Trio of Boston Celtics make HoopsHype’s top-22 positional rankings for 2021-22

https://us.yahoo.com/sports/trio-boston-celtics-hoopshype-top-161739467.html



Trio of Boston Celtics make HoopsHype’s top-22 positional rankings for 2021-22



Justin Quinn
Fri, September 17, 2021, 7:17 PM



A trio of Boston Celtics players has found their way into our sister site HoopsHype’s annual positional rankings series wrapping up this week, with the three Celtics stars seen as among the league’s 22 best talents at their respective position heading into the 2021-22 NBA season.

There are a few noteworthy omissions with both Marcus Smart and Dennis Schroder not making the cut for point guards and Robert Williams III for centers, but the team seems about as well-represented at the small forward position as any team in the league by HoopsHype’s standards, with two top-10 talents at that position.

Let’s take a look at the players in question.


Al Horford - No. 16 center


Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

"Although he’s undoubtedly slowed down some in recent years ... Al Horford remains an effective playmaker, scorer, and defender," writes HoopsHype's Frank Urbina. "Horford can hit threes with his feet set, particularly from the corners, as well as face-up and get buckets in the low- to mid-post while remaining an impactful defender on the other end thanks to his sky-high basketball IQ."


Jaylen Brown - No. 8 small forward


David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

"2020-21 was without a doubt the best season of Brown’s career. He put up nearly 25 points per game after never having averaged more than 20.3 before," notes Urbina. "He shot a career-best 39.7 percent from the three-point line. He absolutely smashed previous career marks in BPM and VORP. And he did all of that while remaining one of the most impactful wing defenders in basketball."


Jayson Tatum - No. 4 small forward


Jayson Tatum
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

"An All-Star in 2020-21 as well as an Olympic gold medalist, Jayson Tatum has shown nothing but an upward trajectory since reaching the NBA in 2017-18, without sign of slowing down yet," writes the HoopsHype analyst. "It’s not an exaggeration to say if Tatum learns how to get to the line more often, where’s he’s a career 84.0 percent foul shooter, he could up his scoring average to the low 30s – he’s that talented of a bucket-getter overall."


Bob
MY NOTE:  Interesting.  So, while so many people have written Al Horford off as being too old and too slow Hoopshype is saying he's #16.  Personally, I think that ranking is a little too high, but I agree that he'll outplay general expectations (just not that one).  I think Al has something to prove this year in more ways than one.  He didn't want to leave Boston but did for the money (it was a no-brainer for him).  He got demoted to the bench in Philly, a shaming for a 5X All-Star, and then sunk even further when he went onto a milk carton in OKC.  Having the opportunity to come back to Boston is a redemption tour for Al Horford.  We know the Js are going to be highly rated, but Big Al?  We'll see, of course, but this makes me very happy especially since Smart and Schroder are both legit NBA starting point guards and probably shouldn't be too lowly ranked just because of that.  Having 5 players in the, what, top 50-60?  70-80?  That's still pretty good.

Reminder:  the first day of camp is 9/28.  That's this coming Tuesday, 6 days away.


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I think it means that Horford is #16 in the Center category, not #16 overall.

In other words, there are 15 NBA centers rated better than Al Horford.

I hope he outplays that rating, into the top 10 at least. I think that is doable.

I believe that's right; #16 center.

I still find it amusing that by my recall the overwhelming fan and media reaction to Al's original departure was 'nice guy, loved having him here, but he's rapidly declining so time to go.' Now it's 'Al can pitch in and help right this ship.' Really? Same guy a couple years older who seemed to be continuing on the decline with the 76ers and Thunder?

Playing limited minutes may help some, but can't help a 35-year old keep up with a 25-year old out on the floor. If Al is asked to do more than spell RWIII there's a problem. Kanter and his limited D is the only other option. The Celtics remain what many of us wish we still were; thin in the middle.

NYCelt wrote:I believe that's right; #16 center.

I still find it amusing that by my recall the overwhelming fan and media reaction to Al's original departure was 'nice guy, loved having him here, but he's rapidly declining so time to go.' Now it's 'Al can pitch in and help right this ship.' Really? Same guy a couple years older who seemed to be continuing on the decline with the 76ers and Thunder?

Playing limited minutes may help some, but can't help a 35-year old keep up with a 25-year old out on the floor. If Al is asked to do more than spell RWIII there's a problem. Kanter and his limited D is the only other option. The Celtics remain what many of us wish we still were; thin in the middle.

Part of it is that it’s a more limited commitment, 1st year guaranteed and 2nd year partially guaranteed. With Rob Williams performance and extension there is a direction at the position. Horford is also coming off a strong year. The risk right now is much lower compared to 2 years ago.

Al is back.  I was glad he left the first time because I did not believe Boston could win a title if he was our best big man.  

His return had more to do with finding a home for KW than, oh we need AH.  Afterall, there is no way in hell Boston would have resigned him for that much lettuce.

I hope his knee holds up and he is able to be an important player for the team.

Al is here for spot duty and for those wishing we had a big man coach, he’s kind of it. Hope he can add productive guidance to RWill and Bruno. I really liked the potential of developing the legit 7 footer young Moses Brown, especially in a conference with Embid, B Lopez and Giannis. However I think Josh Richardson is a good hardnosed player that can help us. Against 90% of the league having JR in our wing rotation will help, but against the few really good big teams I don’t know if we have enough size in the paint.

Wait a second.  You're saying that the #16 means that Al is #16 out of 30 centers?  And that Jaylen Brown is the #8 small forward, even though he's an All-Star and there are only a total of 12 players on the All-Star team including centers and every other position?

And Marcus Smart isn't in the top 22 out of point guards even though there are only 30 starting point guards in the league?  He's 8th from dead last?!  And Schroder, who started for the Lakers last year, is down there too?

If I misread this and you guys are right then this article is bull.  Smart and Schroder are not some of the worst point guards in the league and I'd like a list of the 7 players ahead of Jaylen Brown, because this list isn't just about Horford's place.



Bob


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Bob,

Ahead of Jaylen at SF they have;
7 Middleton
6 Butler
5 George
4 Tatum
3 James
2 Doncic
1 Durant

I think there is some bias from past performance here, but I pretty much agree overall. I might place Jaylen in a tie with Middleton or swap their spots, but otherwise I buy it. Brown might rank differently as a SG.

Conversely, I think Al is shot and think we have a problem if we need extended minutes from him. To me, no way he’s #16 at C. I’m not sure I make him top 30.

They rank top 22 at each position and I do think Smart could crack the list at PG, but not Schroder. I believe if Smart was still slotted at SG he would be higher on that list. It may be the authors have a ‘show me’ attitude for a new full time position.

I hope your trip is off to a great start.

NYCelt wrote:Bob,

Ahead of Jaylen at SF they have;
7 Middleton
6 Butler
5 George
4 Tatum
3 James
2 Doncic
1 Durant

I think there is some bias from past performance here, but I pretty much agree overall. I might place Jaylen in a tie with Middleton or swap their spots, but otherwise I buy it. Brown might rank differently as a SG.

Conversely, I think Al is shot and think we have a problem if we need extended minutes from him. To me, no way he’s #16 at C. I’m not sure I make him top 30.

They rank top 22 at each position and I do think Smart could crack the list at PG, but not Schroder. I believe if Smart was still slotted at SG he would be higher on that list. It may be the authors have a ‘show me’ attitude for a new full time position.

I hope your trip is off to a great start.

NYCelt,

Durant is a "small forward"? Tatum plays 4 too.

My trip so far is going just fine. So far all has been Crete. A couple of days in Heraklion, a night in Rethymno, 3 nights in Chania (traveled to Elafonissi Beach and other beaches from there, although my hotel was itself 50 meters from a beach) and now I just arrived in Matala. Matala is like a Greek version of Key West, at the very south of Crete. Almost due south of me (slightly west, maybe 290 degrees, and 350-400kms or 220-250 miles), is Tobruk, Libya. No. Libya is not a port of call for me. I'll be here for 3 days, then back up to Heraklion for the night and then grab the 8am ferry to Santorini to hook up with my friend Jim.


Bob


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Hey bob really glad even on your trip, your still here to enlighten us. I have Jaylen in a tie with Tatum at 4, to me he’s as good or better than Tatum. Doncic is a PG. Really behind Middleton, Butler and George….whatever…???

Jaylen had a lot of little nicks that he played through last year, expecting a really big year from him….