The 2023-24 Celtics Championship Team Is The Model For Team Building Around The Current CBA
I knew this was coming. I can’t help you’re not as smart as me. The 2023-24 Boston Celtics will lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy as their pursuit of Banner 18 is officially a success. While the rest of the NBA appears miles behind this fully healthy C’s team, there is an important lesson every franchise should learn from them.
Is anybody paying attention to the team-building part of this Celtics team? You should because with the new CBA rules in place, this Celtics team is perfectly constructed for what the new rules allow you to do.
Spent Max Slots On Superstar Wings
When the new CBA came out, I’ll never forget what Bobby Marks said on TV. The new CBA allows you to have your steak, lobster, and a collection of sides. Having 3 or 4 max contracts just isn’t doable anymore. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown should be the mold for teams moving forward. Your max slots go to your superstar wings that play at a high level at both ends. It’s the optimal path to building a champion. Finding those wings is easier said than done but more than that, it should be a lesson to be careful investing in anything else.
Your Guards Must Defend
Part of what makes the Celtics so special is the fact that Jrue Holiday and Derrick White are so damn good defensively. You can’t just hunt switches on this team. Jrue is arguably the best defender in the league and White is maybe the best shot blocking guard ever. It just matters. If your guard is a black hole defensively, move off him. A real champion has no weak links. Everybody has to guard including the guards. If that’s not the case, you’re never going to be a truly elite team in the modern stretch big ball era.
Your Center Must Stretch The Floor
You can only have one guy on the floor max that can’t hit a 3. Preferably it’s five out. Kristaps Porzingis is always the X-Factor for this team. When he’s out there they go from good to great. KP just Boston so many extra pitches they can go to. It’s the difference in the entire series. What got Dallas here was constantly picking on Rudy Gobert in the drop. You’re at a huge disadvantage if your big resembles a Gobert over a Porzingis.
Your Bench Must Hit 3’s
How many buzzer beating clutch shots did Payton Pritchard hit (Also, what an incredible call by me)? Sam Hauser is a huge threat from 3. You have to have guys who can be spark plugs off the bench. Getting bench points is vital and there is no better way to do it when the supporting cast can be left wide open after the superstars draw the attention. The supporting cast must be able to shoot.
Switchability Is So Important
No weak links on defense. The Celtics could never get over the hunt years ago because Isaiah Thomas kept getting hunted. Your stars must defend. Champions defend and grab rebounds.
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