Azad Rosay joins CelticsBlog all the best way from France. Regardless of masking the workforce six hours away in a unique language, Azad is an avid fan and an analytics and Xs and Os skilled. Try his first piece on the Jays’ driving within the Finals.
What received you into basketball and the Celtics?
My relationship with basketball and the Celtics has been natural since I used to be 13 years outdated and has continued to develop since then. I performed each Wednesday again in center faculty within the French Alps. It was a simple option to get away from my small village and revel in a enjoyable sport with my closest mates. I performed recurrently till the tip of highschool, after which my focus shifted, and I didn’t play once more till I moved to Amsterdam at 23 years outdated. Now that I’m again dwelling within the Alps, I nonetheless attempt to play recurrently. One factor I’ve understood about basketball: it has created and strengthened friendships all through my life, and I’m grateful for that.
As for who received me into the Celtics, I believe it was my father, in a method. He loves video video games and often comes dwelling on occasion with random video games he finds for reasonable. Someday, he got here again with NBA Stay 2008. I nonetheless don’t know why he selected that recreation, nevertheless it modified all the things. In 2008, one of the best workforce was… the Celtics. So, to learn to play the sport, I picked the Celtics… and a decade later, right here I’m, introducing myself as a author for CelticsBlog. I’m grateful for that, too.
So to reply the query, “What received me into basketball and the Celtics?” I’d say it was love, luck, household, and mates.
What are your strengths and/or favourite matters as a author?
That’s a tricky query. I’d say that one in every of my strengths is my capability to know and use statistics and knowledge to raised grasp what the human eye can’t see. Alternatively, I watch numerous basketball, so my eyes also can seize what may not be mirrored in monitoring knowledge. As soon as I discover this steadiness between what I see and the numbers, I need to share it with individuals who could be .
I genuinely get excited after I share an evaluation as a result of I would like it to be challenged by the true world. As soon as an article I write is on the market, being challenged and commented on, I get to learn to enhance for the subsequent one. Since I began creating content material on the NBA in France, I’ve been lucky sufficient to speak with NBA gamers, coaches, and writers. This has additionally helped me turn into a greater author and analyst.
As for my favourite matters, I really like specializing in statistical and tactical evaluation. I take pleasure in attempting to know what a workforce is making an attempt to realize and the way they’re attempting to create a bonus. I’m additionally studying about participant scouting — attempting to seize the core values, skills, and limitations of a participant by watching movies and analyzing knowledge.
To sum up, I take pleasure in writing about what’s taking place on the courtroom and do my finest to make it attention-grabbing for the individuals who learn my work.
What’s your daring prediction for the approaching season?
“Luke Kornet will shoot 3-pointers once more” looks like each an correct and daring prediction for 2024. The reasoning behind this prediction is straightforward: it’s wanted, and it’s attainable.
Why is it wanted? As a result of the Celtics will probably be taking part in with out Kristaps Porziņģis at the beginning of the season. We don’t know precisely when he will probably be again, so Joe Mazzulla and his employees might want to alter accordingly. When Porziņģis is on the courtroom, the Celtics have higher shot high quality as a result of spacing he supplies. The Celtics’ capability to get to the rim was considerably higher with the Latvian on the ground (Rim Frequency elevated by 4.7% when KP was on the courtroom).
Final yr, Kornet was requested to carry numerous power to the offensive glass (+7.5% OREB% when he was on the ground). Throughout a post-game interview with Celtics Information, he talked about that specializing in offensive rebounds was one of many causes he stopped capturing 3-pointers. Maybe there’s a steadiness to be discovered right here, the place Luke Kornet can area the ground whereas nonetheless being aggressive on the offensive glass.
As for his capturing capabilities, I’m assured he may nonetheless hit threes with league-average effectivity. An ideal indicator of capturing capability is FT% — and Luke hits 81% of his free throws. On prime of that, his first two seasons confirmed that in the proper atmosphere, he may shoot and make threes.
So, stroll with me down this highway, and let’s hope we witness Luke Kornet hit a few 3-pointers per recreation, adopted by one in every of his iconic celebrations.
