jalen Brown run the offense you can have
43:32Payne Pritchard run the offense you can
43:34Just hand the keys to Derek
43:36White for a little while and
43:38They have six guys who can go for
43:4020 points every game
43:42Yeah, it's just wild
43:44Whereas Giannis is like
43:46Putting his head down putting his shoulder
43:48Down trying to over
43:50Power guys the whole game and
43:52They need him to make a ton of plays
43:54Because they're world players
43:56You can't
43:58Run offense to those guys you just can't
44:00They're either
44:02Spot up guys like green
44:04Or they're
44:06Not really much
44:08Offensive player at all like
44:10Jackson
44:12Or like
44:14They're both Lopez
44:16Who used to be a post
44:18Up guy now he's just kind of a spot
44:20Up guy but they
44:22Need Giannis so much that was a tired shot
44:24That was
44:26I'm gonna have a Bill Simmons moment here
44:28That was like me
44:30Me when I'm like fat
44:32And out of shape
44:34And I just pull up from like 30 feet
44:36Because it's easier
44:38Than going to the basket
44:40I've played in some of those pickup games with you
44:42You get a little tired you start jacking
44:44From three you play three point line to three point line
44:46Exactly that's just how it goes
44:48That's better than me who just
44:50Doesn't shoot at all because
44:52I'm a coward so
44:54You know six eggs in one
44:56Six eggs also in the other
44:58Some might say
45:00Yeah and then
45:02Horford just punished him right away
45:04Horford for him to still at 38
45:06Be as
45:08Competent
45:10And highly successful
45:12Guarding Giannis as he is
45:14He's the best Giannis defender in the league which doesn't make any sense
45:16Is he a mental thing at this point
45:18Like he just knows
45:20Giannis' game so well because he's like
45:22Gone up against him so many times over the past couple of years
45:24I'm sure that's part of it
45:26But also it's like
45:28He's so smart and he's always been
45:30Great at
45:32Playing against guys
45:34Who you can give some space to
45:36And and he's so
45:38Physical and he's good against guards
45:40He has to like pretend to like
45:42Contest threes on like I can just imagine
45:44Trey or Steph Curry
45:46Like beating him off the dribble
45:48There but a guy you can see are like Donovan
45:50Mitchell gives him some problems
45:52Too but but if he can like
45:54Give you space
45:56And then just
45:58Use angles and use his body
46:00And his strength and his
46:02Balance then
46:04There aren't many better
46:06Defenders than Al Horford and obviously
46:08With Giannis that's just kind of what you do
46:10You you are giving him
46:12Space you're trying to take
46:14His his enormous
46:16Bumps that man is so strong
46:18Right he he moved Jalen
46:20Brown that one play like
46:22Jalen kind of like
46:24Kind of like just stand him
46:26Up almost and he just went right
46:28Through and finished the layup and it was like
46:30That is a strong man you just
46:32Bullied on your way to the basket
46:34But then Jalen got him back and then there's the
46:36Too small I love I'd be loved if you
46:38Doing a too small to a
46:406-11 guy is like I love that move
46:42You lose it kind of loses all meaning
46:44I disagree that's what you
46:46Gotta do it for like
46:48You shouldn't do it to the guys
46:50That are actually too small yeah punch
46:52Up or punch down not yeah
46:54Yeah I was speaking of Jalen
46:56Celebrations this is not gonna be
46:58Moment of the week but I think it's a moment worth
47:00Celebrating
47:02Dunking on beef stew and then doing a
47:04Throat slash like that's
47:06What's a bold move beef stew
47:08Is crazy beef stew tried to fight LeBron
47:10James
47:12Sure he got fined twenty five thousand
47:14Dollars for the throat slash but I
47:16Think it was
47:18Well worth it and then
47:20Beef stew tried to get him back as they threw him into the
47:22Or throw on a rebound
47:24It was amazing
47:26Just shoved it
47:28Jalen is just
47:30He doesn't take any crap anymore
47:32I don't know
47:34If he did earlier
47:36He was never a big crap taker
47:38Crap
47:40Jalen Brown does not
47:42Take craps
47:44He never took much crap
47:46But now he's definitely not
47:48Taking crap
47:50It doesn't matter who it's from
47:52I respect it because he often goes after the biggest
47:54Baddest dudes
47:56He's the enforcer of the Celtics
47:58There's no one else on the team who's gonna play that role
48:00Even when it feels like they play
48:02With an itch
48:04What was that crap
48:06Was it Zeebo who said to DeMarcus Cousins
48:08Like in my hood bullies get bullied
48:10Yeah
48:12I feel like Jalen tries to bully bullies
48:14Like
48:16That's his MO
48:18He doesn't go after the weak
48:20He goes after the bullies
48:22And tries to bully them
48:24It's a power move
48:26I feel like it's necessary for the Celtics
48:28The Celtics are kind of a team of nice guys
48:30Like Tatum
48:32If you bump him at all he's just gonna get up immediately
48:34Have you ever seen Tatum get in someone's face
48:36Like another player
48:38That's just not part of his game
48:40Derek White's not gonna do that
48:42Peyton Pritchard will talk some shit to
48:44Eric Spolstra
48:46That's another nomination for moment of the week
48:48Is Peyton Pritchard knocking down a bunch of threes
48:50And just shaking his head at Spoh
48:52Not sure what that one was
48:54Peyton Pritchard I feel like
48:56He'll talk some shit but he's not getting in guys faces
48:58It's really only Jalen Brown
49:00And
49:02I wonder
49:04And Joe loves it
49:06Like Joe loves it
49:08Joe was asked
49:10I don't know if we're doing
49:12The shit Joe said
49:14We are right now, here it is
49:16But
49:18When he was talking about Jalen's
49:20Technical
49:22After
49:24I mean
49:26I don't even know if Janis elbowed him
49:28I know people were saying like the elbow
49:30Looked like it kind of struck Jalen
49:32But I don't know
49:34If he meant to do it or what
49:36Definitely gray area there
49:38But
49:40Joe loved that Jalen
49:42Then bumped Janis
49:44And put his finger out at him
49:46He wants that team
49:48To have an edge and he wants them to use
49:50Moments like that to energize them
49:52And I think it did
49:54And Jalen's become
49:56That guy
49:58I don't think he was always that guy
50:00It's not like he shied away from things
50:02He was smart on the team
50:04He was the emotional leader of the team
50:06I think there was a need for someone to step up
50:08With smart lead
50:10And Jalen has definitely took on that mantle
50:12And this is my role
50:14I'm going to be the second best player
50:16I'm going to be the best player when Jason Tatum's out
50:18As he was in that Pistons game
50:20But also
50:22If you need a bully
50:24If you need an enforcer
50:26If Grant Williams body checks Jason Tatum
50:28Jalen's going to be the first one there
50:30To make something happen
50:32Give a hard foul
50:34And basically do all that
50:36I don't know where that would come from
50:38On this team if it wasn't for Jalen
50:42I don't know if anyone would do it
50:44Because Chris Dobson just wants to
50:46Smile at a man
50:48Just wants to smile and wink
50:50Al Horford just wants to get the ball inbounded
50:52As fast as possible
50:56I don't think anyone else
50:58Would do it
51:00Jalen just has to be that guy
51:02And he is
51:04He's embraced that even more this season
51:08He's bullying bullies
51:10It seems to be working for him
51:12Celtics as we've said
51:14Second best team in Eastern Conference
51:16Are 19-5
51:18Got some time to rest this week
51:20With a bunch of days off which should be good for them
51:22Hopefully
51:24We still haven't seen a stretch of them
51:26Having their full complete roster
51:28And hopefully we'll get that
51:30In December just to see exactly
51:32What their team is
51:34I feel like we got
51:36We got one game where we had Al Horford
51:38Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard
51:40As just the three guys off the bench
51:42And then I think Derek White got hurt in that game
51:44So I'm just looking forward to an extended stretch of basketball
51:46To seeing the Celtics at full strength
51:50Whatever happens
51:52Still Potable will be here for you
51:54Monday through Friday
51:56Celtics Podcast
51:58Go to patreon.com
52:00Appreciate everyone on the Still Potable community
52:02Who've helped fill out the survey
52:04Telling us what we can be
52:06Doing better, what you like about Still Potable
52:08If you haven't yet
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52:14For us, we'd be much appreciated
52:16For B-Rob
52:18For Sean Gautier
52:20Not for Jake King because he yelled at me
52:22I'm not allowed to speak for him
52:24But for myself, appreciate everyone listening
52:26And we'll be back
52:28Later this week with more Still Potable