The Celtics are 12-10. They were 8-3 but now they alternate prestigious victories (like the one added against the Clippers) with a good batch of losses on a tour of the West that ends in special category port: visit Utah Jazz, the fittest team in the NBA. The Celtics (four defeats in six games) have been hit by the coronavirus (Jayson Tatum) and injuries traditional (Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart are out now). Y its performance is being disappointing, with the advantage that things are not very there in the East, so that 12-10 still allows them to be conference quarters.
Beyond punctual bad luck, the squad has obvious gaps for a team with the highest aspirations (last season’s Conference finalist). It lacks depth and concerns the performance of players like Jeff Teague, Tristan Thompson and Kemba Walker, called to be one of the stars of the team and who does not find his place or, of course, the level that he taught during his years in the Hornets. Kemba, stopped first by a knee injury, does not pick up pace. He was 4/20 on shooting in the loss to the Suns, including 0/9 on shooting two. He is at 35.7% on field shots and 30.8% on triples. A serious problem that the player himself has analyzed after the loss in Arizona. Also Brad Stevens, who sang the MEA culpa and he assured that they have to ensure that Kemba has more space and more opportunities to exploit his virtues in attack.
With the market close set for this pandemic season on March 25, rumors surround (like other teams) the verdes. Danny Ainge himself spoke last week of what his team might need: “I’d say the biggest shortcoming is that we don’t have great players and shooters. There are many ways to win in the NBA, but I would say we could use more shooting, more ability to pass… and you always need defense. ” In Boston they already make speculations. It seems very difficult to look at targets like Harrison Barnes or Davis Bertans, and the question is whether players like Aaron Gordon, Terrence Ross or even PJ Tucker could be closer. And while, the journalist Kevin O’Connor (The Ringer) add more fuel to the fire: “Several executives from different teams have written to tell me that the Celtics are up to something”. The Celtics, don’t forget, they have the massive trade exception (more than 28 million dollars) that they obtained after the sign and trade of Gordon Hayward.
Some believe they might even look for a base given the situation of Teague and Kemba, which from Globe Live Media has already been placed in the hierarchy of the Celtics (bigger words, but a sample of the delicate moment of the four times all star) behind of Payton Pritchard, the point guard chosen with number 26 in the last draft and who is being one of the most positive notes it’s from the season celtic. Everything that is inefficiency in Kemba, is correct in a Pritchard that borders 50% in shots and hovers around the luxurious 50-40-90 (50% in field shots, 40% in triples, 90% in free throws): now 49.5, 40.2 and 90. Plus Carsen Edwards, early out of the rotation, is taking minutes away from Teague.