Celtics Beat — Episode 611: The Celtics On/Off Switch CLEARLY Works w/ Keith Smith

Date: February 13, 2025
Host: Adam Kaufman (with Evan Valenti)
Guest: Keith Smith (Spotrac, Front Office Show)
Theme: A wide-ranging check-in on the Celtics entering the All-Star break: dissecting “flip the switch” skepticism, the team’s status as defending champs, Jayson Tatum’s evolution, and why national perception often lags reality.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam Kaufman, joined by Evan Valenti and guest Keith Smith, explores the state of the Boston Celtics two-thirds into their title defense season. The conversation dives into fandom expectations, the reality behind the team’s so-called “on/off switch,” recent performance trends, and a candid assessment of the Celtics’ biggest priorities and threats heading into the stretch run.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA All-Star Break & General Vibes

• Adam, Evan, and Keith joke about the lackluster NBA Celebrity Game rosters, reflecting generational disconnects.
• They touch briefly on All-Star festivities: dunk contest fatigue, three-point contest anticipation, and diminished excitement for celebrity lineups.
• Light sarcasm about Jalen Brown and other stars missing regular season games but never the All-Star festivities.

Memorable Quote:

“Maybe it’s just not my world anymore, guys. Maybe it’s a bunch of YouTubers that are really popular that I’ve never heard of.” — Adam Kaufman [04:00]

2. Injury & Rest Updates: Shrugging off the All-Star “Controversy”

• The crew dismisses any drama about Jalen Brown missing a regular season game but making time for All-Star appearances, emphasizing health over appearances.
• Keith Smith expresses some concern about Jrue Holiday being “ruled out early” for multiple games:

“That tells me this isn’t just Jrue Holiday’s resting. I think actually there’s something going on… hopefully it’s just get him off his feet now for a week… comes back and he’s ready to go.” — Keith Smith [08:57]

3. Title Defense Context — Are the Celtics “Special”?

• Adam reads from Barstool Greenie’s (Dan Greenberg’s) recent piece, placing this Celtics title defense among the best in NBA history, by win pace and point differential.

• The Celtics are on pace for a 58-win season (+9.1 point differential), a rarity for defending champs.

• Keith applauds the numbers but highlights how the team’s businesslike, “just win” attitude can feel unimpressive—even while being totally effective:

  “I don’t know that I feel like I’m seeing anything special, but they also don’t have anything to prove to me either... When they want to show up and kill somebody, guess what, we’re going to do it.” — Keith Smith [12:36]

• Evan laments local/national discourse that treats the Celtics as unproven, despite their title:

  “It feels like people are viewing this team as a team that hasn’t won the title yet... Everybody views the Denver Nuggets as Teflon… I don’t think this Celtics group gets that same courtesy.” — Evan Valenti [14:23]

4. The “On/Off Switch”: Legit or Myth?

• The crew discusses whether the Celtics can really “flip the switch” or if those disappointing games are dangerous habits.

• Adam points to their ability to dominate in games that “matter” for their psyche—blowouts against contenders like the Knicks and Cavs are proof:

  “As long as Boston is healthy and shooting the way that it is capable of... Boston’s its own worst enemy. As long as the Celtics go out and do what they do, I don’t worry about this team.” — Adam Kaufman [18:26]

• Keith emphasizes how other competitors are forced to adjust to Boston, signaling the Celtics’ true elite status:

  “When you’re the team everyone is trying to beat and other teams start adjusting to you... that’s when you know you’re the best.” — Keith Smith [42:08]

5. Jayson Tatum’s Emergence & National Perception

• Discussion centers on how Tatum has quietly leveled up: more physical, better playmaking, all-around command of the game.

• Keith praises Tatum’s willingness to play through contact and impact both ends, even when scoring dips:

  “He controls games now. This is going to be played the way I want this game played… that’s incredible.” — Keith Smith [29:14]

• Evan argues Tatum’s role on a stacked team actually obscures his greatness for outsiders:

  “If Tatum played on a mediocre team, people would rank him so much higher… But because he plays on this awesome team and doesn’t have to carry the load every night, we don’t get to see this unreal Tatum.” — Evan Valenti [25:02]

• Adam remains unconvinced Tatum is widely disrespected, saying national consensus is catching up:

  “I feel like Tatum is kind of properly viewed... There are a lot of people in the Celtics rooting community that feel like there’s this disrespect around Jason Tatum’s name and I’m not sure I’m really there.” — Adam Kaufman [33:48]

6. The Path Forward: Priorities & Threats

• The hosts agree: the only things that matter the rest of the way are health and consistency.
• Keith’s minor “worry list”: free throw woes, Brown’s outside shot, occasional offensive dry spells—but nothing existential if health holds up.
• Eastern threats discussed, with Cleveland (improved by De’Andre Hunter) cited as the closest thing to a real challenger, but “not better enough” if Boston is right. The West is tougher, but any West team will likely be exhausted by playoff attrition.

Memorable Quote:

“Unless they beat themselves or have two cold shooting games, I just don’t know how they lose... I struggle to see that. Cavs got better, I don’t think that’s better enough...” — Keith Smith [51:00]

7. “Second Half” Outlook & Schedule

• Celtics’ remaining slate is filled with lesser teams, leading to speculation about whether fans will even get to see the “switch” genuinely flipped.
• Adam and Keith stress not to fret about home-court or minor miscues; just focus on entering the playoffs in rhythm and healthy.
• Evan and Adam close by hyping All-Star festivities, personal plans, and the content TV marathon that awaits during the basketball pause.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Maybe it’s just not my world anymore, guys. Maybe it’s a bunch of YouTubers that are really popular that I’ve never heard of.”
  — Adam Kaufman [04:00]

• “I think the Cleveland game directly led to them trading for DeAndre Hunter. I think they were like, we cannot just let Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown walk our small guards into the post over and over and over again and scoring them at ease.”
  — Keith Smith [42:08]

• “He controls games now. This is going to be played the way I want this game played… that’s incredible.”
  — Keith Smith [29:14]

• “If Tatum played on a mediocre team, people would rank him so much higher…”
  — Evan Valenti [25:02]

• “They are the only team… in the league… top five in offense and defense. The Cavs aren’t even that. So… they’ve lost some games, but it doesn’t matter.”
  — Keith Smith [20:29]

• “As long as Boston is healthy and shooting the way that it is capable of... Boston’s its own worst enemy.”
  — Adam Kaufman [18:26]

• “I just don’t see reasons for concern beyond, yeah, this little thing, this little thing, and maybe they all add up… but I’m just not there.”
  — Keith Smith [51:00]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:24] – Opening, All-Star break, celebrity game complaints
• [08:22] – Injuries/rest; Jalen Brown & Jrue Holiday
• [09:41] – Reading and discussing Greenie’s “best-ever title defense” piece
• [12:36] – Are the Celtics doing something special?
• [14:23] – The local/national perception disconnect about the Celtics as defending champs
• [18:26] – The on/off switch, why Boston (not opponents) are their own worst enemy
• [25:02] – The evolution of Jayson Tatum’s game & his national perception
• [29:14] – Keith breaks down Tatum's new strengths, playmaking
• [42:08] – Discussing “flip the switch,” impactful road wins, and teams forced to adjust to Boston
• [47:57] – Strength-of-schedule for rest of season; are wins a foregone conclusion?
• [51:00] – Potential red flags, realistic worries, and East/West threats
• [53:49] – Final thoughts — All-Star teams, All-Star break plans

Tone & Commentary

• Straightforward, rational, and tinged with the seasoned skepticism of Boston fans—balancing measured confidence with self-aware “we’re spoiled” takes.
• The hosts are lighthearted, poking fun at themselves, fandom panic, and unnecessary drama in the “disrespect” discourse.
• Keith Smith offers nuanced, big-picture analysis; Adam anchors with stats and fan context; Evan injects energy (and deadpan exasperation) about narrative trends.

Summary Takeaways

• Statistically and by the eye test, this is a Celtics team poised for a rare and impressive title defense—their “on/off switch” criticism belies their elite status.
• Health is the only real concern; minor on-court issues do not dampen optimism.
• Jayson Tatum is recognized nationally, even if vocal Celtics fans feel otherwise.
• Barring catastrophe, Boston’s path through the East is clear, and all that matters is being ready for June.
• The Celtics’ biggest threat isn’t their opponents; it’s themselves.

This episode is a must-listen for Celtics fans seeking grounded optimism—and a reality check for those who worry the sky is falling after every loss.