Celtic Roster

Bob


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Nice remarks, here’s hoping it works out and we have the “big guy” in the middle that everyone has so desired for a while

Patrick Williams is the first 3 minutes.  Payton Pritchard comes in at about 3:05.




Bob


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PP has game.

Must see, the little guy is fearless

I recall when Marcus was a rookie and they asked him about his impression of Rondo.  What surprised him.  He said he was surprised at how strong Rondo was.

NBA speed and strength is the big hurdle for most rookies.

An interesting analysis here.  He points out the similarities between how Brad used Carsen Edwards last season to plays run for Aaron Nesmith by his coach at Vanderbilt, Jerry Stackhouse, and posits Brad might run those plays for Nesmith.

Only 2 1/2 minutes long.




Bob


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Carsen missed so many chances.

worcester wrote:Carsen missed so many chances.

Worcester,

True, but the plays run for him got him good looks, and that's all a play should need to give a shooter.  Run those exact same plays for Tatum or Kemba or any other shooter and they'll go down.  Nesmith showed he could hit those shots in this video.


Bob


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That's my point. Carsen had good plays drawn up for him, and he missed the shots. Nesmith won't.

Also Pritchard could see those same opportunities. Carsen will have another chance.

Carsen got open looks but he really did not get a chance to play a lot.  He only averaged 3.5 FGA per game.  If he had knocked down those opportunities at a higher rate he may have gotten more opportunities.

Edwards is a 2 guard stuck in a PG body.  He does not have PG skills at an NBA level in terms of ball handling and running the offense.  At 5' 11"  he is an undersized PG and a tiny off guard.

I do not see how he will see a lot of action unless he shoots the ball better.

If Brad runs similar plays to get Nesmith open he is going to knock those shots down.  He was #1 in catch and shoot opportunities.  Technically he is adept at reading defenses and using screens.  He can shoot from all areas around the perimeter.  Stackhouse put him in NBA type of offensive sets which should have him prepared to transition from college to the NBA.

He is a perfect fit for the way Brad runs his offense.  

With KW not ready to go, backup minutes at the PG spot become open for one of our young guys to step up.

Brad had zero confidence in Edwards during our playoff run.  He played a total of 3 minutes.  

Celtics fans should expect to see rookie PP get an opportunity to strut his stuff.    And Nesmith is the only rotation guy who can actually shoot. Carsen will also get a chance but if he falters early he may find himself stuck to the bench.

KyleCleric wrote:Also Pritchard could see those same opportunities. Carsen will have another chance.

I think you're right, Carsen will have another chance; and quickly.

With Walker out, if they play in December, Carsen looks likely to be the primary ballhandler/PG after Teague and Smart. He'll get minutes that way, and opportunities. Pritchard may have a tougher time getting on the floor, especially in the early-going. He may not see a lot of time as a PG, but shooting is what got him drafted. If there is any hiccup by Nesmith, that could accelerate a chance for other shooters like Pritchard. It will be rocky in the first half or so of the season. Trial and error and a learning curve for several youngsters. Patience will have to be the buzzword again. The positive side of that is I would expect someone to emerge as the gunner-off-the-bench that is so badly needed.

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/which-young-player-will-help-celtics-most-during-2020-21-season



Which young player will help Celtics the most during 2020-21 season?



Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Tuesday that, despite being without Kemba Walker at the start of the year, the team has no immediate plans to add veteran depth to the roster.

Ainge said the Celtics plan to see what they’ve got among the gaggle of young bodies at the end of the bench with hopes that more consistent playing time could allow some of those guys to flourish.

"This is an opportunity league, and there’s nothing I like more than when guys who don’t get a chance to play get a chance to step up and play,” said Ainge.

So which “young” players — and we’ll obviously remove Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart from this conversation -- are most likely to earn a bigger role this season?

Let’s rank the field.


BY CHRIS FORSBERG
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20H AGO



1.  Grant Williams


USA TODAY Sports

Some of Boston’s best minutes inside the bubble came with Williams on the floor and there were a lot of positives for him to build off -- not the least of which was shooting 58.8 percent beyond the 3-point arc (10 of 17 overall).

Might Williams elevate to a starting role, playing more power forward in traditional two-big lineups? Williams has the versatility to switch onto perimeter players and having a more traditional center alongside would limit the amount of times he’s giving up size against big 5s.

Still, his offensive game must develop or teams will simply challenge him to hit shots and put more attention on Tatum and Brown. An encouraging stat: The Celtics were 21-5 in the 26 regular-season games in which Williams played at least 17 minutes.


2.  Romeo Langford


USA TODAY Sports

Sidelined yet again to start the season, Langford’s No. 1 priority is getting — and staying — healthy. The Celtics announced this week that he remains on track to return four to five months after a Sept. 22 surgery, which puts him on pace to return as early as late January.

We’d go so far as to wonder if Langford could have been a Hayward replacement in the starting lineup if he hadn’t been so injury prone through the early stages of his NBA career.

Langford has been solid enough defensively to win Brad Stevens’ trust and has potential to be a really impactful offensive player based on his ability to handle the ball and play in the pick-and-roll. He could slot well in that 2-guard role if he can stay on the court.


3.  Robert Williams


USA TODAY Sports

Look, readers know how I feel about Time Lord. I think he can be a key rotation piece this year if he tightens up his defensive discipline and simply leans on his natural talents. Even if Tristan Thompson and Daniel Theis split the majority of center minutes, and even if Grant Williams plays a bigger role, there’s going to be opportunities for Rob Williams to assert himself.

It’s critical that he do such in his third season. Theis is a free agent at season’s end, and if the Celtics can’t splurge to keep him around, then they need someone like Rob Williams ready to elevate.

If nothing else, the Celtics have to figure out what they’ve got in Williams. Is he a piece of this young core moving forward? A tradable asset they could bundle with the Hayward trade exception? The team needs to determine that by letting him play through some bumps in the road.


4.  Payton Pritchard


USA TODAY Sports

We’re slotting Pritchard high based largely on need. With Walker likely sidelined for the first month of the season, the Celtics need ball-handlers. The Celtics can bump Marcus Smart to a starting role and potentially utilize newcomer Jeff Teague off the bench, but there’s still going to be a handful of minutes each night for a depth option to run with the second unit.

Pritchard is going to get an early chance to prove he can bring Smart-like grit to the court. Danny Ainge loves the way he plays and whispers from inside the Auerbach Center suggested Pritchard made a quality first impression on the court after arriving in town.

His role could evaporate once Walker is healthy but he’s going to get tossed right in the fire early.


5.  Aaron Nesmith


USA TODAY Sports

Nesmith’s first-year role will depend on two factors: 1) Can he step in and immediately be a consistent 3-point threat? and 2) Can he maximize his length while getting his feet wet on the defensive end at the NBA level?

If he makes 38 percent of his 3-pointers and isn’t a defensive liability, we could see him getting plenty of run. If he endures some rookie struggles with that 3-point shot, it could be a slower build.

Regardless, the Celtics need offense from their bench and even the threat of shooting could be enough to earn Nesmith a rotation role, especially with Walker and Langford out to start the year.


6.  Tremont Waters


USA TODAY Sports

The Celtics adding a veteran point guard and drafting another ball-handler isn’t great news for Waters, who was a G-League darling and showed playmaking potential during his NBA cameos.

Alas, there’s genuine concerns about his size and his ability to consistently create his own offense. He’s got the benefit of a year in the system over Pritchard but Waters -- back on a 2-way deal -- has to take better care of the ball when he’s on the court and make shots more consistently.


7.  Carsen Edwards


Getty Images

It’s easy to write off Edwards after his first-year struggles. He shot just 31.6 percent beyond the arc and basically disappeared from the rotation by mid-December.

Boston’s need for shooting and his obvious potential is going to afford Edwards a chance to prove he can more consistently be the offensive threat we saw in college. But he’s going to have to make hay early or he runs the risk of fading into obscurity again.


8.  Javonte Green


USA TODAY Sports

Is it right to put a 27-year-old on a list of "young guys?" I mean, he’s older than every player in the Tatum/Brown/Smart core. We didn’t include Semi Ojeleye on this list and he’s only 25. We’re doing it anyway.

A non-guaranteed contract means Green's roster spot is tenuous at best, but Hayward’s departure left the team thin on wings and Green can state a case for time if he really embraces using his athleticism to be an impact defender.

We all know what he can do with his hops on the offensive end but being able to harness that athleticism and pester opposing wings is what will really catch Stevens’ attention.


9.  Tacko Fall


Getty Images

There will always be a great curiosity with Fall’s development. Hopefully by the end of the season there are fans in the stands at TD Garden to chant for his late-game insertion.

But even after Boston trimmed at the end of its depth chart (Vincent Poirier), it’s hard to see Fall in more than small blips.


Bob
MY NOTE:  My first reaction to this is "Holy Shit.  We are talking about how important the contributions of NINE young'uns are!".  That is too much youth on a team that wants to compete for a championship, in my opinion.  Nevertheless, here we are.  Therefore here is my ordering of the above players:

1.  Grant Williams - Brad likes him, he played well in the bubble and shot well after his initial 0-25 from 3.

2.  Robert Williams - Our best shot blocker.  Early on he has more time with Brad's system than Thompson.  I expect his minutes will get pared back as Thompson's learning curve flattens out, but until then...

3.  Aaron Nesmith - Our loss of Gordon's outside scoring will be felt.  He's the best one to fill that (and "the") hole.  He has to prove himself defensively but if he does there's minutes available for his particular skill set.

4.  Payton Pritchard - As Forsberg said, the unavailability of Kemba creates an opportunity for a ball handler.  I struggled between giving these minutes to Pritchard or Waters.  In the end the #26 pick won over the 2-way player, but I could flip on this.  I think Pritchard's slightly greater size and feistiness will get him the nod from Brad.

5.  Javonte Green - Just as I struggled choosing between Pritchard and Waters I am struggling to choose between Nesmith and Green.  Nesmith is probably the better pure shooter but Green knows Brad's system and Nesmith doesn't even have the benefits of a summer league to accelerate his growth.  I could easily see Green getting minutes early in the season and Nesmith taking over those minutes later in the system.  Green's contract is guaranteed in February.  That might be when it flips.

6.  Romeo Langford - This is assuming he is ever actually able to get back on the court.  Talk about snake bit!  I honestly have no idea why Forsberg would rank Romeo so highly.  By the time he is able to play Nesmith will have had 4-6 weeks of time to learn Brad's system.  Nesmith is 2" taller, about the same weight and a far, far better shooter.  I think the clock is ticking on Romeo.  

7.  Tremont Waters - As I said I think he has a shot based upon "time in the system".  Our need for a ballhandler moves him up a notch, in my estimation.

8.  Carsen Edwards - It's all about his shooting.  He MUST begin hot or Nesmith will just eat his minutes up for breakfast.  Nesmith and Pritchard were drafted for their scoring, so he could be at the bottom of the "scorer depth chart" without having the edge Pritchard has of also being a ballhandler.  The drafting of Pritchard is a direct threat to both Waters and Edwards' role on this team.

9.  Tacko Fall - Tremont is ahead of Tacko because we know we have an immediate need for a ballhandler while Kemba is rehabbing.  Any injury to one of our bigs and Tacko moves up.


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There is an outside possibility that Brad starts both Smart and Teague (JT at the point) Last year before JT went to Atl he averaged 27.8 MPG and then around 20 MPG in Atlanta in his split season. He can still play starter level minutes.

I do not think that will happen because we would have no experience of consequence at PG coming off the bench.

All of this may be moot given the virus.

The first big off the bench will be either TT or DT.  Both Williams guys may not see a lot of minutes at center.  The big difference this year is that DT and TT are starters.  In that regards they are interchangeable.  TT was one of only 6 centers to average at least 30 MPG.  Last year Kanter was 2nd on the team in MPG followed by Grant and Rob.

Theis averaged 24 MPG.  Basically TT and Theis will eat up all 48 minutes at the 5.  There simply will not be a lot of minutes available for Grant or Rob for that matter.   Grant's best opportunity to get on the court would be at PF, a position that Brad has not played him at.

I do not see where GW will be our top young guy on the team because his minutes at small ball 5 are about to disappear.

RW at #2 is in the same situation.  Brad never plays DT at PF.  If he did you could see a combo of DT and either GW or RW in the lineup.  PF minutes will be limited with Tatum starting at the 4.

Based on this I would have to surmise that Aaron Nesmith may be our top young bench guy because he plays a position of need in terms of size and skill.  His competition comes from 1. Langford a guy that stays injured and cannot shoot the ball, 2. Edwards an undersized SG-PG and 3. Javonte Green, an athletic guy who is not a knock down shooter.

Brad is not going to be able to divide up minutes at the 5 between 4 centers like he did last year simply because we have 2 starting level centers on the team now.  

At #2 I think PP will earn that spot because he will be in competition with Edwards and Waters. Still there will be limited minutes for him once Kemba returns and Teague becomes our full time backup.
A first team NCAA player and winner of the prestigious Bob Cousy award ain't playing behind either Edwards or Waters.  

At 3/4 I will put the Williams boys there but with limited opportunities unless Brad decides to play DT and GW at the 4. Minutes will still be limited.

5.  Romeo Langford, but once again he is out and will once again miss the most critical part of the season for a young player.

6. Javonte Green
7/8  Waters or Edwards

9. Tacko Falls

Pretty good analysis of GWill's game.




Bob


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Payton Pritchard (University of Oregon) vs Cole Anthony (University of North Carolina).  Anthony was taken #15, right after Nesmith.

So, what have we got?




Bob


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Anyone up for predictions this year of where we finish Regular Season and Playoffs in 2021? Start of the season will be here before we know it.

db

dbrown4 wrote:Anyone up for predictions this year of where we finish Regular Season and Playoffs in 2021?  Start of the season will be here before we know it.

db  

db,

We'll fire up a thread for that, probably in a week or so. Let's see a preseason game or two and see what we've got.

Thanks for the reminder. Also need to start a "miscellaneous" thread for this year.


Bob


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My bad! Thanks for the heads up!

db

dbrown4 wrote:Anyone up for predictions this year of where we finish Regular Season and Playoffs in 2021?  Start of the season will be here before we know it.

db  

db

I started a thread yesterday on EC standings (regular season only)

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/aaron-nesmith-credits-jerry-stackhouse-020821772.html



Aaron Nesmith credits Jerry Stackhouse’s coaching learning Celtics’ defense


Justin Quinn

Tue, December 8, 2020, 6:08 PM PST






Boston Celtics rookie sharpshooter Aaron Nesmith doesn’t have much time to prepare for meaningful minutes at the NBA level for his new team, but neither he nor his new coach seem overly concerned about the prospect.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens was asked how the Vanderbilt product was acclimating to the speed, length and athleticism of the NBA game, and the former Butler chief seemed pleased with the limited sample size he has had to assess. “We haven’t played very much up and down, so there’s not a lot of possessions there,” Stevens said.

“I’m not worried about his shot at all. I think everything else is what needs to — he just needs to learn as quickly as possible. He’s a good shooter, he’s a smart kid, I think he’ll pick things up very quickly, but there’s a lot to pick up.”

Boston plays their first preseason game this Friday, Dec.15 at 7:30 pm, and face the Milwaukee Bucks for their regular season opener Dec. 23. So, there truly is very little time for any of Boston’s incoming players to get up to speed.

The Celtics Wire
@TheCelticsWire
WATCH: How will Brad Stevens use Aaron Nesmith on the Celtics?
“It’s a lot coming in really fast; it’s a quick turnaround,” suggested Nesmith while speaking with the media on Wednesday.

“I’m just trying to come in with a mindset of getting better every single day, being one percent better than I was yesterday while I’m trying to apply the schemes that we’re trying to run, and the things that we’re trying to incorporate on offense and defense.”


Sounds easy enough.

Joking aside, having a baseline of familiarity with how a pro team plays helps.


And given Nesmith played for former NBA star Jerry Stackhouse at Vanderbilt, the South Carolina native already has a leg up on the Celtics’ defensive schema.

“Definitely more on the defensive side of the ball than anything has been most familiar to me,” shared Nesmith. “We did some of the same things we did at Vanderbilt, so being able to just take what I learned there and bring it over here has made the transition a little bit easier on that side of the ball for sure.”

Boston will need him to defend competently while nailing an occasional trey for the team’s second unit to avoid overtaxing the starters for a second consecutive season.


But with a more mature bench and prospects selected at least in part for their apparent battle-readiness, it seems probable the team will be a much more balanced affair for 2020-21.

And having a flamethrower like Nesmith on the team who cut his teeth on NBA-style defenses many months before he ever suited up for the Celtics can only help in that process.


Bob
MY NOTE: It makes sense for Jerry Stackhouse to use defensive schemes similar to NBA ones given his long career. This might have been an overlooked advantage for us (overlooked by us, not by Danny who was looking for players who could come in and help us this year. That's why 4-year player Payton Pritchard and not younger, and perhaps more upside, Desmond Bane).


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https://nesn.com/2020/12/grant-williams-sees-opportunity-to-step-up-after-celtics-lose-gordon-hayward/



Grant Williams Sees ‘Opportunity To Step Up’ After Celtics Lose Gordon Hayward
The opportunity is there for the taking


by Alexandra Francisco

December 5



After Gordon Hayward went down early in the 2019-20 NBA Playoffs, Grant Williams saw his usage with the Boston Celtics increase.

He took advantage of those reps, too, shooting 59% from beyond the 3-point arc and showing that, with continued development, his defense could also be legit.

So with Hayward departing the team as Williams enters his sophomore season, the 22-year-old yet again sees a chance to prove his worth.

“You’re still a rookie until the first game of next season,” he told reporters Saturday via video conference, per Yahoo! Sports’ Keith Smith.

“I feel confident going into my second year. Losing Gordon is tough, but it gives a lot of us an opportunity to step up.”

Over the especially-short offseason, Williams said he’s added range to his jump shot and improved his quickness for defending on the perimeter.

He might not be needed at center as often with the Celtics signing Tristan Thompson. But with Kemba Walker set to miss some time in the beginning of the season, it’s entirely plausible that coach Brad Stevens rolls out a two-big lineup here and there.

Williams saw time in those scenarios in the postseason, but his usage at the 4 is likely to increase this year. Still, he’s enjoyed learning from a veteran center like Thompson.

Whatever happens, Williams said he’s prepared to play as much at the 4 or 5 position as Stevens needs him to.

The opportunity is there, and Williams seems poised to take it.


Bob
MY NOTE:  He right about there being an opportunity, and I love his attitude about it.  I don't see him as a replacement for Hayward, needless to say, but he definitely did up his game in the bubble.  He had a good playoff run.  It's way too much work for now for me to adjust his first 25 3pt misses from his season 3ptfgas and his fg%, but his 2pt fg% isn't affected by those shots.  He shot 54.8% from 2 during the season and 55.6% from 2 during the playoffs.  Not a huge difference there, a slight uptick over a small sample but solid playoff performance, especially for a rookie.  His 3pt fg%, of course, was MUCH better.  Grant shot 58.8% from 3 in the playoffs.  Without doing the math I'd be surprised if his 3pt fg% was better in the regular season even if you completely zeroed out his first 25.  Players that up their games by hitting their shots, doing their jobs and executing well are what you need to advance in the playoffs.  It only takes a few poorly run offensive and/or defensive sets to lose a game and there are only a maximum of 7 games/playoff series.  So losing a game is a big deal, as we all know.  Rookie Grant Williams, who will still be a rookie until 12/23 (assuming he plays in our season opener, a very reasonable assumption), showed up in the playoffs. He averaged 15mpg last year. I expect him to average closer to 20mpg this year. We'll see if I'm right. IF Grant is given the starting nod early, with Kemba and Thompson out and Brad maybe going bigger, then that's going to show a lot. If he can hang with opposing starters that will definitely inspire Brad to give him more minutes/opportunities even after Thompson is back.


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