If you’re a frequenter of Celtics socials, you already know Nate from his @NElGHT_ accounts on Twitter and YouTube. He comes to the blog with a love for film analysis and player development. Check out his first article today giving flowers to the Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown.
What got you into basketball and the Celtics?
It wasn’t always basketball for me, at least to start. I grew up playing other sports, and my talent in those definitely surpassed my basketball ability, to put it kindly. My love for basketball and the Celtics developed around the same time. Something about watching Rajon Rondo effortlessly sling behind the back passes with absurd accuracy was captivating for a young Nate. I always tried to model my game after him. It was those teams with Pierce, Garnett, Rondo and Allen that got me interested in the NBA, but the magic of the Isaiah Thomas led Celtics took it to another level. Brad Stevens work from the sidelines helped me see the game in a different light. The more I learned, the more I took to the court to implement in my own game. I wasn’t old enough to watch Pierce evolve into in NBA Champion from the start, but seeing the Jays do it was one of the most joyful moments of my life.
- What are your strengths and/or favorite topics as a writer?
I really enjoy writing about players development progress and opportunities for growth. Jaylen Brown has been a perfect case study in this regard, consistently adding to and plugging up holes in his game. From my own evolution as a basketball player, I consider the ability to spot weaknesses a crucial part of my analysis. You have to know where you’re lacking in order to take a step forward. On a similar note, talking about the finer details of teams tactical decisions is interesting to me. This could be reviewing a string of 3 possessions, a single game, or trends that have shown up over a sample of several weeks. There is so much that goes into decision making on even a single play that’s exciting to break down. The part I find very cool is that not everyone will come away with the same analysis, but in some ways, they all might be correct. I’m committed to this life long journey of learning the game, and I hope to teach people something along the way.
- What is your bold prediction for the coming season? (be specific for bonus points)
The Boston Celtics will repeat and be crowned once again as NBA Champions. Sorry, probably not bold enough, I forgot this is CelticsBlog. What if I said Jaden Springer will establish himself as rotation piece? He plays NBA level defense, and if the offense is anywhere near what we saw in his brief Summer League stint, that’s a very real player. I have to imagine there was a reason the staff felt one game in Las Vegas was a good enough look at him before pulling the plug. With so many returners, there aren’t a ton of minutes up for grabs initially. Brissett leaving opens a decent chunk though, and they may elect to give more rest to some of their top guys this year. Mazzulla showed he’s comfortable playing three-guard lineups occasionally as well, so that’s not necessarily an issue. Someone will emerge that can be relied upon, and Springer has as good of a case as anyone.
Peeking at the league as whole, my broader prediction is that a healthy Memphis Grizzlies team can grab a top three seed in the West this season. Morant, Smart, JJJ & Bane with the addition of Zach Edey and some decent bench depth. That’s a good squad.
