Hall of Fame Boston Celtics point guard Bob Cousy has seen quite a lot of basketball, and shared some insights into the modern game and his former team on the cusp of his birthday 97th birthday with longtime Celtics beat writer Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe. Generally fair in his critiques of Boston and the NBA, Cooz is not shy about sharing his thoughts with regard to the state of the team he won six titles with in the 1950s and early 1960s.

The heavy reliance on offense coming from beyond the arc -- particularly as a first attack -- particularly irks the Celtics legend. "I like the three as a weapon," explained Cousy. "But not as the first (expletive) option. It's always going to be there for you. It's not something you have to create."

"You're going to have it when you want it," he added. "So why eliminate the other options? I know we're into analytics. I can't fight with the computer, but I know what I experienced. And in my judgment, there are benefits to attacking the basket first. I'll go to my grave disagreeing with Danny (Ainge) and Brad (Stevens) about this."

As to whether he feels like this version of the team is ready to compete without injured star forward Jayson Tatum, Cousy was skeptical. "In my judgment, Jaylen (Brown) is not quite at the superstar level that Tatum is at ... (Derrick) White's a good player, and he'll produce, and he'll be consistent, but his game doesn't lend itself to carrying a team."

Given Boston's front court is a considerable mess when it comes to the level of talent needed to compete at a high level -- especially with Tatum, the team's best rebounder, out -- the Cooz may have a point. And with a roster not so well-built for offense from beyond the arc, the Cooz might just be pleasantly surprised by the style of play he sees from this iteration of the team.

If perhaps not as much by the season's win totals for Boston on a team perhaps too faulted to get very deep into the postseason -- if they can even get into it at all.