https://www.sbnation.com/e/24005223
What received you into basketball and the Celtics?
Nicely, I’m really the kid of first-generation immigrants, each of my dad and mom having moved to the US from India. Neither of them actually adopted any American sports activities, so we solely actually ever watched Tremendous Bowls in our home, and perhaps the occasional baseball recreation. As my brother and I have been rising up, our dad and mom wished us to search out new actions to get us out of the home and assist us meet new folks, in order that they began by signing us up for baseball classes after I was 4 and my brother was 6, and later after I received to 4th grade, they signed us each up for basketball.
That’s actually the place my love for the sport began, and it was complimented properly by the truth that a brand new household moved in simply subsequent door to us the identical yr. My brother and I immediately turned finest mates with them, and so they’re actually those who launched us to the NBA. Carlton, the second oldest of the six youngsters, was an avid Cavs fan, particularly due to none aside from LeBron James. He spent quite a lot of time explaining LeBron’s greatness to us, and even received my brother to affix the bandwagon.
I, nonetheless, was all in on Boston.
I used to be raised in Connecticut, and since we didn’t actually have any large sports activities groups of our personal on the time exterior of UConn (and the current addition of the WNBA’s Connecticut Solar), we have been at all times left to choose between Boston and New York groups. Humorous sufficient, we have been at all times a lot nearer to New York than Boston, however as quickly as I used to be placed on the Purple Sox group in a scrimmage at one in every of my first baseball practices, I latched on to Boston all through all my sports activities groups. Thus, as I began to observe the NBA I turned a Celtics fan, and simply in time to observe them win the ‘08 championship besides.
Simply in case my brother reads this, I ought to point out that though he was a Cavs fan (extra so a LeBron fan), his fandom additionally stretched to the Celtics, and he made a customized cut up hat to show it, with a drawn-on Cavs emblem on one facet and a Celtics emblem on the opposite. Looking back, that may be thought of blasphemy, however it’s not as unhealthy as him beginning out as a Yankees fan and finally changing over to the Purple Sox after he realized they have been the superior group. Since then, my household began watching almost all the Celtics video games collectively, and my brother and I have been in a position to convert our dad and mom into followers, too.
What are your strengths and/or favourite subjects as a author?
I by no means really envisioned myself being a author since I used to be extra of a math and science man all through college. I even received my diploma in Software program Engineering, and there’s kind of a operating joke within the software program engineering neighborhood that we’re recognized for being illiterate, horrible communicators. I’d say the few issues that basically set me on this path are my potential to overthink and overanalyze the issues I care about, my countless must yap, and my real love of the sport.
I by no means had something near a proper schooling on the X’s and O’s of basketball, however the recreation at all times simply made sense to me. I’ve at all times admired the move, making an attempt to choose aside how every play impacts the following, and what little particulars might be tweaked to grow to be extra environment friendly on each ends of the court docket. I’d continuously have these conversations with my brother and mates, together with talks about how completely different gamers match in several methods and will assist enhance the group. We even spent numerous hours crafting super-teams to pit in opposition to one another within the MyGM mode of NBA 2K to check our basketball acumen whereas we have been rising up. Ultimately, I began writing my ideas and opinions down, and to my shock, folks really learn them.
I believe the rationale why folks get pleasure from what I write is due to my potential to craft narratives, use movie and knowledge to again it up, and maintain issues optimistic but sincere (not like what you discover on NBA Twitter.) I don’t come at it making an attempt to push agendas (for probably the most half,) and I write it as I see it. Normally, the subjects that I write about most come from a GM or coach mindset, making an attempt to offer some evaluation on group efficiency and wishes. I believe “what would I do if I have been in Brad or Joe’s place?”
What’s your daring prediction for the approaching season?
It’s arduous to provide you with daring predictions for the Celtics when the roster has had virtually zero turnaround and is coming off of a historic, banner yr. Actually. The one actual unknown for us going into the following yr is well being – of our group and the remainder of the league. We already know that Kristaps Porzingis will possible be sidelined till at the least December, and I’m not one to make predictions about different folks’s well being as a result of I don’t need to put any unhealthy power out into the world.
My subsequent line of thought can be to foretell the common season awards, though except Jayson Tatum’s All-NBA alternatives, the Celtics haven’t been getting a lot respect in that division, so I’d hardly name one other yr of snubs a daring prediction. Any of Jrue Vacation, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum might be thought of for an All-Defensive group, the Jays possible ought to and can make All-NBA groups, and if the Celtics find yourself atop the league once more, I think about Joe Mazzulla would really find yourself getting the Coach of the Yr nod this time round. None of that’s daring sufficient, although.
To be sincere, there’s not far more in regards to the Celtics that makes me skeptical of them going into subsequent season. The largest variable I see is the extent of competitors this yr, particularly that of the New York Knicks. Most individuals have them as the most important hurdle for the Celtics, and a few even have them on prime. They exceeded expectations final yr, till accidents consumed them and introduced their playoff run to an finish. They completed the yr going 50-32, 2nd within the East, and falling to the arms of the Indiana Pacers after going 7 video games within the 2nd spherical.
Regardless of their offseason upgrades, I don’t have them ending above 50 wins this season, and I don’t see them making it previous the 2nd spherical of the playoffs both. In concept they need to be higher this yr given their improved well being and including in Mikal Bridges, to not point out getting a full season of OG Anunoby. They’ve an ideal defensive group, and are very succesful offensively as properly with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle main the way in which. Not solely that, however they’re a deep group, even when Tom Thibodeau holds them to a 8-9 man rotation once more. That being mentioned, I don’t see them having as a lot success as they did final yr.
Probably the most obvious problem in my eyes is that the lack of Isaiah Hartenstein. With Isaiah off the roster, the Knicks are pressured to decide on between enjoying Randle on the 5, enjoying Mitchell Robinson north of 28 minutes a recreation, or taking place the depth chart to usher in Treasured Achiuwa or Jericho Sims for significant minutes every night time (barring one other offseason commerce or acquisition). Robinson has solely managed to play 65+ video games in a season twice, these being his rookie yr (66 video games) and the 21-22 season (72 video games.) He doesn’t have an ideal file of well being, and that comes whereas enjoying within the 24-27 mpg vary. I wouldn’t contemplate him dependable at this level, however evidently quite a lot of accountability will fall on his shoulders when he’s obtainable.
Randle and Treasured each stand at 6’8, making them fairly undersized in opposition to the East’s expert 7 footers like Porzingis, Embiid, and Giannis. With the ability to include these guys defensively is troublesome sufficient as it’s, however with such a major dimension benefit you’re asking for hassle. Exterior of Randle, that large man rotation leaves so much to be desired on the offensive finish, so it’s not like they will get their get again both. Hartenstein was an ideal rim runner, offensive rebounder, and an underrated facilitator from the publish. He created quite a lot of alternatives for that offense which don’t appear to be they’ll be obtainable once more this season.
Lastly, this isn’t a daring take, however I don’t love the match of Randle on this group offensively. Whereas he may help area the ground, he performs a slower recreation than the remainder of the group, and if he has to tackle additional facilitating accountability he’s going to want to work on that 5 : 3.5 help to turnover ratio. The Knicks have been his group when final season began, however Brunson took possession shortly after Randle’s shoulder harm and is now the official group captain. That places Julius in a troublesome place the place he has to take a again seat, however nonetheless know the best way to be aggressive and management the sport whereas enjoying within the system that introduced the Knicks a lot success final yr. It’s not one thing I imagine he’s able to simply but, and I believe their file will mirror that.
I see final yr’s Knicks group as a little bit of a Cinderella story, and whereas I believe on paper, they’re deeper and extra proficient this yr, they’re not fairly a contender simply but, though they’re knocking on that door.
