The Death Lineup

    

    On September 27th 2023 the Milwaukee Bucks pushed all their chips in the middle, they had a potentially disgruntled super star in Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks had came off a historic playoff failure losing to the 8 seated Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. The Greek Freak had been teasing a potential exit from Milwaukee if it was not the ideal place for him to contend for a championship each and every year. The Bucks showed they were all in on Giannis, they moved Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen and 3 first round picks to pair Giannis Antetokounmpo with Damien Lillard. The Greek Freak and Dame Dolla paired together. Undoubtedly the greatest duo in the NBA and potentially the strongest pairing since Kobe and Shaq.

    The Boston Celtics went from undoubtedly the favorites in the Eastern Conference to now being undoubtedly the runner ups. They made a massive move to acquire Kristaps Porzingis and they were was no one on the same level of talent it was a cake walk. Milwaukee saw this and countered in the offseason, the Celtics who had the conference all locked up all of a sudden were looking to be runner ups as they have been for 5 out of the last 6 years.

    The Celtics pushed all their chips into the middle, the Boston Celtics are all in on winning banner 18 right here right now. The Celtics traded Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon and two first round picks to acquire Jrue Holliday from Portland! The Boston Celtics made an absolute power move in the Eastern Conference swinging it right back into their favor. The Celtics paid a premium price in the move... they acquired a premium player... Holiday is the greatest defending point guard in the league, Marcus Smart is the only player that can compete with him. Smart is a better lose ball defender he is a better passer, Holiday is a better point of attack defender he is also a better shooter. This move counters the Dame Trade significantly with the best defensive backcourt in the league to throw at Damien Lillard. 

    The Celtics keeping Derrick White in the move is what makes the Boston Celtics looking like an absolute wagon going into the 2024 season. Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon are both all defense NBA level players, Jaylen Brown when locked in is an incredible defender, Jayson Tatum has potential to be the best defender on the team and Porzingis is 7 ft 3 with less to be asked on the offensive end, potentially being a number 4 option he can focus on being the rim protector this team needs after giving up Robert Williams in the move.

    With Malcolm Brogdon we already wrote a piece on him being a distressed asset, it blows to lose the raining 6th man of the year but it was part of this premium price. Robert Williams is the piece that Celtics fans were definitely attached too seeing how he has grown and the potential he has when he is healthy. If Robert Williams is healthy for an entire season he is hands down the Defensive Player of the year, nobody in the league has the combination of athleticism, length, vertical, and speed that he has in the league. This is just it in his 5 years playing in the league he has averaged 41 games a year, that is half a season. Half of the time Robert Williams is hurt, and the kid is not getting any younger. its painful but these are the moves that need to be made to get over the hump and win the NBA championship.

    The Jrue Holiday move makes the Boston Celtics the most talented team in the NBA and I don't think its even close. 1 through 6 no one can compete they need to pick up veteran big men on minimum deals. The Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks will attempt to stop this train but the inevitable is on its way. The meanGREENmachine is rolling and the Boston Celtics will officially hang banner 18... its Different Here C Us Rise.