The Weekend Greenie Bag - Should We Worry About Isaiah's Usage?
Hello and welcome back to the best thing to ever happen to your Saturday mornings. Since the debut of the Weekend Greenie Bag in August, we’ve covered a lot of topics, had some fun, vented together, and really got to the bottom of some tough questions like if Marcus Smart’s hair is fucking up his jumpshot. You know the things the big J journalists are too afraid to touch. This week is no different as there were a ton of great submissions yet again. Boy do you guys know how to make a blogger blush. Every time I see an email or tweet come in Larry and Walter get treats so if anything don’t do it for me, do it for them. Being a part of the magic is easy, tweet whatever to me with #greeniebag or get in-depth as fuck and email greenieceltsbag@gmail.com. You write it, I’ll use it, then you can tell people you’ve been featured on Barstool Sports and it won’t be a lie. Help me help you help me.
With that said, let’s get to the good stuff
Jake I’d like to think it was our friendship that turned around Jonas’ season, but I’m afraid that isn’t the case. The numbers are staggering and deserve a closer look. Since the GS debacle on November 18, when everyone came back, we’ve seen Jonas’ production completely change from earlier in the year. Over this span he’s shooting 17-20 (86%) from the field and 7-8 (87%) from deep. His minutes are pretty consistent with what he’s been getting all year (16.8), so what changed?
Well, what changed is the talent around him got better. The reason Jonas is having this great stretch is because the team is putting him in the best position to succeed offensively. For example, when Jonas gets an uncontested shot (no defender within 4 ft) he hasn’t missed. He is shooting 100% on open looks. Over the last 6 games, this has happened pretty frequently, around 35% of the time Jonas is on the floor. Jonas is at his best when he doesn’t have to put the ball on the floor, and can simply take his time and lineup his shot. I mean he is white. So it’s not surprising that 55% of the time he is taking zero dribbles before a shot, and in those instances he is shooting 90%.
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It also helps that he is getting the ball during a fat time in the shot clock. He’s somehow found a way to get the ball most with 15-7 seconds left, as opposed to being a last second option that forces him to take a bad shot and ruin his confidence.
It also should be mentioned that his energy has a lot to do with it, it’s been much better over the last few weeks and his rebounding numbers show that. You’d never know it, but this is actually the best offensive season in terms of offensive rating of Jonas’ career.
We haven’t seen shooting like this in I don’t know how long, so I say enjoy it while it lasts.
Ryan I hate that you are about to make me do this. In fact, I almost considered skipping this question and reporting you to Twitter for what you are causing. I am going to close my eyes while I type this
I agree with Felger and Mazz on this siiue.
Look, I love Brad, I think he is a basketball genius, and there are maybe two or three other coaches I would rather have leading this team. Having said that, this isn’t the NFL. The NBA is a players league and if you have the best players it almost makes your coach irrelevant. So yes, if the Celtics have an opportunity to trade for a Cousins or KAT or Anthony Davis and that package requires Brad Stevens, then you have to do it.
Now excuse me as I go drink bleach.
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Hey Greenie,
I’m a big fan of the blog, probably one of the only reasons I still read barstool (shoutout to Carrabis too). One of the things thats bothered me about the Celtics in the Brad Stevens era is their inability to hold a lead. It seems like every time, no matter how big a lead they stretch in the first half, at some point later in the game it will be back to a one possession lead. I don’t remember that ever being an issue with the KG/ Paul Pierce led Celtics. Sure, those teams were more talented, but I think a big part of our late game inconsistencies comes with the fact that the most veteran leaders we have are both incredibly reserved in AB and Al, and some of our more vocal leaders are all in their low 20s (Jae, IT, Marcus). My question is, what dirt cheap player from around the league would you trade for to ride the bench (they can take Tyler Zeller’s spot) and be a legitimate veteran leader for the C’s?
- Thanks, Matt
Matt your concern is valid, the Celtics do love to blow fast starts and big leagues. Before we get into why, I do disagree with you on something. This isn’t just a Brad Stevens Era thing, this shit sure as hell happened during the Doc Rivers Era as well. The first thing you need to consider, is this is really The Theory to a T. Watching the Celtics have a great first quarter and build a big lead at this point doesn’t even move the needle for me. I’ve done the research, I’ve studied the ancient texts, I know that the Celtics are going to blow the lead. It’s who they are. Why it happens is anyone’s guess, but I see it not as a result of no veteran leader, as a shift in offensive strategy. They get lazy, and when the Celtics get lazy shit like that happens.
Now you might say, they need a veteran leader to prevent them from getting lazy, and while that might be true, I think because these guys have been around each other for so long you get that accountability from everyone. There will never be another KG or anything like that, but I think Isaiah does a good job of being vocal, shit Marcus Smart just called everyone out in the huddle a few weeks ago so I think they have guys that are willing to speak up when shit needs to be said.
But I do agree that they could always use more veteran help. For me that guy is Andrew Bogut. He’s won a ring, he is still productive, and he goes about the game the right way. Factor in the fact that he directly helps you in an area of need, I’d love to see it.
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Question for ya..
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Does Brad need to worry about Isaiah’s minutes this year? IT is averaging about 33 minutes per game which seems appropriate, right around where Kemba, Kyrie & Steph are. But I can’t help but think that the beating he takes on a nightly basis going to the rim and getting to the free throw line could take a toll. It’d definitely be a fine line trying to find potential games for IT to sit out and rest and still make a push for a top 2-3 seed in the East. If we’re ever going to make any noise in the playoffs, he obviously has to be healthy and carry the load.
Keep up the great work, love the blog and the work you put in to keep us up to date on everything Celtics!
Sincerely, Worried about the little guy Mike
Great question here from Mike, and frankly it’s something I’ve been trying to ignore all season. Right off the bat, the good news is Isaiah’s 33 minutes per game are NOT the highest of his career, so it’s not as if we are working in uncharted waters. Here’s the bad news, that year in SAC when he got that sort of floor time, his usage rate wasn’t close to where it is on this Celtics team. That’s what worries me.
But until the Celts show consistent signs of secondary scoring, I’m afraid I can’t see this changing. We saw the downside in the DET game, he had already played 28 minutes entering the fourth quarter, and as a result sat for the first 7 minutes (which may have been a smidge too long). Right now he’s basically only coming out at the end of quarters, but seeing as he is one of the best fourth quarter scorers in the entire league, he needs to be available down the stretch of games.
It’s true, the numbers don’t lie. The Celtics pace is much slower. A 101.1 pace last season (3rd), the Celtics currently stand at 98.6 (19th) so far this year. Their causing fewer turnovers per game (16.4 vs 14.0), and rebounding less as well. You can’t play at a fast pace if you aren’t rebounding or causing turnovers. I found it interesting that teams are shooting essentially the same against the Celts this year (44/33%) as last, so what gives. It’s not like the Celts can’t run because guys are making more and more shots against them, so what gives?
I think a lot of it has to do with health. Obviously when key guys are out, you aren’t going to have that same sort of result. Since guys have been back, they’ve been better in this department, and as a result have won 4 of 6. The more this group fully healthy plays together, I would expect their pace to improve.
But here’s the thing, unless you’re GS, playing at a elite pace level hasn’t proven to be that effective. For example, here are the teams that have been in the top 5 in pace other than GS: SAC, PHX, BOS, PHI, LAL, DEN, BKN
Not exactly the teams competing for an NBA championship so the fact that the Celts are 19th right now does not leave me overly concerned. If their pace improves great, but I care more about them just played better defense.
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Huge fan of your blogs. I’ll watch games and then still read them because your takes are a lot better than some of the garbage on NESN.
Hypothetical here. Given Isaiah’s love for where he’s from, do you think we would ever have to worry about him jumping ship if Seattle could get a basketball franchise again while Isaiah is still in his prime? Or would he stick it out with the franchise that he gives the 18th and so on banner and that gives him rings? – Ryan
Ryan, I have long been an advocate for NBA basketball’s return to Seattle. Let’s for fun say this is a thing by the summer of 2018. How about this for a doomsday scenario, what if Isaiah AND Avery decide to return home? Both of their deals will be up, both are extremely prideful of where they’re from, if money isn’t an issue who’s to say that couldn’t happen?
Going home is all the rage with NBA players nowadays, and Isaiah would be just as much of a #Gawd there as he is here. In fact probably 10x more so. Now if the Celtics suddenly starting competing for a title and winning championships, who the hell knows, but this entire question is making me uncomfortable so I would like to move on.
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Also…this doesn’t exactly help
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Hey Greenie,
Who gets more three-happy, Marcus or Jae?
Also, once they made their first three, who is guaranteed to follow up with a heat check?
I’m inclined to say that Jae gets three happy a little more than Marcus, I’d like to see Jae take it to the rim more, do you think he is hesitant because of his ankle?
- Thanks again for the blog, Ryan
Ryan they are two peas in the same pod. Both love to fall in love with the three more than any player I’ve ever seen, only they go about it in different ways. When Marcus does it, his problem is then he tries these ridiculous low percentage step back heat check threes. Those are an atrocity. With Jae, he doesn’t take those type of bad shots, but like you said he just stops attacking the rim. If I had to choose between the two I think I’d prefer Jae to be the one because I know he won’t take bad shots, he’ll just take harder shots than he has to.
We now shift gears to this week’s Greenie Awards
This weeks MVP: Jonas Jerebko
You go this long shooting this well, you get this spot
Play(s) of the week: Isaiah Thomas
Still nasty
This week’s LVP: Jaylen Brown
He’s appeared in every game and has a total of 2 points. Shit like this happens when you play like 6 min a night, but we didn’t get much from Jaylen this week so my hands are tied.
This week’s Most Improved Player: Amir Johnson
Might not be the popular opinion, but we saw signs of life from him this week! Baby steps.
And that will do it for this weeks Greenie Bag. To those who wrote in you know the deal, I am forever in debt to you. Have a great weekend everyone!