Mailbag answers Part II: where I question the questions

Sometimes you don’t have any answers so you have to answer questions with more questions. I did so on all of these questions from the mailbag. If you missed Part I, click here.

WCrockett

Who could we get in turn for Tatum, or for Tatum and Smart? Or for Tatum, Smart and Williams?

If the Celtics have to part with one of Tatum or Brown in a shakeup, I would keep Brown. He’s more disciplined, more focused. Not perfect, but not trying to be the next Kobe.

Since Tatum has been anointed a superstar by the entire league (prematurely, in terms of consistency and maturity), he would have a better trade value than Brown, right? Marcus is an elite defensive player with a great motor. But his penchant for hero ball is killing us. If you chipped in Marcus and a few bench players, who could you get? Finally, could you get an actual superstar center if you threw in Robert Williams? I love the Time Lord, but he is fragile and he needs to add 30 or 40 pounds to really compete with the best.

Really? Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. I’m against trading Tatum or Brown.

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

nba-fan

Is there a way to acquire top notch point guard?

Either through draft (I have been refuted that is impossible to get high pick in this year’s draft) or through trade. I do not care.

My strong belief is that this team would play much much better if there would be a floor leader in the manner of classical (hopefully) top level PG.

I think we dwell too much on soft issues too much and disregard that the players are put in a position to fail, by being asked to create in the read and react system. We ask them to swing the ball, attack, blah blah blah. All of that comes after making a instantaneous decision. And decision making is much easier when within a clearly defined system.

Are we sure that a classical PG is the right solution? Are there still classical point guards in the league? Too often, “pass first” points tend to be pound-the-ball-into-the-floor points. That helps their assist totals but doesn’t always make an offense hum.

I think the modern game is moving more towards drive-and-kick with multiple interchangeable ball handlers and I’m encouraged by Tatum and Brown’s progress in that regard. As long as the “classical” point guard can work within and enhance a free-flowing system and not be a total liability as a floor spacer, I’m open to ideas.

maumeeriver

Jrue Holiday

Great player on both ends of the floor. Would have made a huge difference for the Celtics if they could have acquired him say last year instead of Kemba. That ship has sailed and I still think this team’s 2021 fate rides on Kemba’s shoulders — i.e., if he can stay healthy and play a lot the Celtics will go far in the playoffs. If not, I’m unsure. I don’t think they stack up well against either Brooklyn or Milwaukee. Maybe they can get by the Sixers once more, albeit Brett Brown has left town. Problem has been that the Celtics have been on somewhat of a downward trajectory since the start of the Miami series in the ECF last year where Miami outplayed and outcoached them. Could be that COVID and injuries are the issue, that this year is completely upside down for many of the teams and surprises may happen in the playoffs. We’ll see.

Could we have gotten him a year or two ago instead of Kemba? Hard to say but I’m guessing that he wasn’t very available at the time. With that said, yeah, I’d love to have him on this team for a number of reasons.

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

CoachPeteBell

Per 36 minutes Taco Fall gets 4.3 blocks per game

His turnovers and fouls are both improved from last season. Taco has only played real minutes in one game all year. 19 vs Washington. Celtics won the game. Could give the young player a start and see how it goes. Kornet also could get a start

Does he give us anything other than blocks? Blocks are fun and can be an effective part of a team’s defense, but I’m worried that he doesn’t move his feet fast enough to be part of any kind of switching defense. You almost have to go into some variation of zone or drop back center with him on the court. That’s fine for a change of pace option but I don’t think it will be consistently good.

Flava Frayz

Brad Beal and Aaron Gordon

When will Brad Beal and Aaron Gordon join our roster? I’m asking for a friend.

Does your friend have a crystal ball I can borrow? I think the Aaron Gordon ship has sailed. Beal seems like a long shot. We’ll see.

MurphyHOF

What are the reasons for the ridiculously poor health of this team the last five years?

Is the training staff terrible? Are the players soft? Are they mostly freak injuries? Are other franchises missing players just as often?

It seems they are incapable of putting a full roster on the court. Maybe it wouldn’t matter because they just aren’t good enough, but how would we ever know?

Is there a doctor in the house? I went to school for a long time, but not long enough to get a medical degree. If I remember correctly, the training staff got a shake up a year or two ago. No idea how to evaluate them. No idea how much of it is on them and how much of it is just sheer bad luck.

Thanks again for the questions, folks!