If there’s one thing that’s clear about this Celtics team going forward, it’s that they have an identity. For better or worse, this is going to be Joe Mazzulla’s system and style with Jayson Tatum as the head of the snake.Â
Every time the Celtics take the floor, we know that they are going to try to maximize possessions, trying to win the offensive glass and the turnover battle while spacing the floor, moving the ball, and knocking down threes. It has proven to be an effective scheme, and after it worked so well last season, they’re leaning into it more than ever.
By swapping Jaylen Brown for Paul George and bringing in Mitchell Robinson, the Celtics have telegraphed exactly who this team wants to be, how they’re going to play, and what everyone’s role is going to be. Is it a championship contender? That remains to be seen, but the path they’re taking to try and get there does not.
New-look Sixers have no clear identity
This flies in stark contrast with what’s going on in Philadelphia. While other teams, like the Celtics, are scrambling to gain flexibility and optionality by shedding large, long-term contracts that aren’t returning enough value to suffice in this modern NBA CBA, the Sixers are going all-in on a group of misfit stars, unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years.
And while they’ve assembled plenty of talent, it’s anyone's guess what their identity will be. Is this Tyrese Maxey’s team, while everyone else works around him? Is it a slow-down team that’s going to run through Joel Embiid out of the high post? Is JB now the alpha who’s going to have the ball in his hands most of the time? Or will it end up being another LeBron James team?
All of those are reasonable questions, and there’s no obvious answer at the moment. I’m sure they’ll try to figure it out as they go and mix and match some kind of blend, but that’s a lot easier said than done.Â
Celtics, Thunder, others prep for future while Sixers living in the moment
In an NBA where everyone seems to copy the hot trends, the Sixers are zigging while the rest of the league is zagging. Recent champs like the Celtics and Thunder are being proactive, getting out ahead of potential financial issues, and building in the vein of sustained success for the future while competing in the present.
But in Philly, they’re loading up with three massive contracts and now, one of the biggest stars in the world alongside them. It’s clunky and unconventional, and while the ceiling is high with that collection of talent, the floor also feels incredibly low.
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