The Weekend Greenie Bag - What Are Your Top 5 Celtics Teams Ever?

Like you, I’m just sitting here on a nice Sunday looking to kill the last few hours until #RNR4 which incase you didn’t know you can still BUY BUY BUY so I figured why not spend that time and check in on what’s on the brains of the stoolies. Hopefully you’re relaxing, your hangover finally starting to improve, and before you know it it’ll be time to watch people beat the absolute shit out of each other which again you can buy right here.

Anyway, there was no shortage of topics for this week’s mailbag, and as always you can be a part of the blog anytime you want by hitting me up at greenieceltsbag@gmail.com or tweet whatever with #GreenieBag. Important to remember instructions so I don’t miss anything.

With that said, your questions…

Hey Greenie,

After seeing Ainge trying to get closer to the luxury tax line, I started to wonder, would it be possible to give Al an extension and structure it in a way that he gets less money this year? Consensus seems to be that’s he’ll sign a deal with a hometown discount in two years anyway. – Viva, Jake

For those who don’t know, Al Horford has a player option after this season for $30M dollars. I would be shocked if he turns that down in order to sign for a lesser number. If you want to talk about his next contract, in the 2021 season? That I could see being more realistic at 34. To think Horford would give up that money early would be foolish, and he shouldn’t. He earned every damn penny of that max deal and incase you didn’t know kids are expensive.

Hi Greenie,

If Celtics bench players(Aron Baynes/ Daniel Theis ,
Marcus Smart ,
Terry Rozier ,
Marcus Morris / Guerschon Yabusele ,
Semi Ojeleye) were starting, would they make it to a playoff .If yes, what seed could they possibly be?

Looking at a the lineup it could be one hell of a defensive unit.

Would love to get your feedback. Thanks,
Sujan

Well, my heart says 4 seed but my head says probably 7 or 8 seed. I’m just not sure about the offense, or should I say lack of offense and how that would shake out over the course of the season. I mean if that group only scores around 103 a night they have problems, it doesn’t matter how good their defense would be. Like the Wizards were 4 games over .500 as the 8 seed, that isn’t some crazy number and their defense stunk out loud.

Or they would be Charlotte. Only two options.

The Raptors. We are assuming 100% health for either team right? I’m sure the Sixers fans would want that for their guys, so both things being equal the Raptors are a deeper team with a better home court advantage. Both teams are going to be really good, probably all in the 50+ win range, but when it comes to the two rosters, the Raptors are just deeper. You on the Sixers bench scares you? TJ McConnell? The Raptors had the best bench in the league last year and is adding a top 5 player when healthy. The Raptors didn’t have the best differential in the East by accident.

Both essentially choke once the playoffs roll around anyway, but the Raptors have more wings and athletes to match up with the Celts. We already know PHI isn’t a matchup problem for our bench, let alone fully healthy squad.

I believe we’ll win 60+ games. The Celtics will lose in 5 to the Warriors. That’s unfortunately the inevitable ending to this season. – Brian

I am going to stress this pretty much all season. We as Celtics fans need to be a little careful. It’s really hard to win 60+ games. You need a lot of shit to go your way, and while on paper the Celtics have the talent to theoretically get there, let’s watch it play out a little. This is now the first year where the Celtics have legit championship expectations, no longer able to just be the scrappy overachievers who were playing above their heads. Now they have eyes on them and a target on their back. We have no idea how they are going to respond to that. They’re now the favorite, and when that happens not every team responds well.

You also have to remember what team we’re talking about here. The Celtics MO is the fact that they refuse to make things easy. This season should not be treated like they just signed LeBron and have an automatic place in the NBA Finals.

Look someone has to eventually end the Warriors reign. Why not us.

How many minutes do you think Bob Williams is gonna get this year? Or will he be in the g league? – Bob

For me, it comes down to two things.

1. Does Robert Williams arrive to the arena on time

2. Can he defend and rebound

That’s it. That’s all Williams has to do in his role on this team, and if he’s able to do that, why not give him 10-15 minutes a night? With Monroe gone there should be some left over even with Theis coming back. But I also expect him to spend a good amount of time in Maine as well. There’s nothing wrong with going to Maine every once in a while just to get minutes and stay fresh. It all starts with showing up on time, but then the sky’s the limit.

Greenie

Long time stoolie from Utah here, Ryan. I have a question for you. With Marcus Smart now paid, do we think we will see a more composed and intelligent/efficient player on offense (on defense he’s a fucking boss)? He doesn’t have to overcompensate or put up bad shots out of almost fear that if he doesn’t get numbers he won’t get paid. I hope to see Brad tightening up Smart’s decision making this season.

Thanks and Viva – Ryan

Ryan Ryan Ryan, you are looking at this all wrong. Marcus Smart just got his bag without ever having to fix his shot. You think he’s now going to be more conservative? Noooooooooo chance. We’re about to get a career high in 3PA from Smart you can take that to the goddamn bank.

With Smart it all comes down to his decision making. I don’t even care about the FG% as long as he is making the right basketball decisions. Is he running the P&R creating for others? Is he using his size on the block? Or is he being a dickhead and taking long early in the shot clock threes? Something so simple really makes all the difference whenever Smart plays.

What are your top 5 favorite Celtics teams? Is this the deepest team on paper we have ever had? I am more excited going into this season than I have ever been. – Justin

Great question. Factoring only teams I’ve seen while alive, off the top of my head I’d probably go like this

1. 2007-08
2. 2001-02
3. 2016-17
4. 2017-18
5. 2009-10

I’d be curious to hear what you would rank though. List it in the comments or @me.

For me, the title team always will be #1 until someone else wins a ring. That is not up for debate. Then I had to go with the team that was by far the most successful during my entire adolescence. Then I had to go with one of the most entertaining Celtics seasons of my lifetime, including one of then best offensive seasons in Celtics history. Of course then we have last year, where things got a whole lot more real once we saw just how good these young kids already are. Last year was an incredible ride for sure. And finally, while it still pains me to this day, had to the only other Finals team I ever saw.

And that’s it! Thanks to everyone who wrote in, keep it coming because training camp will be here before you know it. I hope this helped get you a little closer to the fight, have a great rest of your Sunday!