{"id":11758,"date":"2023-10-05T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.celticsblog.com\/2023\/10\/5\/23903506\/three-leaf-clover-media-day-the-second-apron-and-holiday-in-the-pick-and-roll"},"modified":"2023-10-05T19:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T18:00:00","slug":"three-leaf-clover-media-day-the-second-apron-and-holiday-in-the-pick-and-roll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/05\/three-leaf-clover-media-day-the-second-apron-and-holiday-in-the-pick-and-roll\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Leaf Clover: Media Day, the second apron, and Holiday in the pick-and-roll"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by John Tlumacki\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s nothing quite as contradictory as media week, our first taste of the new season just leaves us wanting more. <\/p>\n

Welcome to 3 fun things (very much a working title), where I capture three things from the week of hoops that caught my eye. It\u2019s also where I shamelessly rip off Zach Lowe\u2019s 10 Things I Like and Don\u2019t Like<\/em> but do a much worse job of it with 30% of the effort. But unlike Zach, I\u2019m free to read so refunds will not be accepted. Let\u2019s jump in.<\/p>\n

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\n Photo by John Tlumacki\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images<\/cite>
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Stat of the week: $3,567,817<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starting things off on an exciting bang by discussing the nuances of the salary cap! This number is extremely important because of what it represents. <\/p>\n

That number is how far over the daunting, despicable, deplorable second tax apron the Celtics<\/a> are. Many words have been written, discussed, and tweeted (X\u2019d?) about the Celtics\u2019 apparent dodging of the second tax apron after they let Grant Williams walk out that door. We\u2019ve all heard verbal castigations about Wyc & Co.\u2019s inability or refusal to go deep into the luxury tax. There are very real reasons why a team and ownership group wouldn\u2019t want to go over that second apron. Not only are the tax penalties more severe (and get worse as the years go by), but it also limits the tools in the GM\u2019s toolbox for improving the roster. Wave goodbye to the MLE, taking on money in a trade (like we just did with Jrue and KP), and buy-out guys. <\/p>\n

But you know what, who cares? We got Jrue Holiday and he\u2019s absolutely worth going over the second apron for \u2014 a championship piece added to championship level talent. He\u2019s the perfect fit and replacement for Marcus Smart. Wyc often said he would spend deep into the tax if it was for a title contender. Fans and analysts alike were skeptical, but Wyc finally put his money where his mouth is.<\/p>\n

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\n Photo by Tim Nwachukwu\/Getty Images<\/cite>
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X\u2019s and ooooooh\u2019s: Jrue\u2019s pick-and-roll game<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maybe the most exciting part of Holiday\u2019s game is how versatile he is on both ends (although I\u2019m equally as excited that we won\u2019t have to face him anymore). Other than foul drawing, he\u2019s above average at just about everything on the offensive end. Importantly, Jrue is a pick and roll operator that the Celtics haven\u2019t really had since Kemba. Tatum is a good pick-and-roll ball handler, as is White and to a lesser extent Jaylen, but Jrue is just a more natural lead guard. He attacks in just about every way possible with his plus playmaking and scoring. Unlike the guard he was traded for, he regularly hits the rolling big on the way to the rim. <\/p>\n

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